According to statistics, Great Britain has one of the best traffic safety records in Europe, and indeed the rest of the world. Though traffic has greatly increased on our roads over the last few decades, RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) has revealed that the number of people killed on our roads has fallen from 5,000 per year in the mid 80s, to under 2,000 in 2010. Though this drop in number of fatalities is indeed a good thing, there are still, on average, five fatalities per day on our roads.
Though this may be good news, there are still a high number of fatalities per year. Sadly, according to statistics revealed by RoSPA, the main causes of these accidents are driver error and driver recklessness. Though some may be caused by other factors such as poor road layout, car faults and animal crossings (remember, animals don't follow the rules of the road) most accidents are the driver's own fault. Of the amount of fatalities per year, most are due to speeding. Around 430 people per year are killed by exceeding the speed limit. This can either be in a collision with another car, or a pedestrian, in which higher speeds will increase the chance of death. Speeding also becomes dangerous in adverse conditions such as fog, snow, rain and ice. These can reduce traction between tyres and the road surface, reduce visibility and affect braking distances therefore leading to a higher potential for collisions.
Many drivers will also fall into bad habits once they are no longer in the learning stage. This can lead to a higher potential for an accident. One of the most common causes for collisions is failing to look properly, and accounts for one in three accidents recorded. Driver distraction also ranks high on the list, as listening to the radio, talking to a passenger and even using mobile phones (though this is now an offence) can lead to the driver not focusing on the road and getting into a collision.
Surprisingly, though it is an offence to not wear a seat belt, many fatalities are due to the person involved not wearing their seat belt. Over 300 lives could have been saved simply by putting a seat belt on. Accidents sometimes are unavoidable but wearing your seat belt can be the difference between injury and death, therefore taking the extra few moments to put it on can be a greater virtue than anything else. New drivers and younger drivers can also be major causes of road fatalities. Through inexperience and their inability to judge various situations that they may not have encountered during lessons or their test, many new drivers may find themselves involved in accidents. Panicking and fear on the roads can also lead to reckless decision making or over caution. Add to this a new driver's higher possibility for sudden braking and it becomes evident why so many are involved in accidents every year.
These statistics show that in order to completely reduce the number of fatalities per year, driver error needs to rapidly be controlled. This is why tests are becoming harder to pass and more students fail per month, to ensure they are fully prepared for the roads once they have passed. Increased fines and other consequences for breaking rules whilst driving are also being implemented. That is, if those involved in the collision happen to survive. The number one thing that can be lost in these collisions, aside from money, time, a clean record and your own licence, is your life. Drive safe.
Though this may be good news, there are still a high number of fatalities per year. Sadly, according to statistics revealed by RoSPA, the main causes of these accidents are driver error and driver recklessness. Though some may be caused by other factors such as poor road layout, car faults and animal crossings (remember, animals don't follow the rules of the road) most accidents are the driver's own fault. Of the amount of fatalities per year, most are due to speeding. Around 430 people per year are killed by exceeding the speed limit. This can either be in a collision with another car, or a pedestrian, in which higher speeds will increase the chance of death. Speeding also becomes dangerous in adverse conditions such as fog, snow, rain and ice. These can reduce traction between tyres and the road surface, reduce visibility and affect braking distances therefore leading to a higher potential for collisions.
Many drivers will also fall into bad habits once they are no longer in the learning stage. This can lead to a higher potential for an accident. One of the most common causes for collisions is failing to look properly, and accounts for one in three accidents recorded. Driver distraction also ranks high on the list, as listening to the radio, talking to a passenger and even using mobile phones (though this is now an offence) can lead to the driver not focusing on the road and getting into a collision.
Surprisingly, though it is an offence to not wear a seat belt, many fatalities are due to the person involved not wearing their seat belt. Over 300 lives could have been saved simply by putting a seat belt on. Accidents sometimes are unavoidable but wearing your seat belt can be the difference between injury and death, therefore taking the extra few moments to put it on can be a greater virtue than anything else. New drivers and younger drivers can also be major causes of road fatalities. Through inexperience and their inability to judge various situations that they may not have encountered during lessons or their test, many new drivers may find themselves involved in accidents. Panicking and fear on the roads can also lead to reckless decision making or over caution. Add to this a new driver's higher possibility for sudden braking and it becomes evident why so many are involved in accidents every year.
These statistics show that in order to completely reduce the number of fatalities per year, driver error needs to rapidly be controlled. This is why tests are becoming harder to pass and more students fail per month, to ensure they are fully prepared for the roads once they have passed. Increased fines and other consequences for breaking rules whilst driving are also being implemented. That is, if those involved in the collision happen to survive. The number one thing that can be lost in these collisions, aside from money, time, a clean record and your own licence, is your life. Drive safe.