Impact Kills - Not Speed !
Discussion
I'll try this idea on you. I would call it the CONTINUOUS DRIVING RECORD (or CDR)and I will get to what the concept is in due course !
But first, there are all sorts of ways of having an accident and, sadly, a few of these result in death - or, probably worse, permanent maiming or a vegetable state.
The fact of the matter is that it doesn't really matter how hard we protest the innocence of speed, the need for soft road furniture, and whether the buzz words should be "Impact Kills" or any of the other excellent proposals. The fact is that the march of the nanny state will continue. For the time being, we are going to get more speed cameras, less police patrols and probably no changes(at least upwards) to speed limits. Eventually, taken to the extreme, you'll never be allowed to enjoy driving on a fast sweeping A road and, as is sometimes necessary, exercising YOUR personal judgment to overtake a slower car in a safe place !!!
And why is that? Because, as more and more cars and drivers take to the overcrowded roads, the standards of driving are dropping (IMHO)and individual's driving licence records are - in the main - wiped clean on a rolling 3 years basis.
However, there is one mechanism that technology would now permit (which would perhaps have been impossible 30 years ago) and which could benefit us all.
I have long held the view that we are all leopards who only change our spots (even if we do) as we grow older. Thus, as drivers, we generally start our driving careers with various levels of aptitude. After a few lessons, we pass the test, and are issued with our gun licence. In the first 12 months (and maybe even longer), we survive a few scrapes - even accidents - before experience grooms us to behave with responsibility on the roads. But some leopards like to drink and drive, some love going quickly irrespective of their skill or the suitability of the road conditions, and others are physically less well adapted than others- e.g. they can't see well (and some don't even know they can't see well).
The nett result of the above is that, turning out of your drive, you are entering the jungle. So how do you improve the behaviour of the animals ? I think its quite easy really - now that we have powerful computers.
On the day that you are issued with your provisional driving licence, your driving career begins - and your CONTINUOUS DRIVING RECORD (CDR)starts.
You begin with a clean sheet and every "event" is logged. You jump a red light, it's on the record. You exceed the speed limit, it's on the record. Drive without due care, drive dangerously, drive under the influence, they're there. The main difference is - the record does not extinguish after 3 years as it does to a certain extent with the current driving licence.
Trust me, I'm not suggesting a nanny state approach. What I am suggesting is that this record will give a very clear indication of the type of animal that has created this driving record. It will be far more apparent if you are a responsible driver, a perpetual offender or even a criminally irresponsible driver. It will also of course, show trends, the development of experience, and of levels of competence.
That information will be of considerable relevance to an insurer. As such, the responsible driver might find it far less financially punitive to drive a 350 + BHP sportscar than a numptie or an idiot does to insure a standard saloon.
The principal advantage of such a record is that - from a personal standpoint - every driver on the road will recognise that ill discipline, irresponsibility or exhibitionism will have a financial implication on the cost of THEIR motoring - from the very start of their driving career until the very end of it.
Such a system won't stop accidents (and that is the wrong word, as "accident" tends to excuse the incident and encourage us to accept that having an accident is OK, so long as only the car is damaged). A road accident is almost invariably the result of a grave error of judgement (by a driver or a pedestrian). Only very occasionally these days does an incident result from an automotive design issue or a technical malfunction. [There are other influences, but in percentage terms, these are probably minimal].
However, the greatest advantage of the CDR is that it should serve to promote each and every driver's sense of responsibility, each and every time he or she climbs into a car. It will do this provided it has a major influence on whether the driver can afford insurance - OR EVEN GET IT.
And let's not think negatively, the driver of a TVR 440R, who may have a really good driving record, SHOULD pay a LOWER insurance premium than an individual whose record shows them to be an accident-prone, disinterested A to B driver.
So how does the CDR help to improve safety when there are so many examples of people driving without insurance ? Use technology, find a way of making a car refuse to move unless an insured driver (and not the stolen security card of an insured driver) is at the wheel.
How do you ensure that the car itself is safe for the road ? The Germans have had the solution for more than 20 years. Their registration plates are issued only when the equivalent of the MOT has been passed -and they are stamped with the MOT start or expiry date (can't remember which).
