RE: Did they Think! about it?
Discussion
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Quote:
It says to me that it is OK to drive at 30(!) down crowded streets. Lets all do 30 in town centers and see what happens.
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Didn't someone recently get convicted of death by dangerous driving or something, and the defense proved the driver was doing under the 30 mph speed limit.
He still got done. Anyone know anymore.
Paul
Edited by salty on Monday 9th July 15:11
I've sent the following complaint to the ITC:-
I'm appalled that the Government is advocating that driving at 35mph in an urban environment will kill a child, because you can't stop in time.
This advert clearly shows that the driver of the car took no avoiding action other than to brake.
More likely, is that the driver of the vehicle was not paying any attention to the environment rather than speeding - 20mph and playing with you radio or 35 mph and observing all road hazards. How many times have we heard the term 'Sorry I didn't see you!'.
Which brings me to the point of using a child for maximun (sic) impact. Parents should have responsibilty for their childrens action and not vehicle drivers. The child in the advert is clearly not using a recognised road crossing, which begs the question - what road sense are parents/schools teaching children.
I believe that this advertisement is a total misrepresentation of all the facts stated in the advert by the Government and should be withdrawn immediately.
Sorry but I do not agree with your point of view on this. If it was your child killed in a similar accident and a police officer came round to give you the bad news what would your reply be "oh well fair enough if he wern't on a crossing he's fair game then". The add is putting one point across, O.K it may not be perfect but it is trying to make the point thatthe higher the speed the longer the braking distance we all know or should know that this is only one of many factors that contributed to the accident but if removed the accident would not have occured. Equally if the driver had seen the child and in anticipation covered his brake, or if the child had looked again the accident would not have occured the list goes on. Parents in general do their best. I have dealt with 2 similar accidents involving the death of children, one was crossing the road to catch up with friends on the way to see his first football match he was 11 his friends were 15/16 the other had been on his way to school the bus was late so he started to walk the bus then arrives he runs back and got hit by a car. Both 35/40 mph impacts. O.K childs fault but not helped by several other factors, including the speed of the car. The add is just trying to raise awareness which it has done
If like the ads say you are twice as likely to kill someone at 35 instead of 30 then why do the police not enforce a strict limit in residential and built up areas. I know of people who been let off doing around 40.
Or is it too easy to pick the motorways and other faster road ??? revenue or road safety ?
The majority of speed enforcement in most areas is done on normal roads as opposed to motorways. It is not always possible or practical to enforce speed limits in built up or busy areas, such as in the add in question therefore other methods are sought to raised awareness, THE ADD. I have advised people at 40mph and much higher speeds, its called discretion and it can in certain circumstances be far more effective than points. Sorry if I am going back to being condescending or sarcastic but To me that add does put a point across and spark memories of several unpleasant jobs.
John, I think your final sentence sums it up nicely.
We are very fortunate in that most of us aren't the ones who have to go and deal with the mess afterwards. I for one would NEVER want to face a parent to explain that little Johnny won't be coming home.....
Interestingly the biker featured on "So you think you're a good driver" last night only really took any notice of what the instructor was trying to tell him once he'd been shown the after effects of accidents to other bikers.
If it takes shock tactics to make people aware of their short comings as drivers then so be it - to me the message in the ad wasn't so much "Speed is the root of all evil" but simply "Think about what you're doing". If that message only registers with 30% of viewers then surely that's better than nothing ??
However, I just wish it didn't end there and the Government actually did something about actually improving road safety by better training rather than just trying to tell us all to slow down.
quote:Its interesting, when the figures came out about RTA's involving Police the response was 'MORE TRAINING FOR POLICE DRIVERS' why not more training for everyone else to improve road safety?? (that was obviously before some black box manufacturer gave a back hander to a government minister)
I just wish it didn't end there and the Government actually did something about actually improving road safety by better training rather than just trying to tell us all to slow down.
Sorry Ive got to put my hands up and say yes I speed. I do it on open roads and in built up areas Im very sorry its in my blood. I'll also say Im in my mid 30's I have raced bikes at a national level, cars at club level, and qualified to drive vehicles with blue lights on !!!!! I do generally regard myself as a skilled driver but often a bit too quick. I would also say I am probably a prime candidate of the target audience that add is aimed at.
It works, no if's buts or excuses. I was driving last night in a built up area between two lines of parked cars early evening time. I was doing around 30 for a change as it was a bit tight, but the image portrayed in that add came into my mind and I did slow down further to was was probably a safer speed. The fact that i have ABS, am "responsible","skilled" or a "good driver" are all irrelevant what was relevant was that I slowed down and If god forbid a child had run out infront of me the poor sod would have had a better chance of going to school again regardless of if his parent hadn't taught him the green cross code, were off their heads in the local or stoned on crack. None of this no matter how "naughty" is my concern really but I did my bit by slowing down and it was all due to a horrible haunting image. I dread to think how haunting it would be if it had happened for real.
Believe me its unlike me to wave the flag for any "policy" "police initiative" or "speeding crack down" but that advert touches a nerve alright.
I think everyone (including me) is guilty of double standards . . .
We believe it is perfectly safe to do 90mph on the motorway, but completely irresponsible to do 31mph in town!
When I'm doing 90 on the motorway I don't feel the slightest bit guilty for making a bit of headway, as most of the time I am stuck doing 30-50 for the other 3/4 of the journey.
However, once in town, if I see my speedo at 40 or so I start to feel really guilty and get the speed down again as quickly as possible. Plus if the road gets busier or more crowded I tend to slow down even more to give myself and other people more time to manouevre/move.
I'm sure the government could put a blanket 20/25mph speed limit throughout towns and it would be accepted by most people - they could even sweeten the deal with a raising of the motorway speed limits.
M-Five,
This is what happens in Germany (if I remember correctly). Withing the city/town/village limits the maximum speed (with the exception I think of urban autobahn) is 50kph (31mph). This I think would be good for villages and towns. Some cities may need to have adjustments here though.
Sparks
Her's a point - how many of us have noticed that there is a prevailing "chicken" attitude amongst, particularly, young pedestrians. What I mean is that many young people (10-25) will walk across a road as a car is approaching, and will make absolutely no attempt to speed up to cross when they realise the car is getting close to them. It's almost a battle of wills, to force the driver to slow down - then you get a look from the pedestrian as if to say, it's my right of way, even though I stepped into the road, knowing you were approaching.
quote:You may want to check your Highway Code, I think you will find that a Pedestrian DOES have right of way once they are in the road - stupid as it may be, if they are half way across then it is up to you to slow down, not for them to run - remember the Green Cross Code? It cleary said Do Not Run.... ================ Graham and Rosie
Her's a point - how many of us have noticed that there is a prevailing "chicken" attitude amongst, particularly, young pedestrians. What I mean is that many young people (10-25) will walk across a road as a car is approaching, and will make absolutely no attempt to speed up to cross when they realise the car is getting close to them. It's almost a battle of wills, to force the driver to slow down - then you get a look from the pedestrian as if to say, it's my right of way, even though I stepped into the road, knowing you were approaching.
That's true, but how do you give way to someone who's run out in front of you from behind a parked van ??
What pisses me off are people who don't look, step out in front of you and then glare at you as you drive past - as if it was my fault that I suddenly sneaked up on them !! God I wish people would take responsibility for their actions !!
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