Reducing Road Carnage
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3013424.stm
Reducing road carnage
By Brady Haran
BBC News Online
Tens of thousands of people die in road traffic accidents every year, including more than 3,000 in the UK.
ROAD FATALITIES
Deaths (and rate per 100,000 population)
United States 41,821 (15.2)
Japan 10,403 (8.2)
South Korea 10,236 (21.8)
France 8079 (13.6)
Italy 6410 (11.1)
Spain 5776 (14.6)
United Kingdom 3580 (6.0)
Australia 1824 (9.5)
Figures from 2000
Mobile phones banned
With an estimated 30 million people killed in crashes world-wide since the invention of the motor vehicle, debate is always raging about how to save lives.
In the latest move, the UK Government announced this week it would be banning the use of mobile phones while driving.
Below is a selection of other suggestions to improve road safety, drawn from various sources.
HEAD BANDS
Would drivers wear these?
Many of the most serious road crashes result in head injuries.
They may not look too fashionable, but these head bands have been identified as one way of reducing the human impact of car accidents.
Leading research in this area is the Road Accident Research Unit at the University of Adelaide, in Australia.
Its tests have already shown headbands would reduce injuries from frontal car crashes, and research is continuing on other types of crash.
Essentially the bands are crash helmets which have been scaled down to look less bulky.
It may be hard to imagine people wearing them - but many people opposed wearing seat belts when they were introduced.
GO-SLOW CARS
Cars could stop their own drivers from speeding
Experts at the University of Leeds are working on a car equipped with a speed limiter which makes it impossible to break the legal limit.
Professor of transport safety, Oliver Carsten, said: "We believe this kind of technology can contribute to road safety.
"If all drivers kept to the speed limit, deaths on the road (in the UK) would fall by 37%, over 1,200 each year."
The system has been dubbed Intelligent Speed Adaptation.
DEATH MARKERS
Black markers signify deaths and red indicate serious injuries
An idea used in various countries where the risk of crashes increases on long stretches of road.
Black markers (usually small wooden posts) are installed at locations where fatal accidents have occurred.
They may be slightly morbid, but these markers, which feature small crosses at the top, are sobering reminder of how dangerous driving can be.
They also serve to highlight corners or stretches of road which may be more hazardous than they appear.
Additional red markers indicate sites of crashes which resulted in serious injuries.
DESIGN AND ROADSIDE OBJECTS
Road design is crucial
Many vehicle deaths would be avoided if authorities paid closer attention to removing or fencing off roadside objects, such as dangerous trees and posts.
Collisions with trees kill 1,600 people a year in Germany, 800 in France and more than 200 in Britain.
General design of roads is also important, with some research suggesting poor design contributes to 33% of crashes.
REFRESHER COURSES
Middle-aged men are getting back on the road
A concern raised by the AA is the number of middle-aged men "rediscovering their youth" by getting back on their motorcycles.
It can sometimes be too late when they discover the road environment has changed over the last 20 to 30 years.
Many would benefit from refresher courses to hone their skills, which may have diminished over the years and must be adapted to modern road conditions.
HITTING HOME
Cars can be fragile machines
Many people do not fully comprehend the horror of car crashes, and thus do not drive accordingly.
Numerous advertisements have used shocking images of accidents in the hope of reforming attitudes.
Some say this could be taken a step further by occasionally putting badly damaged and burnt out vehicles at the roadside.
It would surely be a stark reminder of how fragile a car can be when travelling at speed.
LOWER SPEED LIMITS
Is 40mph too fast?
It seems obvious, but few people realise the difference made by slower driving.
Not only are you less likely to suffer serious injuries, but there is less chance of the accident happening in the first place.
Research in areas where the speed limit is 60km/h (just under 40mph) has shown the chance of crashing could be reduced by as much as 40% if the limit was lowered by just 10km/h.
However suggestions of lowering speed limits often encounter resistance from motorists who are in a hurry to get where they are going.
DRINK DRIVING
Drunk drivers can be lethal
Alcohol is still a major cause of car crashes.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says the allowable amount of alcohol should be lowered from 80mg to 50mg.
Furthermore, it wants police empowered to test drivers randomly.
"They should be able to test anywhere at any time," a spokesman said
Reducing road carnage
By Brady Haran
BBC News Online
Tens of thousands of people die in road traffic accidents every year, including more than 3,000 in the UK.
ROAD FATALITIES
Deaths (and rate per 100,000 population)
United States 41,821 (15.2)
Japan 10,403 (8.2)
South Korea 10,236 (21.8)
France 8079 (13.6)
Italy 6410 (11.1)
Spain 5776 (14.6)
United Kingdom 3580 (6.0)
Australia 1824 (9.5)
Figures from 2000
Mobile phones banned
With an estimated 30 million people killed in crashes world-wide since the invention of the motor vehicle, debate is always raging about how to save lives.
In the latest move, the UK Government announced this week it would be banning the use of mobile phones while driving.
Below is a selection of other suggestions to improve road safety, drawn from various sources.
HEAD BANDS
Would drivers wear these?
Many of the most serious road crashes result in head injuries.
They may not look too fashionable, but these head bands have been identified as one way of reducing the human impact of car accidents.
Leading research in this area is the Road Accident Research Unit at the University of Adelaide, in Australia.
Its tests have already shown headbands would reduce injuries from frontal car crashes, and research is continuing on other types of crash.
Essentially the bands are crash helmets which have been scaled down to look less bulky.
It may be hard to imagine people wearing them - but many people opposed wearing seat belts when they were introduced.
GO-SLOW CARS
Cars could stop their own drivers from speeding
Experts at the University of Leeds are working on a car equipped with a speed limiter which makes it impossible to break the legal limit.