Finally, how do you improve the capability of the driver. Cut down on expenditure on scameras and introduce Periodic Refresher Training (PRT). The RAF has such a system. Its 6 monthly or annual, depending on your flying category. It would probably be appropriate every 3 to 5 years for a driver.
The courses could be run by the Road Transport Authority (?) and should last 2 or 3 days. They could include Special Briefings, Road Safety and Police training updates, medical check (particularly eyesight check), actual refresher Driving evaluation and training, skid pan training etc, etc,. When you have passed it - if you do - you get a category assigned, and you get your driving licence re-issued - valid for the next 3 or 5 year period.
The course would not be free. Any suggestions on how much the Organisation could/should/would have to charge ? I would pay the equivalent of a year's insurance premium if it meant that everyone you encountered on the road had a proper and current ability to drive responsibly.
Just think how much revenue the Road Transport Authority could derive from this - more than scameras probably. But, at least the national standard of driving should improve, and the accident statistics should decline.
Of course, the RTA would have to build the training facilities and the appropriate accommodation. Good for the economy - and the Government could derive the funds from our Road Tax payments, the savings in accident and emergency hospital support costs, and by budgeting for one war per year instead of three.
And once these facilities are available nationwide, we can use them at sensible cost at the weekends for trackdays and advanced driving training !
I'll get my coat - and bullet-proof vest.
But first, there are all sorts of ways of having an accident and, sadly, a few of these result in death - or, probably worse, permanent maiming or a vegetable state.
The fact of the matter is that it doesn't really matter how hard we protest the innocence of speed, the need for soft road furniture, and whether the buzz words should be "Impact Kills" or any of the other excellent proposals. The fact is that the march of the nanny state will continue. For the time being, we are going to get more speed cameras, less police patrols and probably no changes(at least upwards) to speed limits. Eventually, taken to the extreme, you'll never be allowed to enjoy driving on a fast sweeping A road and, as is sometimes necessary, exercising YOUR personal judgment to overtake a slower car in a safe place !!!
And why is that? Because, as more and more cars and drivers take to the overcrowded roads, the standards of driving are dropping (IMHO)and individual's driving licence records are - in the main - wiped clean on a rolling 3 years basis.
However, there is one mechanism that technology would now permit (which would perhaps have been impossible 30 years ago) and which could benefit us all.
I have long held the view that we are all leopards who only change our spots (even if we do) as we grow older. Thus, as drivers, we generally start our driving careers with various levels of aptitude. After a few lessons, we pass the test, and are issued with our gun licence. In the first 12 months (and maybe even longer), we survive a few scrapes - even accidents - before experience grooms us to behave with responsibility on the roads. But some leopards like to drink and drive, some love going quickly irrespective of their skill or the suitability of the road conditions, and others are physically less well adapted than others- e.g. they can't see well (and some don't even know they can't see well).
The nett result of the above is that, turning out of your drive, you are entering the jungle. So how do you improve the behaviour of the animals ? I think its quite easy really - now that we have powerful computers.
On the day that you are issued with your provisional driving licence, your driving career begins - and your CONTINUOUS DRIVING RECORD (CDR)starts.
You begin with a clean sheet and every "event" is logged. You jump a red light, it's on the record. You exceed the speed limit, it's on the record. Drive without due care, drive dangerously, drive under the influence, they're there. The main difference is - the record does not extinguish after 3 years as it does to a certain extent with the current driving licence.
Trust me, I'm not suggesting a nanny state approach. What I am suggesting is that this record will give a very clear indication of the type of animal that has created this driving record. It will be far more apparent if you are a responsible driver, a perpetual offender or even a criminally irresponsible driver. It will also of course, show trends, the development of experience, and of levels of competence.
That information will be of considerable relevance to an insurer. As such, the responsible driver might find it far less financially punitive to drive a 350 + BHP sportscar than a numptie or an idiot does to insure a standard saloon.
