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The main purpose of this web page is to let drivers, legislators, road safety experts, police officers, parents of young drivers, etc., have an easily accessible insight into what is happening in their own countries and elsewhere, and thereby possibly do something to help save some of the many wasted lives on roads everywhere. Page edited by Eddie Wren
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Fearing that the safety of the state's motorists could be in jeopardy if vacancies in the California Highway Patrol are not filled, the Schwarzenegger administration has reversed its earlier decision and agreed to hire as many as 270 new officers.... The current budget gives the CHP an authorized force of 6,136 officers, but the agency is operating at about 90 fewer than full strength. Of that force, 5,373 are assigned to road duty.... CHP Commissioner D.O. "Spike" Helmick said arrests for drunken driving have sharply increased and fatal accidents have taken a "dangerous turn" upward in the past five years as the state's population has increased, more vehicles have crowded the roads and motorists have traveled millions more miles.... The CHP's nationally acclaimed training academy.... has been virtually shut down since September. The academy typically produces about 300 new officers a year and has contracted to train other states' traffic patrol officers. Full story, from the Tri-Valley Herald _____________________________
Road accidents in Glasgow have dropped by almost one third in the last decade. There were nearly 200 fewer crashes in which people were killed or hurt during the first three months of this year, compared with the same period ten years ago. Compiled for the first time, the new ten-year comparisons show there were 631 road incidents involving casualties in January-March 1994, compared with 436 during January-March 2004. The number of "serious injury" crashes fell even more sharply, by 45%, from 113 in the first quarter of 1994 to 62 in the same period this year. Glasgow City Council road chiefs attribute part of the reduction to efforts to move more "through traffic" off city streets and onto trunk roads and motorways -- especially the M8. In a report to be put before councillors, the Council officials said: "This new report highlights the fact that motorways [i.e. the highest standard of "divided highway"] can contribute to road accident savings by removing large numbers of vehicles from the urban road network." [Source: The Scottish Evening Times] _____________________________
A crash in North Carolina on Saturday night killed five people from New Jersey -- including four teenagers. One trooper said that the accident happened when a minivan pulled in front of an sport utility vehicle which was traveling at about 70 mph. Three others from in the van -- including the driver -- are being treated in hospital. _____________________________
ANKARA -- One illegal immigrant was killed and 52 others were injured when their truck rolled into a ravine in southeastern Turkey on Monday. Anatolia News Agency reported that the truck, which was carrying110 illegal immigrants, overturned in southeastern Batman province [sic] due to high speed. According to Anatolia, the immigrants were from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. [Source: Xinhuanet] _____________________________
Wars and conflict, it is widely thought, are the biggest dealers in human deaths around the world. The ongoing conflict in Kashmir has, over the last quarter century or more, claimed more than 50,000 lives. But how does that figure compare with deaths due to other causes? Take road fatalities. In 2002 alone, as many as 80,118 were killed in accidents on Indian roads. Another 342,000 were seriously wounded. More people, in other words, are killed and injured on the Indian roads in a single year than all the wars put together since Indepedence.... Fatality statistics show that Kanpur has the highest strike rate of 162 deaths per million of population followed by Delhi with 143. The figures for some other cities are: Jaipur 142, Hyderabad 120, Lucknow 115, Chennai 100, Pune 88, Mumbai 73, Ahmedabad 52 and Kolkata 35. On the highways, there is little traffic management especially since the enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act is a state subject. The role of the state police is restricted to dealing with the aftermath of a highway accident — in terms of deaths and damage caused by irresponsible drivers. Unless, there is real-time coordination between all the different Road Transport Authorities (RTOs), it will be impossible to discipline highway traffic and book offending out-of-state vehicles.... It is time India set up a National Road Safety Board, on the lines of the one that exists in the US , which is independent of the road building agencies. Like the Central Pollution Board, it should be empowered to define policies and coordinate their implementation in every state and on every road and highway of the country. Read the full article, by li _____________________________
Few things make me despair more than fools mouthing off about the inalienable right of drivers to put other road users in danger without interference from the police. You hear this crap everywhere. Macho dummies say it is an infringement of civil liberties to have policemen parked up with cameras "anywhere, anytime". The campaign is immoral anyway, they say, because the police are there to rake in revenue from infringement notices.... Stripped of all the garbage about statistical analysis, the record speaks for itself. The road toll is coming down. A couple of decades ago, though there were far fewer cars around, road deaths were spiralling out of control toward 1000 a year. Now look at them: 460 or so. Read the full article, by Frank Haden at Stuff _____________________________
"This weekends emergency operations held by the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate (KZN RTI) in order to reduce road crashes and save lives on our roads has proven to be very successful as no fatalities were recorded over the past two days," a statement said. In joint operations held together with the SAPS and other enforcement agencies throughout the province, 39 drunk drivers were arrested, 79 drivers were charged for not having a driving licence, 405 motorists were prosecuted for speed, 41 vehicles were removed from our roads for being in an unroadworthy condition and 24 public transport vehicles impounded for not having route permits. Close to a thousand (952) other motorists were charged for various other traffic offences. KZN Transport, Safety and Security MEC Bheki Cele has warned motorists that no mercy would be shown to those who disregard road rules. Full story, from Business Day _____________________________
Some law enforcement officials say traditional [publicized] sobriety checkpoints aren't doing enough to prevent alcohol-related traffic deaths and are calling for alternative methods to catch drunken drivers.... The task force's report said that it believes "smaller enforcement groups patrolling in identified (drunken-driving) areas may be more effective than current large-scale, stationary checkpoints." Full article, from the Beacon Journal _____________________________
"Sometimes, a look in the rearview mirror at how American families once traveled in automobiles can be frightening." If you have a vehicle with three rows of seats, or if you're thinking about buying one, do read this excellent article by Royal Ford, of the Boston Globe _____________________________
Nature -- and traffic -- abhors a vacuum. Leave a space in front of you on the freeway, no matter the size, and it's sure to be eaten up. Most drivers learned how to create that gap using the two-second rule for following distance, either in Driver's Ed class or by reading the state Driver's Guide. But that changed in 1998, and drivers have been urged to double that to a four-second gap between bumpers. Tailgating is the second-leading factor in accidents on King County freeways and the state, according to the State Patrol. Only speeding causes more accidents. Full article, from the King County Journal _____________________________
As many as one driver in four attending this year's Birmingham International Motorshow is failing a vision screening test and could be unsafe to drive home. That's a dramatic increase from the one in seven figure recorded at the 2002 show by Specsavers Opticians, which has brought its Drive Safe roadshow back to the event to educate drivers about the dangers of driving with impaired vision. But the increase is not due to show visitors suffering a collective deterioration in eyesight, its more about greater understanding of the issues. Jon Clarke, Specsavers PR manager, says: "Since we started vision screening in 2002 people are more willing to come forward and discuss the issues. They're perhaps less worried about failing the test and more concerned with taking appropriate action to get their vision improved. The numbers failing our vision screening test correlate with the national trend. If one in four drivers visiting the NEC cannot see properly, there's no doubt that this is putting the lives of road users and pedestrians at risk. That's why were encouraging visitors to the show to come to Hall 10 to take our four minute test, and also why were asking the government to tackle this issue head on." The Drive Safe roadshow is supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the road safety organisation Brake. Recent research conducted by Specsavers shows that 87 percent of motorists are in favour of compulsory eye examinations for drivers every five years, particularly for the over 40s. _____________________________
....The Lopez family, which had bought several new Cavaliers over the years [and whose daughter was subsequently killed in one], is suing General Motors on the grounds that it made a car it knew was not safe enough to survive collisions with its other products, namely its large pickups and sport utility vehicles. The heart of the family's argument is that the company has been slow to equip vehicles with side air bags that protect people's heads, a technology that could have saved her life.... Full story, from the New York Times _____________________________
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A woman was fined $290 in default of four months in prison and disqualified from driving for four months on Tuesday. Police tested Andree Jannif, 29, after her car hit a post, and found 79 milligrams of alcohol on her breath and she was later charged. Other charges included careless driving, failing to stop a motor vehicle after an accident, and driving without a valid licence. [Source: the Fiji Times] _____________________________
The newly-instituted road safety regulatory measures come into force next month. Addressing the weekly government press briefing, John Nasasira, the works, housing and communication minister, said talking on mobile phones while driving is outlawed, and motorists may not drive while drunk. Motorists are also expected to wear safety seat belts. Speed governors will be introduced in public service vehicles and commercial vehicles of 3.5 tonnes and above. Restrictions on observance of the traffic signs and markings have also been imposed on motorists. Nasasira said [that in Uganda], in 1994 alone, there were a total of 8,903 accidents which claimed 1,289 lives. But by December 2003, the number shot up to 17,422 while 1,996 people died in the crashes. Other road safety improvement initiatives include the introduction of driver-training curricula expected by July 2004. Full story, from New Vision (Kampala) via allAfrica.com _____________________________
Safety Warnings by Federal Highway Safety Officials Some insurance companies have demanded that drivers take special courses as a condition of insuring the vans. Some have stopped insuring the vehicles. Fifteen-passenger vans are essentially regular cargo vans with the back extended to make room for more seats. In the usual configuration, a driver and passenger sit up front. Behind them are three, three-person benches, with a small aisle along one side. At the rear of the van is a wall-to-wall bench seat that can accommodate four people. With 10 or more passengers, the van's center of gravity is shifted higher and farther to the back, said a recent advisory to drivers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "As a result, the van has less resistance to rollover and handles differently from other commonly driven passenger vehicles, making it more difficult to control in an emergency situation," the advisory said. Moreover, the risk of rollover increases dramatically as the van is loaded, so that a church van carrying 10 passengers is nearly three times more likely to tip than an empty van, a federal safety study found. Full story, from nola.com, New Orleans _____________________________
According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, inattention, speeding and failing to yield the right of way were the leading causes of last year's Memorial Day weekend crashes. In 2003, 11 people died and 580 were injured in 1,323 traffic crashes over the holiday weekend. Statistically, that's one person killed or injured every 7.9 minutes. Don't drink and drive. Report reckless or possibly intoxicated drivers by calling *55 on a cell phone [but if you are driving alone, find somewhere safe to stop before making the call, unless you have "hands free"]. That number will connect you with the nearest Missouri State Highway Patrol Office. Be prepared to give a vehicle description, the location of the vehicle and the direction it's headed. Full article, from the Buffalo Reflex, at Ozarks Newsstand _____________________________
The Pacific Highway has claimed 69 lives in the past 16 months. Minister for Roads Carl Scully announced the multi-million dollar package at the NSW Country Road Safety Summit, which started in Port Macquarie yesterday. The improvements will include road resealing with skid resistant asphalt, the installation of safety barriers and the removal of roadside hazards such as poles and trees. For the first time on the Pacific Highway, variable message signs will be installed at key locations to keep motorists informed of traffic conditions, upcoming road works and advise them of their speed. The package will also include previously unannounced measures such as point-to-point speed cameras and the installation of additional wire-rope median barriers to separate opposing traffic flows and prevent head-on crashes. Full story, from the Port MacQuarie News _____________________________
Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan on Thursday urged motorists to play their role in reducing the number of road accidents this year by driving safely. In making the call, he reminded motorists who drink alcohol not to drive if they are drunk but opt for taxis when they wished to go home. He also advised the pedestrians to wear luminous clothes when they are on the road at night. Tan said this at the launching of the Pesta Kaamatan road safety campaign at the Penampang road by-pass. He disclosed that Sabah recorded 3,681 road accidents between January and April this year compared with 3,436 cases during the same period last year, reflecting a 7.1 percent increase or 245 cases. Of this figure, there were 73 fatal cases, resulting in 85 deaths, 104 serious injuries and 301 minor injuries. During the same corresponding period last year, he said the Sabah traffic police reported 73 fatal cases with 91 deaths, 115 serious injuries and 333 minor injuries. Tan is also the Chairman of the Sabah Road Safety Council. Full story, from the Daily Express, East Malaysia _____________________________
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. signed legislation yesterday that will give Maryland some of the nation's toughest laws against drivers under the influence of drugs. Frustrated that motorists impaired by drugs often go undetected by police, the governor signed a bill that requires a motorist who causes a fatal or serious accident to submit to a blood test if an officer requests one. Currently, police request drug tests only if they suspect a motorist is impaired and that suspicion is then confirmed by an officer who is certified in "drug recognition," said Sgt. Thornnie Rouse, a spokesman for Maryland State Police. "Now, we'll just test everyone" involved in a serious accident, Rouse said. Keith S. Franz, a Baltimore lawyer who helped draft the legislation, said few states require such testing in accidents that don't result in fatalities. "This is going to provide a very powerful tool to the police and prosecutors in getting convictions," he said. Full story, from Yahoo News _____________________________
the Price! Read this interesting if worrisome article, from Newhouse News Service _____________________________
The National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, Ellen Engleman Conners, today praised Virginia Governor Mark Warner and state lawmakers for their commitment to getting drunk drivers off of Virginia's roads. "The bills signed today affirm Virginia's commitment to aggressively pursue safety on their roadways and they also serve as notice that drinking and driving will not be tolerated in Virginia," Engleman Conners said at today's signing ceremony for the Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs Omnibus Bill. She praised Virginia's new drinking and driving laws as, "a tremendous step forward," and challenged other states to make the commitment to zero tolerance for drunk driving. With the signing of today's bills the Commonwealth of Virginia lowers the high BAC level which triggers stiffer fines and mandatory jail time from .020 to .015, requires that vehicles of repeat DUI offenders (three or more offenses) be seized, strengthens the license revocation provision, and toughens penalties for drivers refusing breathalyzer tests. The new laws also impose a zero BAC restriction on re-instated licenses of convicted offenders and increase license restrictions for offenders who meet or exceed the high BAC limit. Statewide sobriety checkpoints are already part of Virginia's campaign against drunk driving. [Source: NTSB Press Release SB-04-14] _____________________________
Police have stopped 49,769 Quebec drivers this month in an intensive drunk-driving program called Operation PAS Alcohol. Of those tested, 219 had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 - representing 0.44 per cent of all drivers stopped. Full article, from the Montreal Gazette at Canada.com _____________________________
Cape Town - Former e.tv newsreader, Udi Ya-Nakamhela, has been fined R30 000 (US $4,585) after pleading guilt to drunken driving. Half of the fine has been suspended for five years, but Ya-Nakamhela has to pay an additional R2 000 for a previous fine. In 2000, he was fined R4 000 (US $611) after being found guilty on a similar charge - R2 000 of this was suspended. Ya-Nakamhela was arrested in January in Table View for driving under the influence of alcohol. Shortly after his arrest, he resigned from e.tv "for personal reasons". [Source: News24.com] _____________________________
