RE: Government blamed for increase in road deaths
Discussion
Im glad it's got nothing to do with:
A high number of "foreign" drivers with international licences driving with reckless abandon (usually minibuses full of workers)
The lack of any real danger in everyday life leading to people taking more risks on the road
People driving slower and therefore there being more "dodgy" overtakes - see bothe above points
The lack of feedback from most modern cars and implied safety so people drive quicker in poor conditions.
The lack of policing on the roads and hoping cameras will make the roads safer.
I could go on...
A high number of "foreign" drivers with international licences driving with reckless abandon (usually minibuses full of workers)
The lack of any real danger in everyday life leading to people taking more risks on the road
People driving slower and therefore there being more "dodgy" overtakes - see bothe above points
The lack of feedback from most modern cars and implied safety so people drive quicker in poor conditions.
The lack of policing on the roads and hoping cameras will make the roads safer.
I could go on...
Benjaminbopper said:
Of all the journeys completed each year, I don't think we've got much to worry about. Most of the accidents happen through poor decision making and a disregard for the law, restricting the roads even more will just create more frustration and possibly more accidents.
Make driving tests harder and more inclusive of day to day realities - like the motorway!!!
Yeah that'll fix it! Nearest motorway to here is 130 miles, that'll be a long test! and we are by no means remote! Besides - statistically the motorways are the safest roads we have!?Make driving tests harder and more inclusive of day to day realities - like the motorway!!!
Gary
Think about it; it is the governments fault!!!!
The main thrust of the Transport committee's accusation is the increase in cyclist deaths.
Governments, both labour, conservative and alliance have ALL made commuting more expensive by increasing the cost of motoring, ongestion charging; introducing anti motorist altered traffic light phasing, variable speed cameras etc.
This has undoubtedly encouraged a lot of urban commuters out of cars and onto cycles to get to work to save both money and time.
End result, more cycle deaths..QED????
The main thrust of the Transport committee's accusation is the increase in cyclist deaths.
Governments, both labour, conservative and alliance have ALL made commuting more expensive by increasing the cost of motoring, ongestion charging; introducing anti motorist altered traffic light phasing, variable speed cameras etc.
This has undoubtedly encouraged a lot of urban commuters out of cars and onto cycles to get to work to save both money and time.
End result, more cycle deaths..QED????
Here's a thought, how about putting cycle lanes on every road where they will fit and making it a requirement for cyclists to use these lanes, but giving cyclists using them precedence over all other traffic (including pedestrians - much as done in Holland).
Then, quite simply, where there is insufficient room for a cycle lane, on narrow lanes or streets for example, ban cyclists from these roads completely.
Then, quite simply, where there is insufficient room for a cycle lane, on narrow lanes or streets for example, ban cyclists from these roads completely.
Why is it so "shocking" that road accidents are the largest killer of young people?
Let's face it, *something* has to be the biggest killer of young people. And young people shouldn't be dying of cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, etc etc. So it stands to reason that "accidental" deaths will be more prevalent in the death figures for young people than they would be for older people.
I certainly wouldn't want cancer or heart attacks to be the biggest killer of young people, because that would indicate something seriously wrong with the health of young people.
Edited to add: If you watch a typical teenager cross the road, it's not difficult to understand why road deaths are the biggest killer of young people.
Let's face it, *something* has to be the biggest killer of young people. And young people shouldn't be dying of cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, etc etc. So it stands to reason that "accidental" deaths will be more prevalent in the death figures for young people than they would be for older people.
I certainly wouldn't want cancer or heart attacks to be the biggest killer of young people, because that would indicate something seriously wrong with the health of young people.
Edited to add: If you watch a typical teenager cross the road, it's not difficult to understand why road deaths are the biggest killer of young people.
One of the members of this Transport Committee is:
Julie Hilling - A Greater Manchester Labour MP.
Julie took the piss out of the tax payer by claiming £120,000 in expenses for 2 months.
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/p...
When will this gravy train stop?
Julie Hilling - A Greater Manchester Labour MP.
Julie took the piss out of the tax payer by claiming £120,000 in expenses for 2 months.
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/p...
When will this gravy train stop?
Already discussed this elsewhere.
Between 2009 and 2010 there was a "large" reduction in road deaths. A contributory factor was the recession, so people had less money, so the first thing they do is cut back on unnecessary expenditure, driving to see relatives, friends, etc. Less driving, less deaths.
2010 to 2011 this recovers a bit, so more driving, so the death figure goes up again.
It's sad to see that yet another "organisation" doesn't have a brain cell between them, or thinks they can blind the public with poor statistical reporting.
Between 2009 and 2010 there was a "large" reduction in road deaths. A contributory factor was the recession, so people had less money, so the first thing they do is cut back on unnecessary expenditure, driving to see relatives, friends, etc. Less driving, less deaths.
2010 to 2011 this recovers a bit, so more driving, so the death figure goes up again.
It's sad to see that yet another "organisation" doesn't have a brain cell between them, or thinks they can blind the public with poor statistical reporting.
I agree that we have relatively safe roads and also agree that drivers should be able to make subjective decisions re their speed regardless of whether or not they are breaking the limit but...
I was thinking...
the increase in deaths....and more of them pedestrian related....would you expect these figures to go up if for example there were prolonged periods of extremely bad weather in the winter (ice, snow, below freezing, etc)....and for example say there were shortages of road salt....and chuck in the apalling state of the roads?