The principal advantage of such a record is that - from a personal standpoint - every driver on the road will recognise that ill discipline, irresponsibility or exhibitionism will have a financial implication on the cost of THEIR motoring - from the very start of their driving career until the very end of it.
Such a system won't stop accidents (and that is the wrong word, as "accident" tends to excuse the incident and encourage us to accept that having an accident is OK, so long as only the car is damaged). A road accident is almost invariably the result of a grave error of judgement (by a driver or a pedestrian). Only very occasionally these days does an incident result from an automotive design issue or a technical malfunction. [There are other influences, but in percentage terms, these are probably minimal].
However, the greatest advantage of the CDR is that it should serve to promote each and every driver's sense of responsibility, each and every time he or she climbs into a car. It will do this provided it has a major influence on whether the driver can afford insurance - OR EVEN GET IT.
And let's not think negatively, the driver of a TVR 440R, who may have a really good driving record, SHOULD pay a LOWER insurance premium than an individual whose record shows them to be an accident-prone, disinterested A to B driver.
So how does the CDR help to improve safety when there are so many examples of people driving without insurance ? Use technology, find a way of making a car refuse to move unless an insured driver (and not the stolen security card of an insured driver) is at the wheel.
How do you ensure that the car itself is safe for the road ? The Germans have had the solution for more than 20 years. Their registration plates are issued only when the equivalent of the MOT has been passed -and they are stamped with the MOT start or expiry date (can't remember which).
Finally, how do you improve the capability of the driver. Cut down on expenditure on scameras and introduce Periodic Refresher Training (PRT). The RAF has such a system. Its 6 monthly or annual, depending on your flying category. It would probably be appropriate every 3 to 5 years for a driver.
The courses could be run by the Road Transport Authority (?) and should last 2 or 3 days. They could include Special Briefings, Road Safety and Police training updates, medical check (particularly eyesight check), actual refresher Driving evaluation and training, skid pan training etc, etc,. When you have passed it - if you do - you get a category assigned, and you get your driving licence re-issued - valid for the next 3 or 5 year period.
The course would not be free. Any suggestions on how much the Organisation could/should/would have to charge ? I would pay the equivalent of a year's insurance premium if it meant that everyone you encountered on the road had a proper and current ability to drive responsibly.
Just think how much revenue the Road Transport Authority could derive from this - more than scameras probably. But, at least the national standard of driving should improve, and the accident statistics should decline.
Of course, the RTA would have to build the training facilities and the appropriate accommodation. Good for the economy - and the Government could derive the funds from our Road Tax payments, the savings in accident and emergency hospital support costs, and by budgeting for one war per year instead of three.
And once these facilities are available nationwide, we can use them at sensible cost at the weekends for trackdays and advanced driving training !
I'll get my coat - and bullet-proof vest.
Jagman, its all very well coming up with a scheme like your CDR, however currently there is not a system to effectively decide who is right or wrong in an accident (remember often the police are not involved), or indeed a system to effectively penalise people for bad driving.
All we have is an insurance system that carries out financial damage limitation ie. will settle for a "part blame" on your behalf if its cheaper to do so, and a "traffic" system being propogated that only prosecutes people for speeding in front of cameras and little else.
Accordingly its all very well having a CDR, but who decides whats on it.. the insurance companies..?
Cheers,
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 12th November 15:53
All we have is an insurance system that carries out financial damage limitation ie. will settle for a "part blame" on your behalf if its cheaper to do so, and a "traffic" system being propogated that only prosecutes people for speeding in front of cameras and little else.
Accordingly its all very well having a CDR, but who decides whats on it.. the insurance companies..?
Cheers,
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 12th November 15:53
My five cents. I don't think this will work. It's too expensive (all that information needs to be captured, analysed and stored somewhere). It's open to exploitation by those with a misguided political cause. Finally, people are also very good at exploiting the weaknesses in any automated system - they're intelligent, a system will not be - so it'll not be as effective as you'd think. I'd go for a simple answer, more Traffic Police enforcing the standards we have at present.
Steve.
>> Edited by Steve_T on Wednesday 12th November 17:06
Steve.
>> Edited by Steve_T on Wednesday 12th November 17:06
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