Motorists in the District of Columbia have just over a month to get ready to comply with a new D.C. law requiring drivers to use hands-free devices when talking on their wireless phones. Starting July 1, 2004, motorists could face a $100 fine for talking on wireless phones without using hands-free devices. A similar law takes effect July 1 throughout New Jersey, and is already in effect throughout New York State. _____________________________
Summer is almost here, which means teenagers across the nation will be out of school and looking to drive their parents' car. But if a teenager gets into an accident, it is most likely that the parents' savings will be on the line. That is why families need to make some critical decisions before their teen hits the road. _____________________________
Traffic police will be monitoring key junctions of the national road network from tomorrow in preparation for a major exodus from the capital as Athenians take advantage of Monday’s public holiday to leave the capital. An extra lane of traffic will be opened for outbound traffic on the Athens-Corinth national road at Elefsina and Kakia Skala. Trucks weighing over 1.5 tons will be banned from key sections of major roads over the weekend to avoid bottlenecks. In Attica, police said there would be a crackdown on speeding and drink driving. [Source: Kathimerini] _____________________________
Panaji: In a bid to intensify coordinated efforts of inter-departments to curb the increasing road accidents in Goa, the state government has created a road safety council today. The demand to establish an inter-departmental council for the safety on Goa’s roads has been pending for a long time. The government convened the meeting to formulate the council and it was chaired by the Transport Minister, Mr Pandurang Madkaikar. All departments connected to roads — transport, public works department, collectorates, department of national highways, the Kadamba Transport Corporation, Western India Automobile Institute and the police — are represented on the council. The chief secretary will also be a member of the council. The modalities and action plan to reduce road accidents in the state were discussed. Mr Madkaikar, informally talking to reporters at secretariat, said the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar had taken interest in constituting the road safety council by assuring budgetary support. The transport department has collected a revenue to the tune of Rs 50 crore by way of taxes. Besides, he said the revenue in way of challans to erring vehicle drivers on roads had increased substantially. Full article, from the Navhind Times _____________________________
Major League Baseball is hoping to help make it a record-breaking season. Record-breaking for safety belt use that is. MLB is teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and TEAM Coalition to unveil new in-stadium advertisements that will promote safety belt use to fans, a demographic that government statistics show are at greater risk of being injured or killed in a car crash. NHTSA Administrator Jeff Runge said, "I commend Major League Baseball and all the clubs for taking a leadership role to promote Click It or Ticket. Just like a player would never face a 95 mph fastball without a helmet, no one should ever face road traffic without a safety belt. Safety belts save lives and are required safety gear on the road, every trip, every time." NHTSA's recently released 2003 preliminary national statistics show that a core demographic of sporting fans are at higher risk of being involved in an automobile crash. Annually, adult males under the age of 34 are most likely to be affected by automobile crashes on highways. Nationwide, more than 6,400 men in that age group are killed in crashes every year, and 72 percent of them typically do not buckle up. [Source: TEAM Coalition] _____________________________
As vacationers hit the road this summer, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) reminds motorists to be aware of the fact that for many drivers, the road and their vehicle is where they work. Transportation accidents are the number one cause of on-the- job deaths in the U.S. Policemen, firemen, emergency medical technicians, salespeople, utility workers, deliverymen, truck drivers, construction work zone employees and many more are at work while on the road and at risk every day. Of the 5,524 fatal on-the-job fatalities recorded in the U.S. in 2002, 43 percent were a result of transportation accidents with truck drivers recording the most fatalities with 808, followed by farm industry workers at 519. To help the motoring public, ASSE has developed a free 'Important Driving Safety Tips' brochure. This brochure provides safe driving tips and facts such as how to safely share the road with commercial vehicles such as by allowing large amounts of space between your vehicle and a truck as truck and busses cannot stop as quickly as passenger vehicles; how to correctly secure your children in your vehicle; how to drive safely in roadway construction work zone areas; and, provides a list of websites where more information on safe driving rules, statistics and expected roadway construction in your area can be found. To order a copy of the free 'Important Driving Safety Tips' brochure contact ASSE at 847-699-2929 or customerservice@asse.org _____________________________
At their Council meeting in Bucharest in 2002, ECMT Ministers made a commitment to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in deaths from road accidents over the period 2000 to 2012. At the Ljubljana session, on 25-26 May 2004, Ministers approved the proposed procedure for for monitoring progress in meeting this objective. _____________________________
An Australian child strapped properly into a car would be more likely to survive a crash than an adult wearing a seat belt because child car restraint and baby capsule standards are among the strictest in the world. Australia's four main suppliers of restraints help keep the standards high. This gives them a clear market advantage over imported products, which often fail to comply. "The suppliers do enormous amounts of research and keep improving the product," said the head of the Infant Nursery Products Association, Tim Wain... The standard was introduced in 1973 and is regularly revised as car designs change. European and US regulators have copied Australia's requirement that the top of the restraint be tethered to the seat to prevent the head hitting parts of the car. Full story, from the Sydney Morning Herald (smh) _____________________________
40km/h (25mph)? One opponent of the scheme and one proponent debate the issue here (from The Daily Telegraph and the Pedestrian Council of Australia) _____________________________
British police are developing a new breed of roadside camera to trap tailgating motorists. [This issue has previously been reported on this web page but this article is included for a slightly different view of the matter.] Full story, from One News, at TVNZ _____________________________
The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) study has revealed that from 2001 to 2002 alcohol industry responsibility ads placed on television dropped 46 percent (1,280) while the number of alcohol product ads increased 39 percent (289,381). Additionally, underage youth ages 12 to 20 were 400 times more likely to see an alcohol product ad than an ad discouraging underage drinking. Full report, from MADD _____________________________
The Pakistan Government is trying to establish a society free from corruption and exploitation, Minister for Communication, Babar Khan Ghauri while addressing an Award distribution ceremony of Motorway Police in Islamabad on Tuesday. The Minister said that Motorway Police is a corruption free force which has set an example for the other government departments. He said that since its inception, it has been working with devotion and dedication and expressed the hoped that it will continue efforts to achieve the new milestones in its journey towards public service. The Minister praised the commitment, courage, integrity and bravery shown by the Motorway police on several occasions and foiled the attempts of dacoity [robbery] on the motorway. [Source: Pakistan Link] _____________________________
New accident figures released in Suffolk show safety cameras have reduced the number of deaths on the county's roads. At the 8 fixed camera sites across Suffolk, there's been a 91% reduction in accidents, while in areas where mobile safety cameras are used, accidents have been halved. The Suffolk Safety Camera Partnership believe they've saved over 40 people from death or serious injury in the past year. [Source: Anglia TV] _____________________________
Porsche AG is recalling more than 40,000 Cayenne sport utility vehicles worldwide, and rival Volkswagen recalled 60,000 of its Touareg SUVs to check for potential faults in rear seat belts. The German automakers jointly developed the Cayenne and Touareg models, and the vehicles share some parts. The recall is to check for bolts anchoring the seat belts to the frame that were improperly welded and could come loose. Porsche said it became aware of the problem through quality tests, but that no incidents had been reported. About 1,000 of the faulty parts were installed in the Cayenne and Touareg vehicles. [Source: Detroit News] _____________________________
Of the 150,000 drivers in Fiji, 40,000 have undergone a defensive driving course, according to the National Road Safety Council. Council chairman Sefanaia Koroi said the road safety council would like to improve on the figure so drivers were more educated about road safety. Poor road conditions, poor road attitude and poor knowledge have been attributed to causing road accidents in the country. Full story, from the Fiji Times _____________________________
America's 101 Deadliest Days on the Road and How to Survive Them The Drive for Life News Conference released results of a study of five-years of summer crash data that draws on a spectrum of traffic safety expertise from respected U.S. highway safety sources. The full report focuses on a critical period -- the 101 days from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend -- when Americans drive more and for longer, and when fatal crashes and child deaths peak. It analyzes six contributing factors and provides survival strategies to stay safe on the road and highlights compelling stories of families who survived horrible crashes. [Source: Drive for Life, via PR Newswire] _____________________________
There's going to be a new red zone around most primary schools as part of an Enhanced School Zone Scheme to make roads around schools safer for young children. Under the new zone, there will be a stretch of red surface on the road about 50 metres from the school entrance and again 20 metres away. The coloured and textured surfaces are meant to alert drivers to slow down as they enter a school zone. "It is a scheme whereby we give the motorists an enhanced vision that they are coming into a school environment," said Chandrasekar, manager of LTA's traffic management. Besides the red zone, traffic crossings in school zones will also have countdown timers so that children don't run across the road just before the light changes. And, road dividers ["traffic islands"] will have railings to prevent jay-walking. The review came after an average of ten children were knocked down on Singapore's roads every month last year, prompting public concern over road safety for kids. Full story, from Channel News Asia _____________________________
This press release contains such outstandingly good advice (far above average quality) that not only are we linking it here, to the news page, but it will also be permanently linked to other sections of this website. In particular, drivers should note the advice to turn headlights on an hour before sunset and keep them on for an hour after sunrise. This is infinitely better and safer than the ridiculous, out-of-date, official advice that has been given in America, Britain and other places for decades. Many of us have challenged such inadequate nonsense for years, so "thank you," MVLC, from DSA! Read all of the excellent advice here _____________________________
At the start of the year, Volvo Cars presented four new safety systems that will be launched in the company’s car models over the forthcoming period. One of them was BLIS – Blind Spot Information System – which was unveiled on the Volvo stand at the Detroit motor show. In addition to BLIS, Volvo Cars is also launching water-repellent glass for side windows and door mirrors – along with a simple and dependable method for switching off the front passenger airbag in Volvo cars. _____________________________
The sometimes-controversial advertising tactics of the car industry are being mimicked in a new road safety campaign aimed at tackling speeding, the biggest killer on country roads. The Minister for Roads, Carl Scully, unveiled the new $1.8 million statewide campaign at the Country Road Safety Summit at Port Macquarie as part of efforts to arrest a worsening road safety record in regional areas. Mr Scully said the NSW regional road toll for 2004 was more than double the toll for the whole of Sydney - and the gap was widening... “As of May 25, the road toll for Sydney - where two-thirds of the state’s population lives - was 60, while the toll for the rest of NSW was 157,” Mr Scully said... In his keynote address, Mr Scully said the new campaign - which will start tonight - deliberately adopted the advertising tactics used by the car industry to sell cars. “We have unapologetically used the same evocative images as the car industry for the same basic reason - to attract the attention of males, who continue to be grossly over-represented in the road toll,” he said. “In fact, most viewers initially will think this is a car advertisement." Full article and explanatory second article, from the Roads and Traffic Authority, New South Wales _____________________________
-- Otto the Auto Uses Fun to Grab Students' Attention Otto the Auto is a traffic safety awareness program for K-2 students provided free of charge to schools by AAA Texas. The three-foot-tall, brightly painted talking car which visited more than 1,000 elementary students in Houston today, to conduct interactive discussions about traffic safety. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for children age five through 12. The purpose of Otto the Auto's program is to instill good habits that will prevent tragic deaths and injuries to youngsters who are walking, bicycling, or riding in a vehicle. Education efforts aimed at younger children and their parents can help build good traffic safety habits. _____________________________
A KCBS traffic plane had to make an emergency landing on a strip of westbound I-580 in Castro Valley, California, on Monday morning after running out of fuel. No one was hurt during the landing, and California Highway Patrol officer Steve Tress credited the pilot's "excellent" job maneuvering the plane into the far lanes and eventually to the shoulder. Helping the situation, according to Ed Cavagnaro, KCBS director of news and programming, was Rob Castro, an alert motorist on the highway who weaved across lanes and created a traffic break and gave the plane room to land. It is alleged that the pilot believed he had fuel in one of his tanks because its gauge read "full," even though the plane's empty tanks apparently caused the forced landing. "We're more comfortable reporting the traffic than being in the traffic report, but that's what happened," the onboard traffic reporter Carl Thomas told KCBS anchors. Full story, from the Contra Costa Times _____________________________
Two fatal accidents yesterday brought the death toll on Quebec roads to at least four during the Victoria Day/Patriotes Day long weekend. Full story, from the Montreal Gazette, at Canada.com _____________________________
The Road Safety Council of Western Australia will ask for a 30 per cent increase [sic] in its funding to compensate for a drop in revenue from speed and red light cameras. The council says fewer people are flouting the road rules, which means the safety campaigns are working, but that has led to a funding shortfall. Council chairman Grant Dorrington will ask Police Minister Michelle Roberts to increase its annual budget from $13 million to $20 million. [Source: ABC News Online] _____________________________
One out of every 200 registered 1995 Saturn SLs was stolen in 2003, placing it ahead of the 1998 Acura Integra and the 1994 Saturn SL as the vehicle thieves targeted most. Full report, from the Detroit News _____________________________
A new type of roadside camera that will target tailgating drivers is being developed, say police. The cameras would measure gaps between vehicles and record number plates so that offenders could be penalised. Motorists driving close to a car in front of them can currently be charged with careless or dangerous driving. Meredydd Hughes, Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, said "We have tested a laser-based camera system which has the potential to detect incidents of close following. "The public have told us that close following is some of the most dangerous behaviour on the roads, [and] evidence from the Transport Research Laboratory shows that it does contribute to road crashes." Full story, from BBC News _____________________________
[Many] young drivers do not... bear proper permits to drive and they are the least to respect traffic lights, signs and rules because they are the offspring of high level government officials, influential dignitaries and descendants of rich families and businessmen. Some of those minors are provided cars to get to their schools as their prestige does not allow them to use public transport, but the vast majority of them have access to cars only to show off their high social status. Due to the lack of driving experience, lack of respect for traffic lights and regulations and high speed, those minors are constantly jeopardizing the lives of other obedient drivers and innocent pedestrians. They frequently cause tragic accidents and sometimes, they themselves fall victims to their reckless driving and misbehavior, not counting the damage they cause to public and private property such as the electricity poles, advertisement billboards and cars involved in accidents... Traffic rules, regulations and signs must be implemented practically. The burden of implementing them does not solely fall on the shoulders of the police traffic department. It is the responsibility of the whole society, drivers and pedestrians. Whenever there is an acceptance of the need to abide by the law, the easier it becomes to implement it. The various media organizations (TV, radio and newspapers) must contribute in spreading traffic awareness, especially by TV since it is the most widely spread and watched. TV channels must provide programs related to spreading basic traffic rules among the citizens and to inform them of the serious dangers to not abide by traffic, lights, rules and regulations. The Ministry of Education must include the subject of traffic rules and regulation in the educational curriculum for the next generation to fully understand them.
10749 traffic accidents took place during the year 2003, resulting in
2447 fatalities and 14545 cases of injury, ranging from moderate to
serious injuries with temporary and permanent disabilities. The
financial and material losses are estimated at 2.3 billion Riyals. _____________________________
Such measures are taken by the Main Department of the Interior Ministry's Security Service and by the General Prosecutor's Office with participation of the Moscow Prosecutor's Office, a source in law enforcement agencies told RBC. The details have not been announced yet. However, there are already some detained people, the source said. [Source: Ros Business Consulting, Russia]
Update 1: Eight traffic police officers, including top officials, were detained Monday in connection with an investigation into a car theft ring that operated with the help of the city’s traffic authorities and dealt in foreign-made stolen cars, Russian media reported. The suspects, all high-placed officials in the city’s traffic authority, were detained after a series of raids at the offices of Moscow’s traffic police, a source in the law enforcement authorities told Interfax... The detainees are being questioned by police to identify accomplices, and the “number of members in the criminal group is much higher,” Interfax quoted the police source as saying. RIA Novosti, citing another police source, reported that the group may involve as many as 100 people... Russian traffic police, better known by the abbreviation GIBDD, are a common sight on the country’s roads and are notorious for taking bribes from drivers. Full story, from MosNews
Update 2: Russia’s traffic police have drawn up and are implementing a package of measures against corruption and other abuse within their ranks, the chief of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Traffic Police Department, Major-General Viktor Kiryanov has said. Bribe-taking on the roads is the greatest concern. “A decision has been made that each patrol car should carry the hotline telephone number any driver is welcome to use to complain against wrong treatment or receive consultations,” Kiryanov said. “Each traffic police division has an equivalent of the internal security service. Each month their agents carry out dozens of special operations aimed at exposing those responsible for legal abuse,” the official said. This year a total of 1,700 traffic police have been disciplined and 123 of them dismissed. [Source: ITAR-TASS] _____________________________
Jamaica's traffic accident rates and the rates of pedestrian deaths are among the highest in the region, says Paula Fletcher, executive director of the National Road Safety Council. An estimated $15 million has been allocated to projects for Labour Day, which is being observed under the theme 'Road Safety First Avoid the Worst'. "Jamaica is estimated to be among the top five countries in the Caribbean in terms of traffic accidents per capita," Ms. Fletcher said. The accidents are most often caused by bad choices on the part of drivers, who speed, fail to observe road signs, and do other activities which contravene the road code. Also, the police have found that poor road-crossing methods by pedestrians have contributed to the high number of pedestrian fatalities. Their deaths account for 30 per cent of deaths from traffic accidents and one third of that 30 per cent are children, Ms. Fletcher said. Last week, The Gleaner reported that... there [have been] 98 deaths from 91 traffic accidents since the start of the year. Eight children have died as a result of these accidents. Earlier this month, Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, noted that statistics from the Road Safety Unit indicated that in 2003, Jamaica recorded 4,432 traffic accidents, 392 of which resulted in fatalities, with 51 being children. The statistics further revealed that 29 of the children were pedestrians, either crossing the road or standing on the sidewalk. Labour Day will focus also on the promotion of a campaign which was started to encourage pedestrians to 'PUT YOUR HAND UP IN THE AIR' to signal that they want to cross the road. The aim also includes getting drivers to pay attention, stop, and allow pedestrians to cross when they put their hand up in the air. Full story, from the Jamaica Gleaner _____________________________
The Makati City Council has passed an ordinance imposing a fine of P2,500 or imprisonment -- or both -- on persons who drive their vehicles while under the influence of drugs or liquor. Mayor Jejomar Binay said the move was intended to protect the public from physical harm. “We intend to put a stop to drunk driving and driving while high on drugs, in the interest of public safety.” Hermenigildo San Miguel, city director for Public Safety, said drivers suspected of being drunk or high while driving will be taken to the Ospital ng Makati for mandatory testing. Full article, from ABS-CBN News _____________________________
About 15 people, including rescue workers and journalists, were killed on Monday at the scene of a road accident in southeast Romania when an overturned truck carrying ammonia exploded, police and media said. Two journalists from private television Antena 1, some firefighters they were filming, trying to put out the flames, and policemen who had rushed to the scene in Mihailesti, about 70 km from Bucharest, were all killed in the blast. The state Rompres news agency said about 15 people were killed, including five firefighters. A 15-year-old girl was among 12 others injured, police said. The explosion caused a 14 metre-wide crater. Transport Minister Miron Mitrea, who rushed to the scene after the explosion, said authorities would investigate whether the truck was transporting chemicals legally. Authorities would not say why the rescue crews and TV reporters were allowed to approach the burning truck. "Usually they don't make such mistakes," a fire brigade spokesman in Bucharest said. Full story, from TVNZ Alternative report here, from Voice of America _____________________________
Drivers and others looking for information about England's motorway and trunk road network will find that the Highways Agency's website has been given a facelift. Users will find the site more attractive and easier to navigate and use. It incorporates four new services to help drivers plan their journeys. The website is the Agency's most important communication tool, as it registers well over a million page impressions a month. Visitors to the website can now get real-time traffic information from the National Traffic Control Centre. They will also be able to also get traffic-flow forecasts to help them plan their future journeys. Details of all road projects [USA: "construction work"] are now stored in a database, which visitors can search by simply clicking a map or selecting a road from a drop-down list. There is also a live and continuously updated stream of timely and relevant information for the road user. The new website can be viewed at: www.highways.gov.uk Footnote: The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It manages, maintains and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State. It works closely with other transport operators and with local authorities to integrate the trunk road network with the rest of England's roads and other forms of travel. _____________________________
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This next piece is a "must read" for young drivers:
Rhode Island: David Calderon doesn't look like a convicted killer who just got out of prison. And that, he says, is the point. He still thinks of himself as an 18-year-old all-state athlete who'd just graduated from North Kingstown High School when he went out partying with his buddies, then decided to see how fast his new car could go on the way home from Providence. He was clocked by state police driving 121 miles an hour on Route 95 south about 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 25, 1998. He tried to ditch the police officer by taking the next exit, leading to Jefferson Boulevard. But he was going so fast, he lost control of the car. It careened across the ramp and hurtled down an embankment, where it slammed into a tree -- killing one of his best friends and mutilating another. Calderon was sentenced to eight years in prison after the crash. He's now 24 and was released on parole six months ago. Full, excellently written article, by Laura Meade Kirk, of The Providence Journal, via projo.com _____________________________
He is the man whom even the police personnel fear, as no one knows [when] Rishi Raj Singh will appear before them. Mr Singh is in the limelight for trapping the black sheep in the newly introduced Highway Patrols through sting operations. "The sting operations carried out to nab the Highway Patrol personnel found taking bribes has helped in streamlining the 30 units working on the highways and the M.C. Road. The motorists and the public also seem to be relieved and there are no complaints now. The sting operations will continue with the element of surprise", says Mr. Singh, the Inspector General of Police, Armed Police Battalions and Traffic Planning and in-charge of the Highway Patrols. The Highway Patrols have been found to be successful in the State and four more, including one on the Kazhakuttom- Kovalam bypass, are to be introduced soon. These patrol units will be equipped with speed radars to track down speeding vehicles and fluorescent cane would be provided to the police personnel attached to the units. Full story, from The Hindu _____________________________
MUSCAT — An official source at the public relations department of the Royal Oman Police said yesterday that 120 road accidents occurred in the Sultanate’s various regions and governorates during May 15 to 21, causing the death of three persons and injuring 126 others. Of them, 66 were collision between vehicles, 18 run-overs, 13 turnovers and 23 collisions with stationary objects. [Source: The Times of Oman] _____________________________
Police are hailing New Zealand's biggest ever drink driving blitz as a huge success after nearly 50 drink drivers were arrested in Auckland in the early hours of Saturday morning. Eighty police manning 10 drink drive checkpoints stopped more than 4500 people during the three hour blitz which started at 4:30am. Some motorists tried to avoid one booze bus only to get caught by another. Police managed to keep the country's biggest ever drink drive blitz top secret and the numbers tell of the success of the operation with one in 100 people stopped found to be over the limit - 4 1/2 times higher than the usual check point strike rate. Police say the results will shape future strategy. Forty-eight people, mostly men, now face drink driving charges. [Source: One News, TVNZ] _____________________________
The rash of roadworks under way throughout the capital, in combination with shoddy existing roads and incorrigibly bad driving, have led to a steep rise in road deaths this month, traffic police said yesterday. From May 1 to 18, 29 people were killed on the roads of Attica, compared to 22 [during the whole of] last May, Attica’s traffic police chief, Panayiotis Adamidis, told Kathimerini. “And the month is not yet out,” he added. Adamidis linked the problem with badly built roads and roadworks being carried out ahead of the August Olympics. “One must admit that Attica’s road network is in pretty awful shape in many parts,” he said. “The tarmac [USA: "pavement"] is of poor quality, there are lots of bumps and works are under way in many places at the same time. But while the average driver sees the warning signs, knows that the road quality is poor and the lighting is insufficient at night... he continues to behave as if the roads were all right.” Adamidis said police were now focusing on stopping red-light breaches, which he said were responsible for the last four deaths. [Source: Kathimerini] _____________________________
Police in the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh say more than 40 people have been killed and 17 others seriously injured when a private bus plunged into a deep gorge. The police said the bus, which was packed with 70 passengers, went off the road near the state capital, Itanagar, after the driver lost control. The BBC correspondent in Calcutta says the accident is the worst for many years in remote north-eastern India, where buses and trucks often veer off mountain roads and plunge into deep gorges. [Source: BBC South Asia News] _____________________________
DUBAI -We human beings are remarkable creatures. Status matters a lot to us. Take car number plates. To many of us they are just numbers, but for a few it means much more than that and they are willing to pay a hefty price for the privilege of owning numbers that are at once recognisable and make you stand out from the crowd.
Think
about it. Simply for a 5 inch by 15-inch rectangle of aluminium, some
people will pay the price of a flat in any nice city.
