What small changes would you make to improve road/car safety
Discussion
Lawbags said:
Clamp down on people who insist on driving at 15-20mph everywhere they go.
All that does is infuriate drivers behind and makes them overtake in dangerous places.
Do such people actually exist? I can't remember the last time I saw someone driving at <25mph for any distance. All that does is infuriate drivers behind and makes them overtake in dangerous places.
kambites said:
I don't know about Porsche, but Mercedes certainly do.
My Volvo C30 had that as well. Some french cars even have the hazards come on automatically if you brake or serve to hard. Makes you look like a real idiot... Also they won't let you flash the hazards just once to thank someone, but will flash for a longer period, which again, makes you look like an idiot....david
Benrad said:
Chip and pin immobiliser, diving licence has to be inserted, insurance, tax, MOT present and correct before the engine will start
That's not a good idea,you walk up to the car keys out some scumbag beats the s
t out of you because that's the only way they can get at the car.Just like now a lot more peoples houses are getting broken in to at night.
So I'm going to go right off course here...
But the single thing that would make the roads safer is drivers paying better attention to what is going on. All the spiel about cars that do awesome things and exist in a semi-sentient state is good but I don't think it will be beneficial. We're starting to experience this and the effect will become more pronounced.
To wit:
Self-driving cars - fine
Normal cars - fine
Semi-self driving cars - lethal.
If a car does, like 70-80% of the driving stuff for you, then it's a recipe for a lack of driver attention. Let's say the car of the future changes gears for you, can park itself, is self navigating, can stop if confronted with a hazard and can change speed at will in traffic. What happens when it doesn't? I'm not distrustful of the technology but increasing automation leads to complacency on the behalf of the machine operator. We've all done it; sitting there like "bored, bored, really bored" - and we start to think of other things. I know I do!!
Thus I think a car has to be either fully automated or not very automated at all. A halfway there solution will only lead to drivers becoming tired by the whole process and paying attention to other things.
Where does that leave safety? Well I drive an old heap with no driver assists and one airbag. It would fold up like a cardboard box if I crashed and everything is down to me. Manual gears, manual windows, manual handbrake, I even have to lock the damn thing myself!! However I am acutely aware of the surroundings. I also think that the lack of separation between driver, wheels and road removes the false security blanket provided by today's electronic cocoon. I know what's happening and how to react to it.
Thus to make cars safer we need to encourage people to get involved with driving them. If drivers are alert they can avoid crashing into stuff in the first place.
But the single thing that would make the roads safer is drivers paying better attention to what is going on. All the spiel about cars that do awesome things and exist in a semi-sentient state is good but I don't think it will be beneficial. We're starting to experience this and the effect will become more pronounced.
To wit:
Self-driving cars - fine
Normal cars - fine
Semi-self driving cars - lethal.
If a car does, like 70-80% of the driving stuff for you, then it's a recipe for a lack of driver attention. Let's say the car of the future changes gears for you, can park itself, is self navigating, can stop if confronted with a hazard and can change speed at will in traffic. What happens when it doesn't? I'm not distrustful of the technology but increasing automation leads to complacency on the behalf of the machine operator. We've all done it; sitting there like "bored, bored, really bored" - and we start to think of other things. I know I do!!
Thus I think a car has to be either fully automated or not very automated at all. A halfway there solution will only lead to drivers becoming tired by the whole process and paying attention to other things.
Where does that leave safety? Well I drive an old heap with no driver assists and one airbag. It would fold up like a cardboard box if I crashed and everything is down to me. Manual gears, manual windows, manual handbrake, I even have to lock the damn thing myself!! However I am acutely aware of the surroundings. I also think that the lack of separation between driver, wheels and road removes the false security blanket provided by today's electronic cocoon. I know what's happening and how to react to it.
Thus to make cars safer we need to encourage people to get involved with driving them. If drivers are alert they can avoid crashing into stuff in the first place.
I would replace the speed warning signs in built up areas that flash when you are a tiny bit over the limit, or even below in some cases, with a "you are tailgating" warning sign.
To me tailgating is a lot more dangerous than being a small amount over the limit, it is more distracting and antisocial and generally a bigger evil in town driving, imho.
To me tailgating is a lot more dangerous than being a small amount over the limit, it is more distracting and antisocial and generally a bigger evil in town driving, imho.
Tuition and test for
i) Lane discipline
ii) Driving to road conditions
iii) Dangers of aggression/road rage
Satalite driver monitoring system compulsery for the first 12 months of passing test.
All new cars fitted with cameras front and rear.
Drink driving breath tester fitted and linked to imobiliser.
Remove unnessesary over use of road signage.
More lighting and better slip roads for dual carriageway junctions with accident fatality history.
Seat belts linked to imobiliser.
i) Lane discipline
ii) Driving to road conditions
iii) Dangers of aggression/road rage
Satalite driver monitoring system compulsery for the first 12 months of passing test.
All new cars fitted with cameras front and rear.
Drink driving breath tester fitted and linked to imobiliser.
Remove unnessesary over use of road signage.
More lighting and better slip roads for dual carriageway junctions with accident fatality history.
Seat belts linked to imobiliser.
Mandatory retesting after a certain age. The amount of crusty old bds I meet every day on my travels is getting worryingly too frequent.
Pulling directly out in front of me from junctions
40mph all the time everywhere
Weaving
Unnecessarily hesitant and comfort braking
No indication
How many of them cause accidents because they're too stubborn to admit they shouldn't be driving?
ds I meet every day on my travels is getting worryingly too frequent.Pulling directly out in front of me from junctions
40mph all the time everywhere
Weaving
Unnecessarily hesitant and comfort braking
No indication
How many of them cause accidents because they're too stubborn to admit they shouldn't be driving?
30 second road safety awareness adverts on EVERY TV channel.
- POM & MSM/PSL driving routines
- Roundabouts
- Junctions (approach and emerge)
- Obstructions & Giving Way
- Making Progress & being Hesitant
- Overtaking on Single carriageways
- Overtaking on Dual carriageways & Motorways
- Lane discipline
- POM & MSM/PSL driving routines
- Roundabouts
- Junctions (approach and emerge)
- Obstructions & Giving Way
- Making Progress & being Hesitant
- Overtaking on Single carriageways
- Overtaking on Dual carriageways & Motorways
- Lane discipline
Edited by Censorious on Monday 14th April 20:25
Vladimir said:
Ban tractors between 8am and 8pm.
Ban HGVs on minor roads during the same hours.
Guess who gets bored of being held up on rural roads?!
ban cars from rural roads as they take up too much room for one person and hold up essential transport that is actually running the economy Ban HGVs on minor roads during the same hours.
Guess who gets bored of being held up on rural roads?!
ezi said:
I'd make motorway driving part of the test.
Dual carriageways do give experience of 70mph cruising, adequate clearance & overtaking.Sliproads, observations etc.
I think it's OK as it is TBH.
Taking a learner driver onto a motorway would be more risk than benefit.
I do think though that no new driver should be allowed onto a motorway for 6 months after passing and ideally should have completed the Pass Plus too.
Riley Blue said:
I'd have tyre manufacturers build a red ply into all tyres at the minimum legal tread depth so that tyres on the tread limit would be instantly recognisable.
That is a really great idea! Does anybody know if that would be even remotely feasible during tyre manufacturing?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff