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The best way to stop most road deaths
Disco Matt:
As I've said before, the main cause of death amongst drivers is inexperience. That can lead to them driving too fast for the conditions, their vehicle, or their capabilities, but it's inexperience that killed them. However, parroting the mantra "speed kills" seems far more popular with this government - anything to do with the way that excess speed is easy to detect and prosecute, with a high conviction rate and steady income from fines?
Bring back the Green Cross Code. Let's see some adverts saying "If you step in front of a car and get hit, it's your fault". It seems to have been completely forgotten about in real life too judging by the mob who I saw standing in the middle of the main road through town yesterday. They were more than old enough to know better. Road safety is everyone's responsibility, not just the car driver's.
We've seen what limiters do with lorries already - they're the cause of trucks taking half an hour to pass each other and causing the dual carriageway to back up.
Skibum346:
As a few people have mentioned... education is the key.
Whoever we are, average joe, safety minded person or uncaring scroat... we all make decisions while driving and it's the underlying knowledge that allows us to make these decisions. Some people can make the right decision in a situation (i.e. checking yer blind spot!) while others need more underlying knowledge.
Also, the way people learn differs for each of us. For some of us, an instructor (be it uncle dave or Mr BSM) syaing, "Check yer blind spot for other cars" is enough... for some of us... this needs to be experienced (though pulling out in front of an arctic and smelling the adrenilin might not be the safest way to learn). Some of us will need extensive explanation, demonstration, and incentivising to learn that lesson.
Until a driving course exists in this country and people are retested regularly, and much better monitoring systems are in place, nothing will improve.
I'd much rather see "Black Boxes" that can be used to rebuild an accident or to highlight poor driving decisions.
As someone mentioned ealrier speed itself is not the issue, or as I have been putting it for years...
--- Quote ---'taint speed that kills... it's the idiot behind the wheel!
--- End quote ---
Skibum
Thrasher:
It's sad.
Pedestrians don't seem to have to read the HIGHWAY CODE, or for that matter cyclists now. We had to do a proficiency test, which involved learning the highway code. Where's that gone, oh yes government cuts.
I bet they think the highway code is just for cars :(
Oh and limiting cars to 70? Madness. Why do it? Many performance cars are already limited (granted to 140mph etc), sit a car on the limiter and see just how boring it is. Might as well drive trains - because no-one will catch up with anyone, gaps will get dangerously close, and the minute something odd happens to car 10 in front, 20 cars are piled up wondering what happened.
Boddle:
Personally, I think better education is required.
Firstly a much more stringent test system
1) Highway Code
2) Pass a Medical
3) Learning car control off the road (Test to a standard) (including skid control and basic machanics)
4) Leaning to drive in Urban and country roads (tested to a standard)
5) Learning to use Motorway (and in Coventry the Ring Road)
After every 5 year having passed your test
1) Eye test
2) Repeat of highway code (failure to pass requires you to pass will require a complete retest)
3) Pass a medical to prove you are safe to drive.
I have spent 20 years in automotive design and fair amount of that involve development information on points impact for the human occupants of cars. As a result I've heard lots of stories from the various litigations claims made against the industry. Less than 0.5% are manufacturer related the rest is human stupidity (Me included there).
Mobile Phones (even with hands free system) should require a 2 year ban and a complete retest, This now a bigger problem than drink driving and causes the highest rate of death on the road.
Better Education of pedestrians particularly those between the age of 10 and 20
If you design a car for safety you don't inform the person buying it how safe the car is. it a fact the safer the driver feels the dangerously they drive.
Disco Matt:
I've long felt the driving test should be more like the PPL. As I understand it you get that by flying hours with an instructor and demonstrating competence in various fields. This would make it easier to spot people who lack the right attitude or even any mechanical aptitude, plus ensuring that they notch up some experience before going out solo.
I believe that those "1 week intensive courses" are a bad idea. Yes people still have to pass a test but I don't think a week is anything like long enough. The fact that someone with no previous experience could (legally) take one of those courses and buy a new Porsche the following Monday is disturbing. Yes I know insurance would be fearsome but there are clueless people with money out there!
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