But,
having a customised car number does not mean you are above the law, and
there are cars that have been impounded by the police for committing
traffic offences, which carry customised numbers worth millions of
dirhams. Brigadier Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, director of the Dubai Traffic Police Department, spoke to reporters during and after an auction on Thursday for a total of 36 Code E customised number plates, which fetched Dh7.8 million. [One two-digit number, alone] (33) was sold for a whopping Dh1.14 million. "There is no distinction in the eyes of the law between a person with a customised number and another with a normal number, and this has been in line with our policies and the instructions of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, who is also Head of Dubai Police and Public Security," said the Brigadeer. Full story, from the Khaleej Times _____________________________
Every year, hundreds of millions of wild animals are struck and killed by vehicles on North American roads. The daily death toll tops 1 million birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, according to the Humane Society of the United States. A recent study by the Kinetic Conservation Group indicates that continentally more than 1.1 million deer annually are killed in vehicle collisions that also kill more than 200 people and cause more than $1 billion in property damage. Local wildlife losses on roads can be enormous. According to biologist Ron Brooks of the University of Guelph, a four-year Ontario study confirmed more than 32,000 animals died on a single 3.6-kilometre [2.25 mile] stretch of roadway. In another instance involving a 3.2-kilometre section, more than 10,000 garter snakes were killed in one year. It is thought that 15 to 30 per cent of Ontario's snapping turtles succumb to vehicles each year. There is no national or international program for collecting precise statistics on wildlife roadkills, but the total magnitude of wildlife loss can be inferred from local studies. Full story, from the Toronto Star _____________________________
A vehicle last week caused panic in Lamin, when its driver lost control over the wheel and hit three cyclists, before ramming into a shop, where a similar accident miraculously occurred last year, destroying ten thousand Dalasi worth of goods. According to eyewitnesses, the van was fully loaded, heading towards the nearby village when its driver lost control over the steers, as he tried to avoid another car coming from the opposite direction, when it ran on three bicyclists, causing them serious injuries on their legs, face, arms and other parts of the body. One of the residents was quoted as saying "we are sick and tied [sic] of witnessing endless accidents every now and then, I think the authorities concern should put in their weight and start to deploy sweeping policemen on the newly constructed road to reduce the prevalence of road accidents." Meanwhile, The Independent has reliably learnt that the victims are recovering from their injuries. [DSA comment: We presume the writer meant 'sleeping policemen' -- road humps designed to force traffic to slow down!] Full story, from The Independent (Banjul), via allAfrica.com _____________________________
Governor Bill Owens today signed legislation lowering Colorado's blood alcohol content (BAC) for drunk driving from a .10% to .08%. "Lowering the legal threshold for driving under the influence is an important safety measure and something that I have long supported. This will combine with other ongoing enforcement and education programs to save lives," Owens said. Owens also announced that with the approaching Memorial Day weekend, Colorado would again be substantially increasing enforcement to arrest drunk drivers and to emphasize the importance of buckling up. "Again this summer, the heat is on drinking drivers. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, law enforcement agencies plan more than 100 sobriety checkpoints on summer weekends," he said. [Source: Colorado Department of Transportation] _____________________________
1. Don't Drive Tired 2. The Hedgehogs Are Back! 3. Think -- Slow Down! 4. Teenage Pedestrians For further information about any of these campaigns, or to view commercials, go to http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk _____________________________
Road accidents cost Australia $17 billion last year - more than the annual defence budget - a Bureau of Transport Economics report shows. The national road toll last year was 1634 - the equivalent of deaths from three jumbo jet crashes. For every road crash death, another 125 people were injured. In 2003, more than 200,000 people across Australia suffered injuries in car accidents, leading to devastating financial, social and physical tolls. Monash University civil engineering associate professor Raphael Grzebieta said while terrorism was touted as a threat, road carnage was a much bigger killer of Australians. "It's a war zone out there on the roads," said Mr Grzebieta, who is president of the Australasian College of Road Safety. Full article, from the Herald Sun _____________________________
Sandwell's road safety team has commissioned an award-winning theatre company, Birmingham-based Women and Theatre, to create a new play for the areas Asian community. "According to the 2001 census nearly 14 percent of Sandwell's population is of Asian origin, and last year we launched a project to raise awareness of road safety among this community," said Andrea Johnson, assistant road safety officer. "The project threw up a number of key road safety issues that needed tackling including wearing seat belts, avoiding drink driving, using child safety seats and not having too many passengers in a car. We decided a play would be the most effective method of getting the message across, and of appealing to the different Asian communities we are targeting,: she added. Further details here, from LARSOA _____________________________
Speed and fatigue remain major contributing factors to accidents involving trucks, according to NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) statistics. Highway patrol officers throughout NSW are targeting heavy vehicle drivers particularly those driving B doubles and semi-trailers in an attempt to reinforce the need to take appropriate rest breaks and keep within the speed limits. According the to the RTA, a study in 2000 found that 45 per cent of long distance heavy vehicle drivers in Australia admitted to experiencing fatigue during their last trip. [Source: Goulborn Post] _____________________________
There is a tug of war as to which particular authority in the country has the mandate to impose fines on defaulting commuter bus drivers. In an interview with the Dar es Salaam Regional Traffic Officer, Afrael Ndosi, yesterday, he insisted that the Traffic Police are authorised by law to impose fines on offending daladala drivers. In an interview on Wednesday with this paper, the Chairman of Dar es Salaam Transport Licensing Authority (DRTLA), David Mwaibula, had said Traffic Police were not authorised to impose fines on defaulting drivers, but only to direct them. He had said, instead, it is his office which was authorised to undertake the job. However, when this paper met him yesterday he rescinded his stand, saying that the Traffic Police are authorised to fine the culprits. [Source: The Guardian, Dar es Salaam, via IPP Media] _____________________________
CHILDREN in Great Britain are more likely to be killed by vehicles on
the road than in almost any other country in Europe and practical child
pedestrian training, sadly neglected since the demise of the "Green
Cross Code Man" and the "Tufty Club", needs to become a
real priority says road safety champion, GEM Motoring Assist (GEM). Full article, from GEM _____________________________
A "horrific" new road safety commercial screens on Victorian televisions from tonight. The one-minute Transport Accident Commission (TAC) commercial shows in graphic detail a crash in which a middle-aged male driver hits a young girl riding her bike in a suburban street. The commercial aims to reinforce the message that crashes that involve speeding, even at low levels, can kill and maim people, TAC Minister Rob Hulls said at the launch of the commercial in Melbourne today. "It's true that this is a stark ad, some would say horrific, but we make no apologies for that," Mr Hulls added. "It's important that we continue to get the message across that even if you're driving [just] a little bit over the speed limit you can kill people, you can maim people." Mr Hulls said he hoped the commercial served as a timely warning to people as the state experienced a "devastating" period on the roads. "This has been a devastating month on Victoria's roads," Mr Hulls said. "Each loss of life is an avoidable tragedy that we should not be prepared to accept as a community. "There's no excuse that a driver can give to the family of someone they have killed that will make it okay." [Source: The Australian] DSA Comment: Although few people outside Australia are aware of it, the Aussies do extremely well and work extremely hard in the road safety arena. They are certainly the world leaders when it comes to the use of shock tactics and hard-hitting safety commercials. There are suggestions that the effectiveness of a graphic advertisement campaign does start to wear off after a few years but there can be no doubt that for at least those few years the effect is stunning and must surely make many drivers more aware. Good luck with this one, too, Victoria! ______________________________
Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) members are planning an intensive "Click it or Ticket" seat belt enforcement campaign, from May 24 to June 6. This program, which includes intensive enforcement of seat belt laws accompanied by paid media emphasizing the enforcement message, is funded by grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The GHSA strongly supports this effort since it has been proven to be an effective method for increasing seat belt usage. Last year, the nation achieved a record 79 percent seat belt use rate largely because of this approach. While this achievement is a significant accomplishment, more must be done. The NHTSA estimates that each additional percentage point increase in seat belt usage will result in 280 lives being saved. The recently-released preliminary estimate of 2003 highway fatalities offers further evidence of the need for increased seat belt usage: 58 percent of those people killed in passenger vehicles were not belted. While "Click it or Ticket" campaigns are effective at increasing seat belt usage, they are only part of the solution. States need to enact primary seat belt laws, which allow police to issue a citation any time they observe an unbelted motorist. Currently, only 20 states and the District of Columbia have passed this life-saving measure. Generally, upon passage of this law, states see an increase in their seat belt usage rate varying from 10-15 percent points. Every state urgently needs this law. In addition to the upcoming seat belt mobilization, states in the southeast region of the country are planning a crackdown on excessive speeding by drivers. Known as the "Summer H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic)" campaign, this 100-day effort will center on enforcement of speed limit laws while also targeting seat belt laws, drunk driving laws and other forms of aggressive driving. [Source: Statement by Kathryn Swanson, chair of the Governors Highway Safety Association, via US Newswire] _____________________________
A panel of motor industry experts have chosen Volvo for both 'Safety' and 'Best Estate' awards in the 2004 'Fleet World Honours', announced at a ceremony in London. Commenting on the Fleet World Safety Award, fleet industry consultant and a former fleet manager, George Emmerson, said: "'This award is as much an endorsement of Volvo's safety ethic as it is a recognition of the high level of safety built into individual models in the range. Volvo goes to great lengths to learn from real-life experiences as well as crash tests, and its commitment to research in this area is a great comfort to those whose business involves long periods behind the wheel of a car." In respect of the 'Best Estate' competition, the Volvo V70 estate continues to dominate the large, premium estate car sector, and has won more 'Best Estate' awards than any of its competitors. [Source: RoadSafe, May 2004] _____________________________
The Quebec Justice Minister, Jacques Dupuis, has launched a review of drunk-driving cases in the province and may ask Ottawa to change the law to crack down on repeat offenders. He announced the review when he was appointed, last month, just before a spate of alarming drunk-driving cases in Quebec:
"In my role, I have to read public sentiment and make a rational decision,'' Dupuis said. "That's what I intend to do. There is no doubt that the situation is serious, we can't condone that kind of behaviour.'' Full story, from the Montreal Gazette, at Canada.com
______________________________
Four strapping lads from the Ulster Rugby Squad are the driving force behind a new Roadwise scheme which is aimed at making young people better drivers. Paddy Wallace, James Topping, Bryn Cunningham and Andy Maxwell are all agreed that it's not smart to show off on the roads. Yesterday, the team-mates spent four hours honing their own driving skills. They have already taken part in the first part of the scheme, which includes road safety workshops. Bryn commented: "Roadwise is an excellent idea. There are so many accidents on the roads involving young people. Hopefully when people see us taking part it will encourage them to give it a go and help them realise it is cooler to drive safe." Andy added: "The first module... made you more aware of other drivers behaviour as well as your own." Anyone who has been driving for a year or more is invited to take an advanced driving test and earn insurance discounts of up to 35%. Roadwise is backed by a number of bodies including the DoE, PSNI and DVNLI. You can find out more at www.roadwise-ni.com or phone (International 04411) -- [0]28 9033 0151. ______________________________
Traffic accidents in April caused 7,696 deaths in China, dropping 6.5 percent from the same period last year, according to figures released by the Ministry of Public Security on Thursday. The total number of people killed in traffic accidents in the country has exceeded 100,000 annually for the three consecutive years since 2001, with an average daily report of some 300 deaths. Traffic accidents in April also injured 34,318 people, down 15.9 percent, and caused direct economic losses of 240 million yuan (US $28.9 million), down 14.4 percent, the figures show. The number of automobiles in China accounted merely for 2 percent of the world's total, whereas its death toll from road mishaps made up about 15 percent, ranking first in the world for years. Some experts attribute the large number of road accidents to incompetent driving skills and the lack of a sense of safety on the part of drivers, vehicles' poor performance and unsatisfactory road conditions in the country. [Source: Xinhuanet] ______________________________
Providence, RI -- A Superior Court judge on Thursday handed down what's believed to be the longest sentence ever given in Rhode Island for a drunken driving fatality. Michael Glynn will serve 22 years of a 35-year prison sentence. Police said Glynn, after a day of drinking in August 2001, stole a car and rammed into an East Providence woman and her son while they were stopped at a red light. Glynn was trying to escape from police at the time. Lucy Fonseca was killed and her teenage son was seriously hurt. Judge Robert Krause said: "It comes down to a matter of accountability, Mr. Glynn. If we are not to sink back into the morass of a more primitive age, there must be accountability in our society." Full story, from Turn To 10 News. Also another version here, from the Providence Journal (registration needed). ______________________________
AAA Minnesota/Iowa: As the weather gets warmer, everyone wants to find ways to spend more time outside. That is why it is the perfect time to emphasize the importance of being aware of bicyclists on the road. During summer break, children are not protected by the confines of their schoolyards. It is also more difficult for a child to judge traffic situations because their peripheral vision is one-third narrower than an adult's. So it is important to be alert when driving throughout the day - especially since children could be walking or playing anywhere and could dart into traffic. Parents also need to instruct children to play in their backyards or at playgrounds, away from traffic. Children need to understand what to do if unsafe situations arise; for example, ask a parent to retrieve a ball that goes into the street. Full article -- including vital safety advice for all -- here ______________________________
A man was fined nearly $300 for drunk driving a donkey cart in a small town and then telling police he was unconcerned "because the animals knew the way home". Hans du Toit was stopped recently in the town of Philipolis, about 650 kilometres south of Johannesburg, when traffic officials noticed his donkey cart swerving all over its one main road. "But when the policeman left, I decided: 'I know this road and so does my donkeys. If I don't find it, my donkeys will," Du Toit said in a statement before court. "The drive was a bit haphazard and I was stopped again by the police," he added. Du Toit's wife was called and she unleashed the animals. Traffic officials and the court took a stern view and sentenced Du Toit to the fine or two years in jail, of which 21 months were suspended for four years. [Sources: Sapa, via iafrica.com] ______________________________
A vigorous campaign by the French government to improve its poor road safety record has led to a dramatic decline in the [number of people killed and injured]... (The details of this article are available here but only by paid subscription to the Financial Times) ______________________________
The RoadSafe organisation welcomes the announcement that the Government is reviewing penalties for speeding and is looking forward to further announcements. Adrian Walsh, Director of RoadSafe said: "Whilst we must remember that there is a tremendous amount of robust scientific evidence, that higher speeds mean more accidents, more severe accidents, and more deaths., we believe that penalties should be adjusted to the severity of the offence and penalties should always be seen to educate as well as punish" ______________________________
The UK Department for Transport (DfT) today published National Statistics of vehicle speeds in Great Britain in 2003. These statistics relate to the speeds at which drivers choose to drive in free-flow conditions generally across the road network. DSA Comment: The results show a high tendency for speed limits to be exceeded, and in doing so, might be seen to challenge the American practice of using the so-called "85th percentile" in determining appropriate speed limits. U.S. readers should note that British non-urban speed limits tend to be generally somewhat higher than in America, yet the road-crash fatality rate is dramatically lower in Britain. _____________________________
Eighty-three children were injured after [the truck carrying them] overturned near Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal, about 600 km south of Johannesburg, according to a report on Wednesday. Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital spokesman Mbuso Mshentshela said the accident occurred on Tuesday and five children were in critical condition and one severely injured child had been transferred to the City Hospital in Durban. Apparently the children were at a sports meeting and took a lift back to town when the accident happened. The driver of the truck [was] not admitted to hospital. KwaZulu-Natal road traffic inspectorate spokesperson Logan Maistry said on Wednesday that provincial transport authorities visited the injured children at the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital near Umlazi shortly after the accident and ordered an full investigation into the accident. [Source: Xinhuanet] ______________________________
Minnesota has become one of the last states to lower the blood alcohol limit for drivers from 0.10 to 0.08 - the move came in part to get federal highway funds. But... the change may present local jurisdictions with additional burdens. Much of the resistance to lowering the blood alcohol limit on Minnesota drivers came from lawmakers, who feared rural cities and counties would bear an undue burden in enforcing the new standard. The new DWI law [should go] into effect next August. It's anticipated that nearly 1400 additional arrests will result. Full story, from KAAL-TV DSA Comment: With no disrespect to Mark Johnson, the reporter concerned, the article is remarkably negative. While all of the focus here appears to be on how much it will cost the community financially, there is no reference to the positive impact that saved lives will have. The USA still lies in second-to-last position, globally, (view the charts here) in the push to reduce blood-alcohol limits and the pitifully unnecessary number of people killed by drinking drivers. This law is an excellent if modest step forward for Minnesota and somewhere, as a result, there are families which will unwittingly continue their normal lives rather than having them shattered by the loss of fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters or whatever. If the bill does become law, Delaware would be the only remaining state with a 0.10 percent drunk-driving standard [MADD]. _____________________________
VANCOUVER - Hundreds of B.C. high school students witnessed classmates struggle through the aftermath of a deadly drunk-driving accident Monday. Not one of them moved to help. But they were all moved. The students were watching their peers recreate a drunk-driving accident under hypnosis, part of an in-your-face Insurance Corporation of B.C. anti-drunk driving program. One student wailed and cradled her dead son. Another cupped her slashed face in shock. The driver hung his head and wanted to die. And a gymnasium full of senior students, so accustomed to scoffing at earnest guest speakers, were dead quiet. The re-enactment was led by hypnotist Marc Savard who took the crowd down a road he once travelled as a survivor of a head-on collision with a drunk in 1996 that seriously injured him. Full story, from the Ottawa Citizen, at Canada.com ______________________________
You're stuck on the... freeway. All lanes have come to a dead stop, when suddenly a motorcycle roars past at high speed, inches away, scaring the wits out of you. It's called lane-splitting, a harrowing maneuver by motorcyclists to break through freeway traffic jams and bypass slow-moving vehicles. Although motorcyclists love it, motorists often find it annoying and dangerous. It's legal in California for motorcyclists to weave between traffic lanes to pass slower cars, but that doesn't make it safe. California is the only state that allows motorcyclists to drive between vehicle lanes, [providing] it is done in a safe manner. Full story, by Jeanne Wright at the LA Times _____________________________
An Iowa State Penitentiary employee just 10 minutes into the first leg of a charity run was struck and killed Monday afternoon by a vehicle driven by an elderly man who attempted to go around the patrol car protecting the runners from traffic. Plans were made to ensure the safety of the runners with an Iowa State Patrol escort and still things went wrong, ISP Deputy Warden William Sperfslage said. Full story, from The Hawk Eye _____________________________
WICHITA, Kansas - An accident Wednesday involving two Andover school buses sent 17 students to the hospital with minor injuries. A school administrator traveling on one of the buses was transported from the scene in potentially serious condition. The buses were northbound on Interstate 135, traveling through a construction zone, when a white van swerving in and out of traffic cut the first bus off, said Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. Roger Baughman. The bus slammed on its brakes and the second bus rammed into the back of the first bus. Police are looking for the van, which fled from the scene. Full story, from KansasCity.com _____________________________
Parents think their children use bicycle helmets and seat belts more often than children say they use them, according to a new study by a pediatric surgeon. In a survey of fourth- and fifth-graders and their parents, University of Michigan researchers found that while... parents say their children use a seat belt 92 percent of the time, but children report using one only 70 percent of the time. And while 80 percent of parents say their children always sit in the vehicle's back seat, only 43 percent of children say they always sit in back. "This study shows the need to target injury prevention programs to parents and children together. We can't rely solely on parental reports of children's safety behaviors," said study author Peter Erlich. Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death in children, with 500,000 children hospitalized annually due to injury. Motor vehicle crashes account for more than half of all injuries and traumatic deaths in children, and bicycle accidents account for another 10 percent. The answers collected from the children are consistent with national data on bike helmet and seatbelt use, suggesting their answers are closer to reality than the parents' answers. Full article, from Local-6, Florida _____________________________
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Foresight Vehicle is a Government-funded initiative that is making the UK a world leader in automotive research. It involves more than 400 companies and universities in cutting-edge technology. Many of the breakthroughs will shape every aspect of tomorrow's vehicles, transport systems and manufacturing techniques. More than 200 leading industrialists will attend a summit, called 'Shaping the 21st Century Skills for Competitive Businesses', on May 26 as part of the Sunday Times Motor Show Live. Pat Selwood, Foresight's Programme Manager, said: "This is a great opportunity for us to tell important people from industry what we do - and I think many will be pleasantly surprised. "Foresight Vehicle projects are resulting in more efficient manufacturing techniques and vehicles that are safer and greener. We are also looking at the whole transport infrastructure and the part that technology can play in easing traffic flow." Visit the Foresight Vehicle web site here. _____________________________
The seven-seat Verso, which went on sale in the UK on 1 May, emulated the performance of the Toyota Avensis by setting the highest points score in its class.
efficiency of which was well-proven by the Euro NCAP tests. Toyota has developed the technology of the system to achieve a 40 per cent load reduction on the driver's knees in the event of a frontal impact similar to the official test. The knee airbag is one of nine airbags fitted as standard to all Corolla Verso models. Driver and passenger front airbags have dual-stage inflators, combined with a seat position sensor on the driver's side and a front impact severity sensor mounted behind the front bumper. Also standard, and unique within the compact MPV [USA: "Minivan"] segment, is a two-stage seatbelt reminder which activates a warning light and persistent buzzer if front seat passengers fail to buckle-up within a set period of time. The active safety package includes a wider track, thicker anti-roll bars and the use of rebound springs - another segment first - for greater stability and improved roadholding. A new brake control system incorporates the latest ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Vehicle Stability Control and Brake Assist. The Corolla Verso is also the first car in Europe to offer Toyota's Cornering Assist Monitor, a front-mounted miniature camera that helps the driver "see" through blind corners at junctions by means of real time images transmitted to a centre dashboard display screen. This comes as part of the package for T Spirit models that also includes Rear View Monitor with Park Assist system, which provides images from behind the vehicle for safer and simpler reversing manoeuvres. _____________________________
National Campaign, sponsored by the
National Safety Belt Coalition ______________________________
The death toll from one of England's worst crashes in many years has now reached eight.
"No matter how small the piece of information, we would ask that the public phone us as soon as possible so we can establish exactly what happened to cause this terrible tragedy." A Sussex Ambulance spokeswoman said that counselling is being offered to witnesses. [Primary source: Sussex Police] _____________________________
Bahrain is being considered as the host for a major international road safety conference, to be held in 2006. Portugal-based La Prevention Routiere Internationale (International Road Safety Organisation) president Jose Miguel Trigoso is in Bahrain on a two-day scouting mission to decide whether their World Congress should be held in the country. Although Mr Trigoso is sure that Bahrain will meet the organisation's standards, it may still decide to have it in the UAE. But it's almost certain that the event will be held in the Gulf in line with the organisation's aims to develop traffic safety in all parts of the world. The congress is held every four years, but this is the first time it is being held outside Europe. Bahrain University College of Engineering Centre for Transport and Road Studies director Dr Abdul Rahman Al Janahi said that the congress could help Bahrain develop a national road safety strategy. "We've been calling for this for a long time because although there have been many sincere efforts to improve traffic safety, a national strategy is needed to make a real difference," he said. [Source: Gulf Daily News] _____________________________
Ghana's National Road Safety Commission is to institute a best driver award to help reduce, the spate of road motor accidents. The criteria for winning the award would be accident-free record, good behaviour, good maintenance, and drivers whose general performance would be in conformity with road safety measures. Mr. Nobel Appiah, Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission announced this at a meeting with executives of Brong Ahafo Regional Road Safety Committee in Sunyani. In attendance included police accident squads from the districts, representatives of GPRTU, Cargo and Tipper Truck Associations, State Transport Company (STC) and Progressive Transport Association (PROTOA). Mr. Appiah disclosed that a study had shown that 90 percent of road accidents in the country could have been prevented had those drivers or motorcycle and bicycle riders had observed road safety laws. "It is on record that every month, 122 precious lives are lost in Ghana through road accidents," he said. Full story, from GhanaWeb _____________________________
Chandigarh, India: India: A four-day workshop on fatal road accidents started at the Bal Bhawan today. Ten art teachers from the UT education department participated in the workshop. The UT traffic police will be preparing a Black Book on the 133 fatal road accidents in the year 2003 during this workshop, and the art teachers will sketch detailed site maps of each such accident. Then the various factors that led to the fatal accident will be studied. ‘‘Besides the fault of the driver, there might be road engineering mistakes or an illegal opening on the V-3 roads which might have caused the accident,’’ traffic officials say. The police, on the basis of the Black Book, will be making recommendations to the Road Safety Council through the UT administration. ‘‘We might also include details of the fatal accidents in 2004 which have resulted in 46 deaths till date. The Black Book will be open for public scrutiny to generate more debate on each fatal accident,’’ the officials added. [Source: Chandigarh Newsline] _____________________________
Chandigarh, India: If the reactions of the women stopped yesterday by the Traffic police under the supervision of Inspector Shivraj Sidhu in Sector 27D market for helmetless driving is anything to go by, the awareness of wearing helmets is slowly but surely creeping in. ‘‘We wear helmets only when the Damocles sword hangs high on our heads,’’ was the candid confession of Ritu, a school teacher. ‘‘It is only the fear of challans that will force most women to buy helmets. Now, I have to buy one rightaway,’’ she said. For Ankita, a housewife, a helmet spoils her hairstyle. ‘‘But if traffic police makes it mandatory, one has no choice. Yes, it does make driving safer,’’ Ankita conceded. Full story, from Chandigarh Newsline _____________________________
The death toll in Sunday night’s road accident involving a hired 28-seater bus carrying members of Premier Soccer League giants Dynamos and a tractor just outside Chegutu rose to two yesterday afternoon, following the death of the second bus driver. Zimbabwe international Francis Madziva sustained serious injuries as he broke both legs and was yesterday transferred from Parirenyatwa Hospital to St Anne’s Hospital in the capital. The accident -- involving yet another soccer club -- comes at a time when the nation is still to come to terms with the horrific collision along the same highway in which three CAPS United players and two of the club’s supporters were burnt to death in March this year. And last week, Northern Region Division One side Golden Kopje lost three members of the team in an accident on their way from a league match. Full story, from The Herald _____________________________
Among the key items on the agenda are achieving the target of halving the number of road deaths by 2012, and the measures to be implemented in order to promote cycling. [Source: OECD] _____________________________
After a dramatic 38 percent drop in alcohol-related traffic deaths from 1980 to 1994, DUI deaths stagnated at about 17,000 for five years before starting to climb again from 2000 through 2003. The latest statistics will show that the summer holidays of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends were the most deadly holidays of any season on the nation's highways in 2002 due to an increase in alcohol-related crashes. In response, the NAB and NCADD (www.ncadd.com) are launching a "Stop Drunk Driving Now" public awareness program for local broadcasters to let audiences know how they can fight drunk driving. And, as Congress continues to debate reauthorization of the federal transportation legislation (TEA-21), the Congressional Stop DUI Caucus will work with states and local communities to help renew the nationwide war on drunk driving, which is still the most frequently committed violent crime in the nation. Journalists and broadcasters will attend a conference on Wednesday, May 19, at the Russell Senate Office Building, Washington D.C., "on the eve of 100 deadly days of summer on the nation's highways." [Source: National Commission Against Drunk Driving -- www.ncadd.com/ ] _____________________________
Education and enforcement will become the focus for Ontario Provincial Police officers as they join with police services across the country to reduce the death and injuries that occur on our roads every year. Canada Road Safety Week will run from May 17-24, this national campaign will see officers focusing on ensuring everyone buckles up and youngsters are properly restrained in child seats according to their age and size. OPP officers and Regional RIDE units across the province will be checking vehicles to ensure no one drinks and drives and speeding drivers slow down. These are the factors that put drivers, passengers and other road users at risk. "The deaths, pain and broken hearts that result from carelessness behind the wheel can be prevented," said Supt. Bob Goodall, OPP Commander Field and Traffic Support Bureau. Full story, from CNW Telbec _____________________________
A week before the annual Memorial Day crackdown on highway safety violations, seat belt advocates are claiming progress in a multimillion-dollar campaign directed at the group that is hardest to reach, young drivers. Deaths in vehicles among people ages 16 to 20 fell by 5.2 percent last year, to 5,332 from 5,625. And on Monday, the Transportation Department is expected to announce that seat belt use was up by 7 percent among people ages 16 to 24 and 4 percent among all age groups, after a highly visible push around Memorial Day weekend last year... The federal government is spending $30 million this year on a television advertising campaign to reach high-risk groups, including teenagers, members of minorities and racing enthusiasts... Moving the rate of seat belt use to 90 percent or higher would cut highway deaths by 3,000 to 5,000 per year, the advocates say. The Transportation Department and others have been urging state legislatures to strengthen their laws, especially the 29 states that do not allow officers to issue tickets for seat belt violations unless they have first pulled over a vehicle for some other reason. Full story (important details), from the NY Times _____________________________
[Introductory note: In Britain it is against the law for police officers to have a union. Instead, they have a non-militant Federation to act as the collective spokesman and negotiate various improvements.] An American-style civilian patrol force working on the Midland motorway network could put lives in dangers, a senior police officer has claimed. Paul Tonks, chairman of the West Midlands branch of the Police Federation, said the new patrols would make little difference to road safety. He said they lacked training and expertise and voiced fears they might be used to pave the way for job cuts among specialist motorway traffic police... He said: "There is an argument that these traffic officers are not going to encroach into the area of enforcement; my belief is that in time they certainly will."... The scheme is based on a US system and designed to free police officers from traffic coordinating duties to concentrate on more serious road crime. Full, detailed story from ic Birmingham _____________________________
Winterbottom visited the school as part of the Wright Patton Shakespeare Safety Car Program that travels to schools around Australia giving them the chance to experience the excitement that is associated with the world's most competitive touring car championship. [Source: Crashnet] _____________________________
There is no getting around the tragic arithmetic: U.S. Highway 6 has claimed 148 lives between Spanish Fork and Green River since 1991, easily justifying its reputation as Utah's deadliest road -- and one of the most dangerous highways in the country. Yet, amid all the carnage and sorrow, there are indications that U.S. 6 -- which links the Wasatch Front with the mining communities of Helper and Price, and the recreation destinations of southeast Utah -- is finally becoming safer. Full story, with a description of how the improvements are being made, from the Salt Lake Tribune _____________________________
A flexible new system of speeding penalties last night received a cautious welcome. Under government plans new points meted out to speeding motorists will depend on how fast they were driving. Those marginally over the limit will receive just two points on their licence while the most serious offenders will get six. The move comes in response to mounting anger from motorists over increasing use of speed cameras. [Note, for non-British readers: Under British law a ban/disqualification/suspension is automatic when 12 penalty points are accrued within any three-year period.] Leading road safety figures upheld the approach of not overwhelming roads with speed cameras but rather using them to target accident blackspots. [Source: East Anglia Daily Times] _____________________________
A bus carrying 20 passengers and driver has plunged 60 metres (almost 200 feet) over the edge of Viaduct #1 on the Caracas-La Guaira autopista (highway). In the late Sunday tragedy, 13 persons have been reported dead and 7 seriously injured, while another has mysteriously disappeared from the scene of the accident. Metropolitan Fire Department emergency teams were at the crash site shortly afterwards and said the probable cause was a slippery surface, caused by rain, and excessive speed despite highway limits on the down run from Caracas. [Note that subsequent e-mail headlines claim that the death toll now stands at 30.] Original story, from VHeadline _____________________________
Experts have warned that China is facing a deteriorating trend of rising road traffic accidents, which have enabled the country to lead the world in terms of road traffic death toll. Statistics of traffic and police departments worldwide show that the global traffic accident death toll amounted to 500,000 in 2003 [Note: The World Health Organization actually estimates the number at 1.2 million killed each year], with the largest [total] of 104,000 reported in China, followed by India with 86,000, the United States with 40,000, and Russia with 26,000, said Duan Liren, former deputy director of the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau. Full story, from China Daily _____________________________
The State Government is considering a permit system for all cars and four-wheel-drives fitted with bullbars in the metropolitan area.
