BBC: Slow down plea to rural drivers
Discussion
A great mixed-up article on the BBC website today: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6
Slow down plea to rural drivers
Most fatal accidents happen on country roads
A national campaign aimed at cutting deaths on rural roads has been launched by all eight of Scotland's police forces.
Figures have shown that 70% of fatal accidents happen on country roads.
Police said speeding was to blame for many of the deaths, and pledged to crack down on motorists who drive too fast in rural areas.
Officers also urged motorcyclists who have taken to the roads for the summer months to drive safely.
The Rural Road Awareness campaign, organised by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and Road Safety Scotland, will see an increased number of high-visibility police patrols across the country.
It will be the first of four awareness weekends between now and March 2008.
Chief Constable John Vine, of Tayside Police, said motorists were often more tempted to perform risky overtaking manoeuvres on country roads than they would be in built-up areas.
He added: "All too often, tragedy strikes because someone has attempted a manoeuvre, be it overtaking or negotiating a bend, that is clearly beyond the performance characteristics of their vehicle or, indeed, beyond their own skill level even though they may be well below the speed limit."
Mr Vine said officers would be paying particular attention to young drivers and motorcyclists, who are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents.
He pointed out that seven out of 10 road deaths occurred on rural roads, and that young drivers were almost three times as likely to be killed or seriously injured than older drivers.
'Inappropriate speed'
Mr Vine added: "Tragically, over 30 young people have already died on our roads this year. We also know that over 60% of motorcyclist deaths and serious injuries occur during summer months.
"There can be no doubt about the dangers of excessive and inappropriate speed, especially on rural roads, and I urge drivers to drive safely, to read the signs and to take into account the varying road conditions."
Michael McDonnell, director of Road Safety Scotland, welcomed the campaign, which he said was important at the beginning of the summer months when motorists do more recreational driving, often on open roads.
He said: "The biggest hurdle that all those involved in road safety have to overcome is the belief among drivers and riders that 'it won't happen to me.'
"Unfortunately for them, that's not the case, and our media is full of high-profile stories about fatal and serious injuries."
Neil Greig, head of Scottish policy for the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM), also welcomed the initiative.
"Seven in 10 deaths on Scotland's roads take place on rural roads and high profile policing has a very positive role to play in reducing the carnage," he said.
"Too many drivers believe rural roads to be safe but fail to understand that a combination of speed and unforgiving design means that just one mistake can often be punished by death or serious injury."
So we have:
1. "police" saying speeding is to blame
2. CC Vine saying dangerous driving below the limit is to blame
3. CC Vine then blaming excessive and inappropriate speed.
So what is it then? Over or under the limit? Some of the more rational points relate to skill and younger drivers, so speed isn't the primary cause. It's dangerous driving due to a lack of skill and experience. But let's not pass up the chance to roll out a few more cameras, shall we?
BBC said:
Slow down plea to rural drivers
Most fatal accidents happen on country roads
A national campaign aimed at cutting deaths on rural roads has been launched by all eight of Scotland's police forces.
Figures have shown that 70% of fatal accidents happen on country roads.
Police said speeding was to blame for many of the deaths, and pledged to crack down on motorists who drive too fast in rural areas.
Officers also urged motorcyclists who have taken to the roads for the summer months to drive safely.
The Rural Road Awareness campaign, organised by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and Road Safety Scotland, will see an increased number of high-visibility police patrols across the country.
It will be the first of four awareness weekends between now and March 2008.
Chief Constable John Vine, of Tayside Police, said motorists were often more tempted to perform risky overtaking manoeuvres on country roads than they would be in built-up areas.
He added: "All too often, tragedy strikes because someone has attempted a manoeuvre, be it overtaking or negotiating a bend, that is clearly beyond the performance characteristics of their vehicle or, indeed, beyond their own skill level even though they may be well below the speed limit."
Mr Vine said officers would be paying particular attention to young drivers and motorcyclists, who are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents.
He pointed out that seven out of 10 road deaths occurred on rural roads, and that young drivers were almost three times as likely to be killed or seriously injured than older drivers.
'Inappropriate speed'
Mr Vine added: "Tragically, over 30 young people have already died on our roads this year. We also know that over 60% of motorcyclist deaths and serious injuries occur during summer months.
"There can be no doubt about the dangers of excessive and inappropriate speed, especially on rural roads, and I urge drivers to drive safely, to read the signs and to take into account the varying road conditions."
Michael McDonnell, director of Road Safety Scotland, welcomed the campaign, which he said was important at the beginning of the summer months when motorists do more recreational driving, often on open roads.
He said: "The biggest hurdle that all those involved in road safety have to overcome is the belief among drivers and riders that 'it won't happen to me.'
"Unfortunately for them, that's not the case, and our media is full of high-profile stories about fatal and serious injuries."
Neil Greig, head of Scottish policy for the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM), also welcomed the initiative.
"Seven in 10 deaths on Scotland's roads take place on rural roads and high profile policing has a very positive role to play in reducing the carnage," he said.
"Too many drivers believe rural roads to be safe but fail to understand that a combination of speed and unforgiving design means that just one mistake can often be punished by death or serious injury."
So we have:
1. "police" saying speeding is to blame
2. CC Vine saying dangerous driving below the limit is to blame
3. CC Vine then blaming excessive and inappropriate speed.
So what is it then? Over or under the limit? Some of the more rational points relate to skill and younger drivers, so speed isn't the primary cause. It's dangerous driving due to a lack of skill and experience. But let's not pass up the chance to roll out a few more cameras, shall we?
I think, as usual, a few "facts" have been omited/twisted
1) Country roads mean trees. You hit a tree at 40 mph plus, chances are you're not going to come off lightly (lamp posts tend to bend)
2) If speed kills, how come people who ride horses and bikes in the countryside end up dead too then?
3) If this government put HALF of the money paid by motorists back into the roads we'd all live longer and have safer roads!
4) At the end of the day, probably 50% of those accidents could have been avoided if you remove drink, drugs or vehicle defects
1) Country roads mean trees. You hit a tree at 40 mph plus, chances are you're not going to come off lightly (lamp posts tend to bend)
2) If speed kills, how come people who ride horses and bikes in the countryside end up dead too then?
3) If this government put HALF of the money paid by motorists back into the roads we'd all live longer and have safer roads!
4) At the end of the day, probably 50% of those accidents could have been avoided if you remove drink, drugs or vehicle defects
justamin said:
I think, as usual, a few "facts" have been omited/twisted
1) Country roads mean trees. You hit a tree at 40 mph plus, chances are you're not going to come off lightly (lamp posts tend to bend)
2) If speed kills, how come people who ride horses and bikes in the countryside end up dead too then?
3) If this government put HALF of the money paid by motorists back into the roads we'd all live longer and have safer roads!
4) At the end of the day, probably 50% of those accidents could have been avoided if you remove drink, drugs or vehicle defects
1) Country roads mean trees. You hit a tree at 40 mph plus, chances are you're not going to come off lightly (lamp posts tend to bend)
2) If speed kills, how come people who ride horses and bikes in the countryside end up dead too then?
3) If this government put HALF of the money paid by motorists back into the roads we'd all live longer and have safer roads!
4) At the end of the day, probably 50% of those accidents could have been avoided if you remove drink, drugs or vehicle defects
5) If people actually thought about their driving and planned ahead, they'd have far fewer accidents regardless of the speed they were doing. Overtaking around a corner, or approaching a crest isn't a speed-related f'k-up, it's a driver-related f'k-up. Cutting a right-hand bend is in the same category.
When will we sort this out ONCE AND FOR ALL:-
8% of RTAs reported by police are caused by EXCESSIVE SPEED (for the circumstances);
c.7% are caused by failure to JUDGE ANOTHERS SPEED correctly;
c.7% is something else LOOSELY speed-related
c.6% is "OTHER CAUSES"
...which tally to the 30% which was the basis for the old 1/3 lie.
The rest is driver cock-ups, mechanical failures, and unforseeable events (of which there should be very few if you're paying attention all around you).
So in other words, this article is trotting out the same old "don't speed" tripe when they should be saying:-
"Keep your car in good working order, and pay attention to the way you drive and what is going on around you."
Peter Ward said:
So we have:
1. "police" saying speeding is to blame
2. CC Vine saying dangerous driving below the limit is to blame
3. CC Vine then blaming excessive and inappropriate speed.
So what is it then? Over or under the limit?
CC Vine appears to be saying that, "excessive and inappropriate speed" can be below the posted speed limit. Well, depending on the circumstances, this may be true - Streaky 1. "police" saying speeding is to blame
2. CC Vine saying dangerous driving below the limit is to blame
3. CC Vine then blaming excessive and inappropriate speed.
So what is it then? Over or under the limit?
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff