Simple Safety
RAC outlines steps you can take to increase your chances of a safe journey
Ten people die on the UK’s roads every day – the equivalent of seventeen passenger planes crashing with no survivors each year.
According to the RAC Foundation, many of these three and a half thousand deaths a year could be avoided by motorists carrying out basic safety checks.
While twenty-first century cars and their components are safer than ever, providing undreamt of levels of control, safety and crash protection - thousands of drivers and their passengers are still injured, or die, each year because drivers fail to use safety systems, or to carry out simple routine checks.
Tomorrow (7) is World Health Day with the message ‘Road Safety is No Accident’ but today (6) the RAC Foundation is calling on UK drivers and passengers to ensure they carry out basic routine checks in order to save lives by following this simple five-point plan:
- Always wear your seatbelt
One in 10 drivers and front seat passengers, and four in 10 rear seat adults do not wear seatbelts.
One in 10 drivers and front seat passengers, and four in 10 rear seat adults do not wear seatbelts.
- Ensure child safety seats and restraints are fitted correctly
Every year, around 40 children between the ages of 0 and 11 years are killed while travelling in cars, about 500 are seriously injured and up to 9,000 slightly injured. The correct use of child car restraints would prevent many of these deaths and injuries.
Every year, around 40 children between the ages of 0 and 11 years are killed while travelling in cars, about 500 are seriously injured and up to 9,000 slightly injured. The correct use of child car restraints would prevent many of these deaths and injuries.
- Stow loose luggage in the boot or secure it in an estate car.
In an accident loose luggage can become deadly missiles, propelling forwards with a force of 20 times their weight.
In an accident loose luggage can become deadly missiles, propelling forwards with a force of 20 times their weight.
- Position driver’s seat and head restraint properly
Thousands of people (claim to) suffer from whiplash injuries every year because their head restraints were set at the wrong height.
Thousands of people (claim to) suffer from whiplash injuries every year because their head restraints were set at the wrong height.
- Conduct a weekly check of tyre pressure and tread and of lights
8% of cars that fail their MoT test do so because of faulty tyres.
16% of cars that fail their MoT test do so because of faulty lights.
8% of cars that fail their MoT test do so because of faulty tyres.
16% of cars that fail their MoT test do so because of faulty lights.
The Foundation is also urging the Government to play its part in improving road safety by placing emphasis on driver education:
- Courses which address and change the behaviour of speeding and careless drivers should be introduced on a consistent national basis as an alternative to the current system of fining and issuing penalty points to offenders.
- The unacceptably high level of death and injury among young drivers must be urgently addressed by the inclusion of pre-driver education in the national curriculum.
- More incentives should be offered to encourage young drivers to participate in post-test training like "Pass Plus" which tackle the inexperience and poor attitudes that often contribute to collisions.
Kevin Delaney, Traffic and Road Safety Manager of the RAC Foundation said;
"Education is key in all of this – we must educate individuals to ensure that they drive responsibly and safely and that they safeguard their future and that of other road users by using and maintaining the wealth of safety devices now included in vehicles.
The RAC said:Good point, I reckon. I think there's reasonable grounds to deny whiplash claims on the basis that safety equipment available was not properly used. Might cut down on the amount of spurious claims driving up the cost of insurance.
Thousands of people (claim to) suffer from whiplash injuries every year because their head restraints were set at the wrong height.
the Rac said:
Education is key in all of this – we must educate individuals to ensure that they drive responsibly and safely and that they safeguard their future and that of other road users by using and maintaining the wealth of safety devices now included in vehicles.
But thats what we have been saying for years!
oi.....govement......NNNNOOOOOOOO! 
Ah yes, that's right. It's cheaper and more vote-friendly to run adds that double as government advertising campaigns so everyone can see you're trying to do a good job. Silly us. Enthusiasts just aren't capable of thinking straight.
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