The Ministerial Advisory Committee of Senior Victorians have said bullbars should be illegal, except for approved versions used in defined rural areas. Full story, from the Herald Sun _____________________________
At least 20 people died last week in separate incidents, the Botswana Police said in its weekly report. According to the report 19 died in 348 road accidents from May 5 to May 9 while one person died in a case of suspected murder. Police Public Relations Officer, Dipheko Motube, told Monitor that this has been the highest death toll ever to be recorded in a normal week. He said that such high death tolls usually happen during the festive season or at month ends. The police say the total death count since the beginning of the year is 185 compared to the 171 during the same period last year. Motube stated that the Botswana Police has been trying to sensitise people to avoid speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The police report stated that 378 motorists were charged for overspeeding in the past week. According to police records, 176 motorists were found to have consumed alcohol after breathlyser tests. Eleven have already been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol. Meanwhile Reverend Rupert Hambira, president of the Botswana Christian Council told Monitor... "Government must revisit the Road Traffic Act. More charges should be put for getting licences to regulate our roads. As drivers on the road, we must respect speed limits." [Source: Mmegi/The Reporter (Gabarone), via allAfrica.com] _____________________________
On a night when most were celebrating, some had to fight for their lives in a spate of accidents on the highways around Johannesburg. ER 24, an emergency services group, reported at least 16 serious accidents in and around the city. Nine youths are in a serious condition in hospital at Schweizer Reneke in North West following one accident, after celebrating the 2010 World Cup soccer bid in Vryburg. [Source: SABC News] _____________________________
Bright-orange vests intensified by the sun, in almost Royal Household Cavalry-style precision, 1,840 motorcycle taxi riders stood beside their mounts yesterday in front of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok in training as volunteer traffic-controllers. The volunteer traffic-control project initiated by the Metropolitan Police Bureau will allow motorcycle taxis to help traffic police officers in their neighbourhoods from tomorrow, Royal Thai Police deputy commissioner-general, General Charnchit Bhiraleus said in a speech to the crowd gathered... As motorcycle-taxi stands are located at almost every corner of every street in Bangkok, the riders outnumber traffic-police officers, so the police thought that with their help traffic would be smoother, Charnchit said. Full story, from The Nation _____________________________
The focus of this event is to ensure that children are properly secured in child safety seats or booster seats that are appropriate for their age and size. Many of the sites will also host a safety fair with educational activities including bike rodeos, in-line skating safety, and fire prevention safety. One of the early findings of Partners for Child Passenger Safety (PCPS) was that 83% of children between the ages 3 to 8 years were being prematurely graduated to an adult seat belt, rather than using a child safety seat or booster seat. To learn more about PCPS or to view the list of Child Safety Day sites, visit http://www.statefarm.com/kidsafety.htm
See also the DSA page: "Children In The Car and Kids In The Booster Seat" _____________________________
Next time someone down the pub tells you they save hundreds every year by not getting their car insured, don't slap them on the back and say "Good for you, mate" -- these people cost the rest of us around an extra £60 a year. The likelihood of getting caught is now vastly increased following the introduction of legislation effective from 2003 which has given police the option to issue a fixed penalty of £200 to any motorist found without suitable insurance for their vehicle. Furthermore they automatically face having six penalty points added to their licence. That's half way towards losing your licence altogether! Saving expense by not getting car insurance may seem like a good idea at the time but can be financially disastrous. _____________________________
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta joined NASCAR President Mike Helton today in launching a new traffic safety alliance with the racing league aimed at saving the lives of everyday drivers on America's roads. Secretary Mineta made the announcement while in Richmond appearing as the Grand Marshal of NASCAR's running of the Chevy American Revolution 400. The new partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation and NASCAR will urge all race fans to buckle up and abide by impaired driving laws, and will enlist the help of NASCAR's drivers, revered by fans, to drive the message home, Secretary Mineta said. "We share a mission -- automobile safety, and if anyone knows the value of a safety belt, it's the men who drive for a living on NASCAR's raceways," he added [Source: U.S. Department of Transportation] _____________________________
The Haltemprice and Howden MP said it was essential to use the "full repertoire" of road safety measures - not just speed cameras. Full story, from This Is Hull _____________________________
In order to concentrate deeply on the on-going nationwide rehabilitation of federal roads, the federal government has said that it will not embark upon dualisation of more federal highways in the country. To this end efforts are geared towards rehabilitation of the existing higways and thus rid them of potholes to check accidents and reduce the damage done to vehicles. Full story, from This Day (Lagos), via allAfrica.com _____________________________
Following today's joyous royal wedding, at Copenhagen's Lady Lutheran Cathedral, the 800 guests were ferried to the evening party "in a fleet of almost 100 Volvo limousines and coaches." _____________________________
Loyola de Palacio, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport and Energy, announced the details in a a speech titled "Road Safety: a Shared Responsibility." Full text of speech (important content from a global perspective). _____________________________
Naomi Woodward, now 22, was jailed for four years today for causing the death of van driver Paul Gibson in May last year. Woodward, who only held a provisional licence ["student permit"], was driving the black BMW M3 convertible on the M1 after spending the evening drinking in Northampton. Witnesses saw her swerving in and out of lanes and overtaking erratically, at speeds of up to 100mph, the court heard. She then shunted the back of Mr Gibson’s Mercedes box van, sending it spinning into a ditch. Mr Gibson, from Malton, North Yorkshire, was not married and has no children. He died after suffering serious head injuries and fractures to his vertebrae, Northampton Crown Court was told. Woodward lied constantly to the police about who was driving the car, said prosecution counsel Clive Sutton, giving two false names to officers about the driver. She gave a positive breath test at the side of the road but then refused to give further breath samples when arrested. Sentencing Woodward, of Nuthall Close, Wakes Meadow, Northampton, today, trial judge Richard Bray said: “In a tragic case of this nature no sentence I can pass will be acceptable to those involved. Full story, from The Scotsman _____________________________
This week Environment Minister Angela Smith MP used her visit to the Balmoral Show to reveal that 38 of the 59 deaths on Northern Ireland's roads so far this year occurred on rural roads. Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the Automobile Association, has made comment after the latest fatality figures showed that most deaths in the province happen on country routes. "If you look at roads with the highest accident rates in Britain, you will find that they are almost all single-carriageway [i.e. 'undivided highway'] rural roads," he said. "They are the traditional roads on these islands -- the route goes up and down and twists, often merely to avoid land owned by someone [influential], centuries back." Mr Howard said that ideally single-carriageway roads should be upgraded to dual carriageway or motorway to cut head-on smashes, the biggest killer. But if traffic levels were too low to justify such provision, there were other measures that could be implemented. Two Plus One roads, which have slashed death tolls in parts of Scandinavia, consist of two lanes in one direction of travel and one in the opposite direction, separated by a crash barrier. And it is only possible to overtake in the two-lane sections, the direction of which alternate at intervals of around 1.25 miles. Two sections of road in Ulster have been chosen by the Republic's roads authorities to test Two Plus One. Full story, from the Belfast Telegraph _____________________________
Benoit Dupras was struck from behind by a pickup truck Wednesday night in the town of St. Timothee, south of Montreal. The driver was allegedly returning home from a bar -- one with a sign in the window urging people to drink responsibly -- while Dupras was riding his bicycle home from a friend's house. Ironically, hours before Dupras' death, a private member's bill to toughen drunk driving laws was voted down in the House of Commons. "People are dying on the roads every day because the two loopholes I tried to close weren't closed," said Alberta Conservative MP Leon Benoit. "No other country, like Great Britain, New Zealand or Australia allows offenders of impaired driving to walk away like they do here in Canada," Andy Murie of MADD told CTV. Full story, from CTV _____________________________
In addition to police equipment, the Gallardo is equipped with first aid equipment including defibrillator apparatus with the capability to perform electrocardiograms, and automatic diagnosis of arterial pressure and the presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. The car will also be used for the transportation of plasma and human organs for transplant. [Source: Lamborghini UK] More details available on the DSA Police Officers' Page _____________________________
In June 2003, Col. Mark Trostel was named the chief of the Colorado State Patrol and set a long-term goal of eliminating most traffic fatalities in Colorado by 2025. For the last two months, the Colorado State Patrol has stationed additional troopers along the Roaring Fork Valley's busiest highway during rush hour, with the goal of eliminating most traffic accidents in the area. According to Capt. Barry Bratt of the Colorado State Patrol's Glenwood Springs office, it's an ongoing project that started two years ago when Highway 82 was identified as a roadway that needed additional traffic enforcement to reduce accidents. During the month of April, Bratt said troopers gave out 74 speeding violations, five alcohol-related tickets, three tickets for following too closely, seven lane violations and 102 seat-belt violations just in the stretch of Highway 82 between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. "Colorado Target Zero" is how the patrol plans to reach the 2025 goal. The traffic law-enforcement campaign officially will be kicked off this Memorial Day week, between May 25 and 31. Full story, by Naomi Havlen of the Aspen Times _____________________________
A St. Louis man accused of robbing a Farmington, Mo., motel was charged Thursday with two counts of second-degree murder for deaths resulting from a Wednesday afternoon accident involving a police squad car responding to the robbery. Full story, from STLtoday _____________________________
A new Federal proposal requires head-protecting air bags. Government regulators yesterday proposed stiff new safety rules that would make head-protecting side air bags and other equipment mandatory on all U.S. cars and trucks. The new standards — expected to save 700 to 1,000 lives a year — could be in place as early as 2009. Federal safety officials say it’s the most significant auto safety initiative since federal regulators adopted rules that spurred standard front air bags in the early 1990s. DOT Press Release (including a request for comments, within 150 days) Plus the story from the perspective of the Detroit News DSA Comment: We believe that safety advocates will universally welcome this proposal. One thing not mentioned in the briefing notes, however, is the ability of curtain-style airbags to save many lives in the event of rollover crashes, as long as the bags are programmed to remain inflated until a vehicle has stopped rolling. Surely, if the DOT and NHTSA rightly want to make head protection compulsory, the mandate should categorically encompass this aspect, too. _____________________________
On average, a brand new car will lose an average of £21.40 per day, £3,966 (U.S. $6,988) in total, during the first six months of ownership according to new research. Even with the discounts widely available on new cars taken into account, the stark findings confirm that depreciation is the single biggest cost in running a car - the equivalent of 66 pence (U.S. $1.16) per mile on average, once 6,000 miles have been driven, or a 28.6 percent hit on the original investment in the first 182 days! Owners of luxury models like the Mercedes S Class or Audi A8 feel the biggest losses, where depreciation runs at an incredible £108 per day during the first six months. "When you see the figures in black and white, it's not difficult to see why nearly a million people opt to buy a manufacturer-approved used car in the 6-24 months old bracket," explained report author and price guide expert, James Ruppert of Used Car Buyer. "Letting new car buyers take the initial financial sting out of owning is a no-brainer. Even then, consumers still have to choose the right models to take full advantage of depreciation, or protect themselves against its effects." Industry forecasters expect 2.4m new cars to be registered in Britain during 2004. [Source: Used Car Buyer magazine] _____________________________
The newly formed bipartisan Congressional Stop DUI Caucus will help
raise awareness of the increase of alcohol-related highway deaths and
initiate congressional action. Full story, from KOBTV _____________________________
Let's say cars are going by your house so fast that they bottom out in the intersection and send sprays of sparks flying. You should A: Call the mayor, or B: Throw a brick. None of the above, says Vancouver police Sgt. Tim Kim, a traffic-unit supervisor. Instead, call the department's traffic-complaint hotline and leave a message that officers promise they will follow up on. Within a week, Kim said, an officer will try to call back the reporting party to verify the facts. Typically, two or three officers then will be asked to visit the site and spend about a half-hour watching for violations. Full story, from The Columbian _____________________________
Answering a question by Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo (Narc) about school buses, the Assistant minister for Transport and Communication, Andrew Ligale, said that an estimated 5,390 school children have lost their lives in road accidents since 1990 [n.b. that is almost exactly 400 per year]. He added that a further 11,143 were seriously injured and 19,077 were slightly injured. [Source: The East African Standard, Nairobi] _____________________________
Between 2002 and 2003, the number of heatstroke deaths among children left unattended in parked vehicles increased by 70 percent. As summer approaches and temperatures rise, a new campaign is underway to help prevent such tragedies. The National Safe Kids Campaign and General Motors are reaching out to parents and drivers who transport children, telling them to be wary of leaving children alone in parked vehicles. For the first time, education and outreach efforts are also being aimed at the general public. The campaign urges bystanders to seek help if they see small children left unattended in a parked vehicle. Parked cars are especially dangerous for children because a child's body temperature increases three to five times faster than that of adults -- and their bodies are less able to withstand the heat. So, on a sunny day, even at temperatures as mild as 60 degrees, a closed vehicle can become a very dangerous place for a child in just minutes. [Source: Newstream, for GM] _____________________________
Automotive researchers at the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics and the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine recently evaluated the risks to a mother and fetus in a motor-vehicle crash. They paid particular attention to occupant seating and how seat belts were worn in their research. Their conclusion: Pregnant women should ride in the passenger seat, whenever possible, and wear a three-point seat belt. The seat should be positioned as far rearward as possible and the lap portion of the seat belt should be worn as low as possible underneath the abdomen. Full story, from the Detroit News _____________________________
In Newcastle, a two-hour drive north of Sydney, 45 percent of those up for driving with a specially high alcohol content in 2002 got away without having their licences suspended. In Woollongong, an hour's drive south of Sydney, every motorist up for that offence was slapped with a suspension. Full story, from IOL, South Africa. [DSA Comment: Regrettably, this same situation is irrefutably commonplace in the USA.] _____________________________
Alpine transport ministers, meeting in Switzerland, have called for concrete measures to improve tunnel safety. The summit – the second of its kind – comes after a series of alpine tunnel accidents including the Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland, in which eleven people died. The meeting, at Regensberg, was called by the Swiss transport minister, Moritz Leuenberger and involved his counterparts from Germany, Italy and France - Manfred Stolpe, Pietro Lunardi, Gilles de Robien - and the Austrian Secretary of State, Helmut Kukacka. An observer from the European commission was also present... The ministers first met in 2001 shortly after the fatal Gotthard tunnel fire and signed a declaration pledging to improve security. A working group, headed up by Switzerland and formed in 2002, has the task of analysing the situation and proposing measures. At the time, the Gotthard blaze was the third tunnel accident in as many years, following on from 39 deaths in the Mont Blanc tunnel in 1999 and 12 deaths in the Tauern tunnel in Austria a year later. Full story, from NZZ Online _____________________________
