J
Just Zis Guy
Guest
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3013424.stm>
Complete with a proposal for motorist helmets!
=============================================
Tens of thousands of people die in road traffic accidents every year, including more than 3,000
in the UK.
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. BBC
News Online would also like to hear your views by filling out the form below.
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.
--
Guy
===
I wonder if you wouldn't mind piecing out our imperfections with your thoughts; and while you're
about it perhaps you could think when we talk of bicycles, that you see them printing their proud
wheels i' the receiving earth; thanks awfully.
Complete with a proposal for motorist helmets!
=============================================
Tens of thousands of people die in road traffic accidents every year, including more than 3,000
in the UK.
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. BBC
News Online would also like to hear your views by filling out the form below.
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.
--
Guy
===
I wonder if you wouldn't mind piecing out our imperfections with your thoughts; and while you're
about it perhaps you could think when we talk of bicycles, that you see them printing their proud
wheels i' the receiving earth; thanks awfully.
