How can we stop so many cars crashing and breaking down?

[KTF]

Following on from http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Given the [insert motorway of choice] chaos today, what incentives/penalties could we offer to try to eliminate this kind of stuff? I know cars are statistically safer, but the effects when they crash or breakdown (or both in this case) are disproportionate.

--
As a starter for 10, a 6ft fence down the middle of the carriageway to stop rubberneckers slowing down to see whats going on.

Edited by KTF on Monday 9th June 14:36

[Raize]

40mph speed limit and ban cars over 5 years old.

[Craikeybaby]

Driving test every 5 years, with theory on basic car maintenance included.

[DonkeyApple]

Double the price of fuel and tax a massive % of cars off the road.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Make all cars 30ft long and weigh over 40 tons. Much safer.

[mygoldfishbowl]

DonkeyApple said:

Double the price of fuel and tax a massive % of cars off the road.

They've already done that, didn't work.

[DonkeyApple]

mygoldfishbowl said:

DonkeyApple said:

Double the price of fuel and tax a massive % of cars off the road.

They've already done that, didn't work.

You have to price it outside of its elasticity range. I reckon fuel could go to £2.50/L before enough succumb to the abject horror of public transport.

[Fort Jefferson]

Stop 17 to 25 year old's driving them.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Big pointy spike in the middle of the steering wheel would focus peoples attention on what they're doing.

[Ed.]

The replacement of driver's free will with machines and an increase in prices to allow greater profits per vehicle for manufacturers would do it.
Customers/comrades would probably have to be forced to accept it under new legislation.

Edited by Ed. on Monday 9th June 19:39

[Monkeylegend]

Stick to the speed limits and follow manufacturers service schedules.

[DonkeyApple]

Monkeylegend said:

Stick to the speed limits and follow manufacturers service schedules.

And buy a new car every two years.

[skyrover]

Fix the bloody roads and build proper motorways

Edited by skyrover on Monday 9th June 19:55

[Blakewater]

More traffic patrols with a focus on poor driving standards including aggression, bullying and people not paying attention. Also a focus on removing poorly maintained cars from the road.

Free flowing roads without traffic calming measures pushing traffic from different directions together, blocking drivers' views and damaging cars. Simplified roads and junctions so people can't look at the wrong traffic light, wander from one lane to another or miss seeing other road users. Less clutter of signs and road markings to cause information overload.

Proper widening of roads to keep traffic flowing rather than widening them on the cheap by allowing people to sometimes use the hard shoulder. Roads engineered to get lots of traffic smoothly through at high speed rather than slowing it down with bunching and emergency braking at every Gatso.

Teaching driving in schools to increase overall awareness of road safety in schools. Something like this https://www.youngdriver.eu/

Driving is an important life skill just like others taught in schools and ought to be recognised as such. People should be encouraged to understand the importance of driving well and take pride in it, so being a clueless driver is looked down on like being bad with computers is. As it is, being a bit clueless behind the wheel is seen as a bit of a joke and what's terrible is enjoying driving because, in many people's eyes, that means you drive fast which they think is automatically dangerous.

Road safety should be looked at with a practical approach understanding the psychology of driving rather than just with desk based research of accident statistics and impact forces (with questionable understanding of physics)verses speed and age.

[HertsBiker]

Remove all safety aids that protect the driver, and make tyre law stricter. Make cars have a sound proof compartment to stop children disturbing the parent who is driving. Ban loud car stereos and smoking while driving. Add a device that prevents mobile phones working when the engine is running.