The higher number of tickets issued by traffic police in the past few months did not indicate an increase in violations but was due to a get-tough policy on offenders, the head of the Jakarta Police traffic law enforcement division said... Police began to clamp down on traffic offenders earlier this year. Tickets issued this year reached 40,000 a month on average, compared to last year's 26,000 tickets a month... Police have distributed leaflets explaining traffic rules and penalties before, during the trial period of the extended three-in-one traffic policy and the mandatory seat belt rule... Education was also effective in increasing road discipline and police regularly visited schools to educate students on traffic safety, Comr. Naufal Yahya said. Full article, from the Jakarta Post _____________________________
Kuala Terengganu: For the first time, interactive CD-ROMs will be distributed to the 8,000-odd primary schools in Malaysia to teach the young about road safety. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the focus was on schoolchildren as they would one day drive cars and motorcycles. “We want to expose the young to road safety as many lives are lost in accidents, especially during the balik kampung exodus during festive periods,” he said when launching the national-level road safety campaign and World Health Day celebration here on Monday. Full story, from The Star _____________________________
A grieving mother has been speaking about how her son was killed by a speeding motorist. The moving story of Aaron Turner, from Grimsby, headlines a hard-hitting video as part of a national road safety campaign. Aaron, 12, was knocked down and killed outside his school five years ago by a speeding motorist. His mum Sarah, from Scartho, has since become a leading member of the charity Brake and has campaigned to enforce the speed limit. Now she tells of her heartache in the video, "Too Young To Die", launched today, which also highlights the trauma suffered by those working in the emergency services. Sarah said : "How do you choose a coffin for your child? How do you decide where to have the service and where to have him buried? I wanted none of these things I just wanted my son back but I couldn't have him." [Source: ITV Yorkshire]
Same story -- different aspects: Video aims to cut road deaths A harrowing video showing the devastation caused by road crashes has been launched by Transport Minister David Jamieson. Featuring interviews with people whose lives have been torn apart by tragedy, the video aims to reduce the number of young people killed on Britain's roads. Of the 3,431 people killed on the roads in 2002, 513 (15%) were 17 to 21-year-olds. The video is being sent to more than 2,000 schools throughout the UK, and it will be seen by an estimated 600,000 young people over the next few months. Full article, from This is London _____________________________
Auto safety proponents say the government’s current roof-strength test doesn’t come close to simulating the forces in a real-world rollover accident, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hinted, on Monday, that it is leaning toward merely modifying the nation’s 33-year-old vehicle roof strength test rather than backing the sweeping overhaul sought by the safety advocates. About 7,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in rollover crashes where roofs collapse. Congress may act on the roof-strength issue this year. The Senate passed legislation in February that would call for a tougher roof-strength test. Key lawmakers in the House, however, said they were content to leave the issue to NHTSA. Full story, by Jeff Plungis, at the Detroit News (including diagrams of the current testing method). _____________________________
TAMPA, Florida. -- A business consultant angered when the suspect in his brother-in-law's traffic death didn't appear for trial started a Web site devoted to the suspect's capture - and it worked. Rolando Pozo said he knew it was a long shot when he created the Web site as a diversion from the helplessness and anger he felt when suspect Carlos Giddings missed his trial date. But on Friday, Pozo received an e-mail telling him where Giddings could be found. Hours later, Giddings was arrested. Full story, from Local-6 _____________________________
Phoenix -- Country singer Glen Campbell pleaded guilty yesterday to extreme drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident. Extreme drunken driving applies to a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or higher. Under the plea agreement in Maricopa County Superior Court, Campbell was sentenced to 10 days in jail. He will be eligible for work furlough after 48 hours and will serve 75 hours of community service. He was also accused of kneeing a police officer after being taken into custody. The officer wasn't hurt. Police said breath tests on Campbell showed he had a 0.20 blood-alcohol level at the time of his arrest. The legal limit for Arizona drivers is 0.08. Full story, from The Globe and Mail _____________________________
On Sunday, a Ford Explorer that was passing two cars at once clipped one of the cars then turned sideways and became airborne before slamming into trees on the highway median and landing on its roof. All seven occupants of the SUV were killed, including four young children. The accident happened on Interstate 95, about 10 miles west of Bangor in south-central Maine. Full story, from the Buffalo News Also viewable at Maine Today _____________________________
Full article, including danger-ratings. _____________________________
Fewer than half (41 percent) of kids ages 5 to 14 wear helmets when participating in wheeled activities, and more than a third (35 percent) of children who use helmets wear them improperly. These figures are based on a new national field study released today by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign (SAFE KIDS) and Bell Sports. "Tragedy too often results when kids on bikes don't wear helmets. This important new survey underscores the urgent need for kids always to wear a helmet when using a bike. Helmets should also be worn when riding a scooter, skateboard or skates," said Dr. Jeff Runge, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. _____________________________
Washington State -- The year's extraordinary death toll on North Olympic Peninsula highways is attributed by a veteran trooper at the scene to selfish driving. "These people have no regard for others,'' sighed State Patrol Sgt. Ken Przygocki at the scene of Monday's fatal wreck on U.S. Highway 101 near Agnew. "They want to get somewhere, and nothing will get in their way. It's me, me, me.'' This year's unusually high numbers of grisly wrecks -- Monday's Agnew fatality was the 15th since Jan. 1 -- has left law enforcement personnel and rescue workers shaking their heads. Full story, from the Peninsula Daily News _____________________________
The Alabama Chapter of the National Safety Council (NSC) today announced that it will offer free driver training programs for younger and older drivers in the Birmingham and Anniston areas in May and June. Drivers in these age groups (under age 25 and 55 and older) are involved in crashes at higher rates than drivers aged 25-54. The theme of this year's National Safety Month is Crash-Free June, a month-long initiative aimed at changing behaviors that cause motor vehicle crashes. "Three of the important initiatives of Crash-Free June are providing knowledge, improving driving skills and changing behaviors that cause crashes," said Alan McMillan, President of the National Safety Council. "Younger and older drivers are involved in higher rates of crashes and thus require special attention, focus and training." Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for people aged 15-24. Drivers in this age group were involved in more than 3 million crashes in 2002, and more than 10,000 young people died in those crashes. Drivers aged 55 and older were involved in 1.6 million crashes in 2002 and more than 7,700 in this age group died in those crashes. _____________________________
This level of income is clearly not to be taken lightly and is yet another reason why drivers should be taught more stringently to be watchful and respectful when bicyclists may be about -- irrespective of the area. [DSA comment] _____________________________
More than 320,000 Dodge Durango sport utility vehicles (2002-2003 model year) are being recalled because, the company says, the front windshield wipers are susceptible to water intrusion, corrosion and possibly, eventual failure. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says more than 6,000 Dakotas from 2002 to 2004 may have been sold with incorrect vehicle certification labels. The labels include "incorrect tire, wheel and recommended inflation pressure information" and fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. _____________________________
"Men commit nine times as many motoring offences as women. Home Office figures show that the vast majority dealt with by courts for every type of traffic offence are male," The Times reports. Cue thousands of geezers cry: "Bloody rubbish. They obviously haven't seen my old lady trying to back into the drive." Er, well, they'd be right. Men might be reckless fools on the road, but some can still park better than most women folk. "Insurance claims showed in 2002 that women were twice as likely to have a collision in a car park, were 23 per cent more likely to hit a stationary car and 15 per cent more likely to reverse into another car." Or are we both as bad as each other? Well... in 2002, automobile crashes killed 238 women drivers [in Britain] while 907 male drivers died. Full article, by _____________________________
In an attempt to augment its enforcement capability, the Delhi Traffic Police have acquired a new AC Toyota Qualis traffic interceptor and eight new hand-held radar guns. The interceptor is fitted with equipment for laser-based video monitoring as well as standard video monitoring. It has a special camera that can be mounted on the rooftop, onboard computer, printer, palmtops, breath analysers and other accessories. The eight new automatic speed radar guns too have the option of picture display and can store data for future reference. "The idea is to make prosecution more transparent. Now we can give the offenders an on-the-spot print of a picture of their vehicle with the speed, date and time printed on it," said joint commissioner of police (traffic) Qamar Ahmed. Traffic police officers say that on-the-spot printing facility will help them convince offenders of the fact that a violation has been committed. "Usually people don’t accept that they were over-speeding or driving in the wrong lane. This causes a problem for our staff on duty who land up spending more time dealing with frayed tempers than simply doing their job," said an officer. According to figures available with the traffic police, in 2003, 29,922 vehicles were prosecuted by the interceptors. The figure this year stands at 8,873. Similarly, 2,42,921 vehicles were prosecuted using radar guns in 2003. In 2004, the figure stands at 73,450. Full story, from the Times of India _____________________________
They were stopped on the A7 Mediterranean coastal motorway near Tarragona, south of Barcelona, where there is a 70mph limit, just before Sunday’s Grand Prix in Barcelona. It is not known if they were on their way to watch the race. Full story, from The Sun (UK) _____________________________
Motorists kill more than 5,000 pedestrians and bicyclists in the USA each year, and injure tens of thousands more. But safety advocates say states spend very little to build sidewalks, crosswalks and wider road shoulders to protect them. From 1998 to 2003, about one in every seven traffic deaths - 13.2 percent - was someone walking or peddling on or next to a road, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA. During that time, states on average spent less than $1 of every $50 - 1.9 percent - of their federal safety aid on projects primarily designed to safeguard those who walk and bicycle, according to the nonprofit Surface Transportation Policy Project, which wants more tax dollars spent on alternatives to highways. A coalition of organizations - from anti-sprawl groups to the AARP - wants to close that disparity. Representatives say roads that aren't safe for pedestrians not only result in more deaths but also lead to increased vehicle emissions and poorer air quality. Such unfriendly roads, they contend, also isolate car-less seniors and expand the waistlines of children who no longer bike or walk to school. Full, important article, from the Wassau Daily Herald, Wisconsin. _____________________________
Traffic police have initiated a large operation to crack down on truck drivers, following the 70 percent rise in drastic truck accidents since last year. From January through April this year, trucks have been involved in 35 major accidents. A senior transportation official told Ma'ariv, "It has not been proven that in all cases the truck driver is guilty, but the fact is that when a truck was involved in an accident, it made the situation much worse."... There will be an emphasis on following trucks late at night and early mornings, when drivers are less alert. Since the country's independence in 1948, more Israelis have been killed in traffic accidents than in all security-related incidents. Full article, from the Jerusalem Post _____________________________
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This is a sad loss for this country. Human resources are vital to the success of every country and the continued spiral of road deaths, coupled with HIV/AIDS deaths, threaten prospects for Botswana's sustained development. The impressive social and economic strides that this country has made might quickly get reversed because of the two deadly phenomena. [Source: Mmegi] _____________________________
Mark Clibborn writes: "The government’s obsession with speed cameras instead of proper accident prevention is costing lives every day." According to a report published last week by the Department For Transport (DFT), excessive speed was a factor in just 12.5% of accidents, making it seventh in the rankings of accident causes, well outside the top five and significantly below factors such as inattentive driving. “The biggest cause [of crashes] is inattentiveness, or errors on the part of the driver [25.8% of all accidents], and the only way to deal with that is education,” said the RAC Foundation traffic and road safety manager, Kevin Delaney. The DFT research investigated the contributory factors in accidents across 18 UK police forces. The primary cause of accidents was inattention, followed by poor judgement and recklessnes. [Some drivers] are getting away with serious motoring offences because cameras are increasingly replacing traffic police, the RAC Foundation believes. Full story, from the Sunday Herald _____________________________
In 2003, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, had a record 32 fatalities. “I think you can do everything you want, but it all boils down to (driver) attitude and the way people drive,” said sheriff’s department Captain Bill Gau. Ninety-five percent of all accidents are driver error, said Thomas Loeffler, regional program manager with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The best way to improve highway safety, he said, is to increase enforcement, but combine enforcement with driver education. Full story, from the Fond du Lac Reporter _____________________________
During the first three months of this year, a total of 2,994 people were killed and 16,071 injured in road accidents in Andhra Pradesh that has been striving to project itself, under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, as one of India's most progressive states. A total of 31 people were killed in accidents across the state [on Friday and Saturday], while 71 people were injured. Five deaths were recorded in state capital Hyderabad. The alarming rise in fatal accidents has sent the state administration into a tizzy. The State Highway Safety Authority is under the scanner to come up with answers and recommendations to address the situation. Police officials attributed the spurt in road accidents to careless driving, flaunting of basic traffic rules and growing volume of traffic. "New models of passenger vehicles with powerful engines, which are capable of high speeds, are coming into the market every day while there is no improvement in the quality of roads," said an officer of the highway safety authority. The state has an estimated 4.3 million vehicles and about half a million are added every year. Last year, over 9,600 people - a tenth of the total number of those killed in road accidents in India - were killed and 47,477 injured in road accidents in Andhra Pradesh alone while almost an equal number of people lost their lives in 2002. Full Story, from New Kerala _____________________________
Many vehicles are driving through construction zones, near Fargo, at over 80mph in a 40mph limit, and the drivers are getting an unpleasant surprise when they are stopped by the patrol cars that are waiting down the road. Full story, from In-Forum and the Associated Press _____________________________
The Jakarta Police announced that more drivers are wearing their seat belts since the police began enforcing the seat belt law on May 5. The police have also been active in warning drivers whose vehicles are not yet equipped with seat belts. "We have encouraged them to immediately install seat belts and not wait until the Nov. 5, 2005, deadline to do so," Sulistyo said. The police warned 270 drivers on Wednesday, 414 drivers on Thursday and 319 drivers on Friday about having seat belts installed in their vehicles. Full story, from the Jakarta Post _____________________________
Following a minor road accident in Mexico, a San Antonio teenage father was allegedly beaten with baseball bats and dumped near the Rio Grande. 17-year-old Jason Contreras has now been missing since last weekend and searches have failed to locate him. One person has so far been arrested from the group that attacked the boy. [Source: San Antonio Express-News] _____________________________
Delegates will be parliamentarians from the EU and the European Parliament. In the view of the Speaker of the Riksdag, Björn von Sydow, conferences of this kind provide a good example of how the parliaments of the EU can cooperate in the future. If they are to have more influence in the decision-making process of the EU, they will have to work together in better-structured and more efficient ways. Sweden is seen as a model in road safety efforts. For this reason Minister Ulrica Messing will be presenting the work of the Government to achieve the road safety goals set by the Riksdag. Other member states are also engaged in active efforts to improve road safety. For instance, MPs from the parliaments of Ireland, the current president of the EU, France and Poland will be giving an account of road safety efforts in their respective countries. Representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament will speak about what can and should be done at Community level. Conference programme in English.
