Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat
The best way to stop most road deaths
Lord Shagg-Pyle:
I've never been a great believer in statistics, especially relating to a 'discussion' such as this. Figures can be 'massaged' to suit which ever situation.
As one of those that picks up the pieces, both in the actual and metaphorical sense, I would say that the use of speed does kill, usually combined with other factors, which has already been mentioned.
When I worked in Norfolk, the A47 Acle Straight was known as a dangerous killer road. The road in fact was perfectly safe. It just lay there being driven, as opposed to leaping up and stabbing someone.
It only became a dangerous killer when you put humans on it, either on foot or in a vehicle.
The causes of the greater majority of accidents, or incidents as they are now known in Emergency Service parlence, is the human factor. Lack of experience, bravado, cockiness are all factors to be taken into consideration, along with health, age, state of intoxication etc etc.
I'm not a great believer in fixed speed cameras. I personally think it would be best to take a step back to the time when there were no cameras, but plenty of Traffic Police armed with lazer speed guns, going out and hiding up to catch people. Call me a Facist Pig if you like, but nobody ever knew where they would be, hence it was more of a deterrent.
Also when not 'gunning' someone, the patrols would be on the roads booking those who chose to drive like idiots, use phones etc etc.
Limiting all vehicles would create more problems than it is worth. It would lead to more frustration and more bad driving.
Alternatively, we could take the laid back approach. If everyone chilled out and decided to live a less hectic life, we would feel forced to drive everywhere quickly.
Ask yourself what is causing you to rush about? I see it with colleagues at work. There are so few officers there to deal with the jobs coming in that everyone is under pressure to get stuff down quickly. This leads to stuff not being investigated properly, which leads to hassle from the bosses and Public. This in turn leads to more rushing from job to job, which causes more prangs.
Me? I drive according to the law of the land and the law of L S-P, namely "the job will still be there when you get there".
Drive safely according to your ability, the condition of the road and condition of your vehicle. That way you won't have a nasty flourescent BMW pop into your rear view mirror.
Have a nice day, y'all!
crazymac:
LSP, I agree wholeheartedly about getting shot of the cameras and putting much more traffic cars on patrol. As you say, they can spot the eejits and book em, rather than some piece of metal and glass that just takes a piccy of someone and sends a standard letter that gets tied up in beaurocratic nonsense for a couple of months!
I've been nicked once by a camera, it was on the motorway in a restricted speed area and all I did was follow all the other cars at the same speed, I assume we all got done! I am now anal about following the restricted limits on Mways! yes it drives the ones behind me crazy, but I don't get a ticket!
I've also been stopped 3 times by mobile radar units and each time I have been let off with a caution after the car has been checked out etc. That is proper policing in my book!
(this is in 23 years of driving incidentally! so not bad I suppose??)
Lord Shagg-Pyle:
--- Quote from: crazymac on July 18, 2008, 11:05:02 ---
I've also been stopped 3 times by mobile radar units and each time I have been let off with a caution after the car has been checked out etc. That is proper policing in my book!
(this is in 23 years of driving incidentally! so not bad I suppose??)
--- End quote ---
Thats not bad odds really.
I saw a report the other day, about the intention to cut down a 200 year old oak tree, that is situated at the apex of a bend. The tree has apparently caused numerous deaths over the years, as it has been hit by numerous cars which has resulted in deaths.
So,obviously the tree is to blame. It must be removed to prevent any more deaths! Naughty tree! Of course the other way to deal with it is for drivers to slow down in bad weather, therefore not slide off the bend and hit the tree.
Ridiculous state of affairs.
I got called to a bike accident in the early hours of this morning. A guy was speeding, went into a roundabout too quick, possibly lost it on some gravel/road debris on the exit and off he goes and bowls off down the road like a tumbleweed in a gale. He was stretchered away.
Causes? Speed, and the unknown entity of 'foreign objects'.
I picked a 6" heavy duty bolt off the road the other day. Its scary whats lying about out there.
Tommo:
It was on the radio the other day that they can now jail someone for 14 years (iirc) for killing someone whilst your on the phone. Now this scares me, i never talk on the phone whilst im driving but i could see my self answering it if it was to be very important, if only to say 'ill ring you back'. now at this moment if a kid stepped out im knackered! jail for 14 years, my whole life ruined.
I suppose my point is that there arent many of us who havent broken the rules in exeptional circumstances, be it an urgent journey to casualty or late for somthing important when we have exceeded the speed limit where we saw fit.
So as was mentioned earlyer about someone going too fast round a bend and hitting an oncoming car, killing the occupants. Everyone saying he should have his head chopped off for being the scum of the earth, when really it could have been anyone of us who lost control around that bend that we werent expecting.
I could list a dozen times that ive done somthing stupid on the road, maybe a dodgey overtaking manouvre or pushing it a bit around a tight bend. But lucky for me on those occasions the road wasnt that bit slippyer than it usually is or whatever else can push you past the limit of control.
They are called 'accidents' for a reason. everyone is fully aware of the damage that can be done by their actions, no one sets out to take a life. Imagine having to live with yourself after causing a fatal accident, worse than anything the government can do to you.
I was amazed when i watched that advert that said you could hit a kid at 40mph and there was a 20% chance they would live. that is phenominal. i always figured if they hit you at 25mph you were brown bread. no excuse to go faster like but i found it interesting.
V8MoneyPit:
--- Quote from: Tommo on July 18, 2008, 16:59:25 ---.....everyone is fully aware of the damage that can be done by their actions.......
--- End quote ---
Unfortunately, I'm not sure that's true though. When you see the way many people drive, it is patently obvious they have little or no idea of what they are capable of inflicting with their car.
Just yesterday morning, we were being followed by a small van. The driver was all over the road as he caught up with us. We passed a cyclist. He then did the same, but by then he was far too close to a blind bend. When he caught us, he was driving far too close, so I slowed down to allow more stopping distance (making allowince for his stopping distance as well as mine :roll:). At which point, he just drove even closer! then we got to roadworks signs and I slowed. When we got to the traffic lights he still hadn't slowed and he had to swerve out to avoid running into the back of us! ........ All this time he was rabbiting on his mobile :evil: he didn't even take it away from his ear as he swerved out behind us :shock:
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