Agree that the overall deaths per head is relatively low and I would suggest that it is still improving due to more pedestrian safe cars and 'better' road design...but, is there a level that a certain number of deaths is deemed to be OK and if so where is it?
I was thinking...
the increase in deaths....and more of them pedestrian related....would you expect these figures to go up if for example there were prolonged periods of extremely bad weather in the winter (ice, snow, below freezing, etc)....and for example say there were shortages of road salt....and chuck in the apalling state of the roads?
Agree that the overall deaths per head is relatively low and I would suggest that it is still improving due to more pedestrian safe cars and 'better' road design...but, is there a level that a certain number of deaths is deemed to be OK and if so where is it?
layo said:
One of the members of this Transport Committee is:
Julie Hilling - A Greater Manchester Labour MP.
Julie took the piss out of the tax payer by claiming £10,508 in expenses for 2 months.
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/p...
When will this gravy train stop?
EFAJulie Hilling - A Greater Manchester Labour MP.
Julie took the piss out of the tax payer by claiming £10,508 in expenses for 2 months.
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/p...
When will this gravy train stop?
MrTickle said:
layo said:
One of the members of this Transport Committee is:
Julie Hilling - A Greater Manchester Labour MP.
Julie took the piss out of the tax payer by claiming £10,508 in expenses for 2 months.
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/p...
When will this gravy train stop?
EFAJulie Hilling - A Greater Manchester Labour MP.
Julie took the piss out of the tax payer by claiming £10,508 in expenses for 2 months.
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/p...
When will this gravy train stop?
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Why is it so "shocking" that road accidents are the largest killer of young people?
Let's face it, *something* has to be the biggest killer of young people. And young people shouldn't be dying of cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, etc etc. So it stands to reason that "accidental" deaths will be more prevalent in the death figures for young people than they would be for older people.
I certainly wouldn't want cancer or heart attacks to be the biggest killer of young people, because that would indicate something seriously wrong with the health of young people.
A good point!!Let's face it, *something* has to be the biggest killer of young people. And young people shouldn't be dying of cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, etc etc. So it stands to reason that "accidental" deaths will be more prevalent in the death figures for young people than they would be for older people.
I certainly wouldn't want cancer or heart attacks to be the biggest killer of young people, because that would indicate something seriously wrong with the health of young people.
Think about this basic comparison with the USA;
USA
population - 314million
road deaths - 32885
UK
populatio - 63.1million
road deaths - 1901
It's all very sad but we don't do too bad for a country with an old twisty road network.
Mr Whippy said:
Nice bit of statistical noise there.
What next, considering climate change using a drop in the oceans worth of data
Give them a bit more time and they'll manage to link the small increase in road deaths to climate change.....and then have even more reason to increase fuel duty. What next, considering climate change using a drop in the oceans worth of data
PSBuckshot said:
I don't blame the government. I blame the complete stupidity of the average motorist in the UK.
Agree. But Govt stupidity is creating even more driver stupidity.My daily journey is on a dual carriageway that now has 60mph average speed cameras. They were introduced after a couple of fatalities that were caused by people using the centre reservation gaps for U-turns, rather than going a mile to the next junction. As a result, most evenings I'm in a pack of cars, most on cruise control at 59mph with drivers so bored that they are texting, phoning and wandering all over the road. It feels far more dangerous than doing 80mph with alert drivers around me.
Two people do misjudged U-turns and die. I'm sorry. It's tragic. We all make mistakes, and they were far less lucky than I've been when I've made mistakes.
However, they leave a legacy which is a dumbed down road that enourages dumbed down driving. It doesn't help anyone.
My solution:
Urban areas: No traffic calming, speedbumps etc but instead go for the Dutch style 'no road markings' shared space idea. Make drivers, cyclists and pedestrians think about each other
Rural areas: Remove road signs for bends and hazards. People depend on them until they crash at a corner where there is no sign. Like gantry signs that say 'Fog' or 'rain' they are unnecessary. Teach people to make their decisions based on looking ahead rather than condition them on having to be told what to do.
Motorways: No speed limits. But if you are caught with illegal tyres, lanehogging, tailgating, texting, staring a sat-nav that is blocking your line of sight then you are treated like a speeder is today.
.... one other thing to remember; like a great many other 'select' or 'advisory' committees, the Transport Select Committee are busy trying to justify their existence. An increase of 51 in 1900 is around 2.5% in a reasonably chaotic system of essentially random events and only for a single year out of 10 - but of course it makes a dramatic headline for people trying to invent themselves a job.
Quick question, the poor couple that died after their car was covered by the landslip, would they be classified as a 'road death'?
Would be interesting to see the figures broken down even more. Guess I'll have to read the whole report, but I know I'll get wound up by the b
ks they spout 
Would be interesting to see the figures broken down even more. Guess I'll have to read the whole report, but I know I'll get wound up by the b
ks they spout The cycling component is actually a typical statistic in line with an economic downturn.
People have less money so try to reduce expenses, one way is to start cycling (increase in new cyclist = more deaths)
Additionally others cut corners in car maintenance.
Hey presto death rates go up.
People have less money so try to reduce expenses, one way is to start cycling (increase in new cyclist = more deaths)
Additionally others cut corners in car maintenance.
Hey presto death rates go up.
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