The conference will be conducted in English and French, with simultaneous interpretation to and from these languages. The conference may be followed on web TV in English or French at the Riksdag webbsite. _____________________________
Officers are to be equipped with special meters to measure how dark the windows are, and if they are found to breach new regulations, drivers face losing their licence. Officers are concerned that tinted windows can reduce the view the driver has of other road users and traffic conditions. Constable Iain MacNicol, from the western division road policing unit, said: "If a vehicle with tinted front side windows or a windscreen is involved in a collision, then the driver's reduced view is likely to be a major contributory factor to that collision." Full story, from the Press and Journal -- North Scotland _____________________________
Drug testing of drivers will start next week with specially trained police stationed at drink-driving checkpoints. Drivers who pass the alcohol breath test but are thought to be impaired will be asked to undergo a series of tests including walking a straight line, standing on one leg, holding their heads back and touching their noses, and closing their eyes and estimating when 30 seconds have elapsed. The testing will initially be voluntary, but police are counting on the overconfidence or irrationality of drug users for compliance. Police are confident, based on a similar programme in Britain, that most people will volunteer even though they risk being charged with driving under the influence of drugs if they fail. Britain conducted voluntary tests for five years before a law change this year made the testing compulsory. In the UK only 3 to 4 per cent of drivers asked to undergo the tests refused, said New Zealand road policing manager Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald. Yet 38 per cent of those who agreed to be tested failed. Britain's national drug recognition training officer Steve Collier has spent the past three weeks training thirty New Zealand police officers in how to spot drug-impaired drivers. Full story, from the New Zealand Herald _____________________________
Singer and TV star Jacky Wu ( Cable TV stations showed Wu -- whose variety shows are also popular in Singapore and Malaysia -- arguing with officers as he sat in the driver's seat of a black Mercedes-Benz. After arguing for about an hour, Wu got into a police car and went to the police station. If convicted of drunk driving, he could be fined up to NT$34,500 (US$1,045) and lose his license for a year. When he left the police station, Wu told SETN cable news, "Look at me walk in such a straight way. I didn't drink anything." But a moment later, Wu said, "Actually, I did drink just a little bit." Full story, from the Taipei Times
Continuation:
A test conducted at the police station showed his alcohol-blood density level at 0.41 mg/liter. He was fined NT$34,500 [US$1,037] for drunk driving and his [Mercedes-Benz] car was confiscated. Under traffic regulations, drivers found to contain a alcohol-blood density level of between 0.25 and 0.55 mg/liter face a fine ranging from NT$15,000 to NT$60,000, and a one-year revocation of license. The entertainer was seen making several phone calls while he resisted the drunk driving test. He reportedly contacted high-ranking police officials from his car. Full story, from the China Post _____________________________
The state patrol believes public awareness and stepped-up speed limit enforcement are part of the reason for 43 fewer traffic deaths than this time last year. More than 800 people died in traffic crashes in Wisconsin in 2003. [Source: WBAY] _____________________________
One press release we received today was little more than an underhand attack on the makers of one security system, and DSA is certainly not going to support such subversive methods and possible defamation. There were, however, some interesting and important points in the rest of the press release which do bear repeating, viz: "I am a reformed auto thief and I have been asked to write a little bit about anti-theft devices. I have stolen cars with all kinds of security systems and they all can be defeated. I am currently employed for a automotive security company trying to help design a system that will protect your car, or truck. I guess the one thing that is really true about automotive security is that it is only an illusion of security. Really nothing has changed about them, they all target the same system in your car or truck and the thieves know this. Putting stickers and warning labels only tell the would-be auto thief what system you are using, so he can prepare what tools he will need to boost your car... "[When one new system was introduced] a kid dumber than me went and got one installed on his car, then took it apart and told all his friends and they told there friends and so on. I found out how to beat [that system] in the late eighties... So I am trying to say just pick your poison and hope that it work’s, and it is my opinion that [some companies] defraud you by saying that their systems are unbeatable. _____________________________
Pickup Drivers Warned of the Dangers of Not Buckling Up From May 24 to June 6, which includes Memorial Day weekend, the Texas Department of Public Safety and hundreds of local law enforcement agencies will participate in the statewide crackdown on drivers and passengers failing to buckle up themselves or their children. The Texas Department of Transportation reports that safety belt use in Texas in the last year has increased from 81% to almost 85%, thanks in large part to the campaign's combination of extensive advertising and stepped up enforcement of the state's safety belt and child safety seat laws. "Though pickup trucks are twice as likely to roll as cars, pickup drivers and their passengers are the worst offenders when it comes to not buckling up," said Carlos Lopez, director of traffic operations. "Wearing a safety belt increases your chance of surviving a pickup rollover crash by 70 percent." Texas law requires drivers and front seat passengers to use safety belts. Children under 17 have to be buckled up in the front or back seat. Child safety seats are required for children under four years old or less than 36 inches tall. Fines for violations range from $25 to $200. [Source: Texas Department of Transportation] _____________________________
Road safety campaigners in Scotland today welcomed figures showing that no children were killed on Lothian and Borders roads last year - the first time no children have been lost in this manner since records began in 1927. The falling death toll has been matched by a dramatic drop over the same period in the number of accidents in which children were hurt on the region’s roads. Lifestyle changes and the introduction of 20mph zones and speed bumps on many residential streets are being seen as the main reasons for the improvement. The number of adults killed on the roads, however, rose significantly over the 12 months - from 35 to 47 - with motorbike accidents being blamed. Nine of the total deaths involved motorcyclists. Police said motorbike accidents have been rising steadily over the last five years. "Born-again bikers" -- middle-aged riders returning to bikes after several years, often on high-powered models -- have been identified as an at-risk group. Overall, though, the new statistics have been encouraging, allaying fears that government targets of reducing fatal and serious accidents by 40 per cent by 2010 would prove impossible to meet. Full story, by Jane Hamilton at The Scotsman _____________________________
Texans safety Marcus Coleman was charged with driving while intoxicated early Thursday after his damaged car was found on a curb. Sobriety tests on the scene determined the driver was intoxicated, and he refused a breath test, a police spokesman said. On the same day, police confirmed that New Orleans Saints safety, Jay Bellamy, had been arrested a few days previously, for drunk driving. [Sources: Multiple, but including Canada.com and Sports Illustrated at CNN]
Related topic
Porto midfielder Maniche Ribeiro was stopped by police for drink-driving near the Algarve town of Albufeira, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported on Friday. Lusa said the player had a blood-alcohol level of 1.2 grammes per litre. The legal alcohol limit for driving in Portugal is 0.5 grammes per litre. Full story, from Yahoo News, Australia & New Zealand _____________________________
In Calcutta, the number of motorcycles registered with the traffic police has risen from 295,000 in 1997, to 368,000 in 2003, and many are being stopped and frisked more often by policemen. While the traffic police concentrate on offences like drunken driving or riding without a helmet, men from the local police stations have been put on high alert for miscreants out to disrupt the pre-election calm, or the proceedings on poll day itself. The cops have figured out how motorcyclists operate when seeking to create disturbance during elections. Generally with two pillion-riders per two-wheeler, the motorcyclists move along the main roads, keeping a wide escape route open in case they are chased by police or opponent party supporters. Carrying single-shot pistols or crude hand-bombs, the mobile hoodlums can create panic at the polling booths by zooming down the bylanes, firing a shot in the air or lobbing a bomb. “We will be intensifying our vigil on two-wheelers on election day to ensure that no untoward incident takes place,” H.P. Singh, deputy commissioner of police (headquarters), stresses on Wednesday. Full story, from The Telegraph _____________________________
Most automotive experts say the industry needs to combine more active safety features with passive safety tools such as air bags and crumple zones. Other active safety tools are smart air bags, which sense if an adult or child is in the seat, and electronic stability control systems to stop rollovers. Full article, from the Detroit Free Press _____________________________
The new .08 intoxication limit went into effect at 12:01 a.m. today. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics indicate that when five states reduced their legal intoxication limits to the .08 percent in 1996, they experienced a 16 percent reduction in alcohol-related crashes in which the fatally injured driver had a .08 blood alcohol content. At the same time, the states experienced an 18 percent reduction in drivers with very high blood alcohol levels of about .15 percent. [Source: The Intelligencer]
DSA Comment: Research indicates that only one other country in the world has a blood-alcohol concentration limit that either matches or exceeds the old 0.10 of the USA, a limit that now hangs on in only two states. That one country is Swaziland which, with no disrespect, is hardly one of the major motoring nations. The research has revealed the BAC limit in over eighty countries and not only do no others exceed 0.08, almost 75% of them have a limit of 0.05 or lower. Click here to view the data. _____________________________
This year, 45 million used cars will be sold [in the USA]. Many have routine problems. But as CBS News Correspondent Mark Strassmann reports, an unknown number of frame damaged cars with serious safety issues are re-sold to consumers with no warning of the car's ugly history. By one estimate, 400,000 of these [potentially deadly] cars are sold every year to unknowing consumers. Full story, from CBS (originally published on April 29) _____________________________
The same government report also finds that about 29 people -- mostly children under 5 -- pass away each year from excessive heat inside parked vehicles, and that about 200 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning within vehicles. These tragic deaths are avoidable - and technologies exist that could drastically minimize them. To read the report, follow this link: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/studies/NonTraffic-NonCrash/noncrash.pdf To learn more about child safety in and around vehicles, visit the KidsNCars website at: Follow this link to help Public Citizen take action and tell Congress that you want them to stand up for American children: www.citizen.org/autosafety/safeteaaction _____________________________
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) preliminary Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data estimates 17,401 deaths in 2003 due to crashes involving alcohol - - about 18 less than in 2002 and representing 40 percent of all traffic fatalities. Additionally, there are more than half a million people injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes each year. _____________________________
Year 2004 is barely four months old and the police have already issued about 45,000 challans [i.e. tickets] and impounded 2,500 vehicles for plying without even a single document. Now, with the traffic police set to pull out their challan book even for helmet-less women on two-wheelers, the number will only increase. Newsline scanned the challan list and produced a witty overview of a serious situation; read it here. _____________________________
The average new car or light-duty truck sold in the USA, in the 2003 model year, tipped the scales at 4,021 pounds, breaking the two-ton barrier for the first time since the mid-1970's, according to a report released by the Environmental Protection Agency last week. Full story, from the NY Times _____________________________
...The bottom line is that our attention is on anything and everything but driving. Yet AAA of Michigan says that talking on a cell phone behind the wheel quadruples the risk of a crash... One step in that direction are laws that fine people who insist on driving while distracted. Last year, Oregon became the first state to enact a law that prohibits “distracting activities while driving.” A driver can be fined up to $150 for “responding to events, persons or objects inside or outside the vehicle that are not related to the safe operation of the vehicle.” In July, Washington, D.C.’s distracted driving law goes into effect, which bans cell phone use while driving and prohibits using other electronic devices as well. Drivers may also face a fine for other distracting activities. Read the full story, by Jacqueline Mitchell, at the Detroit News _____________________________
"At least 235 motorists were ticketed. Based on our observations, 80 percent of car drivers were using safety belts," Jakarta Traffic Police Director Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Ishak, said. Those who break the Law No. 14/1992 on traffic can be fined up to Rp 1 million (US$115.6) or sentenced to a maximum of one-month's jail. Sulistyo said drivers were increasingly aware of the use of set belts for their own safety. [Source: The Jakarta Post] _____________________________
Snaking between lines of orange cones in a new Corvette, the last thing you would want to do is take your hands off the steering wheel. Unless, that is, you are Chris Gerdes, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and co-director of the Stanford Center for Design Research (CDR). During a demonstration last week on the roof of a Stanford parking garage, Gerdes sat in the driver's seat, pedal to the metal but hands well clear | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
May 31, 2004: 
May 31, 2004: Casualty Toll on
Glasgow's Roads Cut by 195 for the First Three Months of the Year
*
May 31, 2004: Illegal
Immigrants and Serious Road Crashes -- All Too Common in Many Countries 
May 31, 2004: Crash Course: The
Roads to Dusty Death 
May 31, 2004: Only Idiots Hate
"Anytime" Speed Cameras 
May 31, 2004: KwaZulu-Natal
Traffic Police Claim Success 
May 30, 2004: A Significant Problem
Looms Into Sight -- The Dangers of Driving With Declining Vision
May 26, 2004: Cutting Road Deaths in Europe by Fifty Percent
May 26, 2004: Minister
Praises Motorway Police
and 
and 
May 24, 2004: 
May 24, 2004: 
May 24, 2004: 
May 24, 2004: 
*
May 24, 2004: 
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* and 
May 14, 2004: .jpg)
May 13, 2004: 
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May 11, 2004: 
May 10, 2004: 
* May 7, 2004: American Teen Beaten
With Baseball Bats and Dumped. 
May 7, 2004: Jacky Wu Caught in
Dispute at Check for Drunk Driving 
* (May 7, 2004) European Soccer Players Join In, Too!