Professor of transport safety, Oliver Carsten, said: "We believe this kind of technology can contribute to road safety.
"If all drivers kept to the speed limit, deaths on the road (in the UK) would fall by 37%, over 1,200 each year."
The system has been dubbed Intelligent Speed Adaptation.
DEATH MARKERS
Black markers signify deaths and red indicate serious injuries
An idea used in various countries where the risk of crashes increases on long stretches of road.
Black markers (usually small wooden posts) are installed at locations where fatal accidents have occurred.
They may be slightly morbid, but these markers, which feature small crosses at the top, are sobering reminder of how dangerous driving can be.
They also serve to highlight corners or stretches of road which may be more hazardous than they appear.
Additional red markers indicate sites of crashes which resulted in serious injuries.
DESIGN AND ROADSIDE OBJECTS
Road design is crucial
Many vehicle deaths would be avoided if authorities paid closer attention to removing or fencing off roadside objects, such as dangerous trees and posts.
Collisions with trees kill 1,600 people a year in Germany, 800 in France and more than 200 in Britain.
General design of roads is also important, with some research suggesting poor design contributes to 33% of crashes.
REFRESHER COURSES
Middle-aged men are getting back on the road
A concern raised by the AA is the number of middle-aged men "rediscovering their youth" by getting back on their motorcycles.
It can sometimes be too late when they discover the road environment has changed over the last 20 to 30 years.
Many would benefit from refresher courses to hone their skills, which may have diminished over the years and must be adapted to modern road conditions.
HITTING HOME
Cars can be fragile machines
Many people do not fully comprehend the horror of car crashes, and thus do not drive accordingly.
Numerous advertisements have used shocking images of accidents in the hope of reforming attitudes.
Some say this could be taken a step further by occasionally putting badly damaged and burnt out vehicles at the roadside.
It would surely be a stark reminder of how fragile a car can be when travelling at speed.
LOWER SPEED LIMITS
Is 40mph too fast?
It seems obvious, but few people realise the difference made by slower driving.
Not only are you less likely to suffer serious injuries, but there is less chance of the accident happening in the first place.
Research in areas where the speed limit is 60km/h (just under 40mph) has shown the chance of crashing could be reduced by as much as 40% if the limit was lowered by just 10km/h.
However suggestions of lowering speed limits often encounter resistance from motorists who are in a hurry to get where they are going.
DRINK DRIVING
Drunk drivers can be lethal
Alcohol is still a major cause of car crashes.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says the allowable amount of alcohol should be lowered from 80mg to 50mg.
Furthermore, it wants police empowered to test drivers randomly.
"They should be able to test anywhere at any time," a spokesman said
Cheaptorque said:
HIGHER SPEED LIMITS
Is 70mph too slow?
It seems obvious, but few people realise the difference made by faster driving.
Not only are you more likely to get to your destination quicker, but there is more chance of enjoying the journey.
Research in areas where the speed limit is 60km/h (just under 40mph) has shown the chance of crashing has increase by as much as 40% due to people falling asleep at the wheel through boredom.
However suggestions of increasing speed limits often encounter resistance from lentilists who are in no hurry to get where they are going...
So they openly admit that the UK has the lowest fatality rate per 100,000 population of all the countries listed (nearly 70% less than S Korea). In which case, why do we need more scameras and talivans? 
Of course, this low fatality rate is quite clearly a direct result of all the wonderful work our stumpy grey friends do for us...
And no, I don't mean John Major...
Of course, this low fatality rate is quite clearly a direct result of all the wonderful work our stumpy grey friends do for us...
And no, I don't mean John Major...
Utter *ollocks! The reason people crash cars is usually because they aren't skilled enough to drive them in the first place! It has little to do with speed.
Are they saying that someone like Michael Schummacher tearing down the M11 on a Sunday morning at 120mph in a Ferrari 360 is more dangerous than old Mr Micra pottering along the same road at 40?
We are taught how to operate a car and how to prove to an examiner that we can do so safely. What are not taught is how to "drive".
If you had to take your test agian in an hour - would you pass?
I'd have no problem being tested every couple of years, with the test increasing in difficulty. I'd even pay for it.
Accidents reduce, less pressure on the emergency services, higher speed limits, reduced insurance premiums - heck, we may even get pleasure out of driving on British roads!
But what do I know! I'm just a motorist. Now if I were a University, Cardigan Wearing, lentil eating bicycle riding Academic - they might just listen!
Anyone got a knitting pattern?
Are they saying that someone like Michael Schummacher tearing down the M11 on a Sunday morning at 120mph in a Ferrari 360 is more dangerous than old Mr Micra pottering along the same road at 40?
We are taught how to operate a car and how to prove to an examiner that we can do so safely. What are not taught is how to "drive".
If you had to take your test agian in an hour - would you pass?
I'd have no problem being tested every couple of years, with the test increasing in difficulty. I'd even pay for it.
Accidents reduce, less pressure on the emergency services, higher speed limits, reduced insurance premiums - heck, we may even get pleasure out of driving on British roads!
But what do I know! I'm just a motorist. Now if I were a University, Cardigan Wearing, lentil eating bicycle riding Academic - they might just listen!
Anyone got a knitting pattern?
That is typical - the BBC have not added my comment to the list at the end. Might have something to do with the fact that I critized the government for spending money on 'speed kills' when firstly most accidents are caused by driver error and secondly our record is one of the best. Pah - Gov controlled media?
Alan420 said:
Shooting pedestrians would reduce the number of road accidents they become involved in, but I don't think it's much more practical than the helmet idea...
I don't know, every time I'm forced to wander into Oxford city centre I end up wishing I could let loose with an AK47 after about 10 minutes
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