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All contents copyright ©, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc., 2003 onwards, unless specified otherwise. All rights reserved. IMPORTANT: click here to read the DISCLAIMER
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The main purpose of this web page is to let drivers, legislators, safety professionals, police officers, parents of young drivers, etc., have an easily accessible yet wide ranging insight into road safety best practice globally, and through this be in a better position to help save some of the many lives wasted in road crashes everywhere. Page edited by Eddie Wren
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The Traffic Injuries Research Foundation hosted its 42nd Annual General Meeting on May 19, 2005 at the Bank of Montreal Building in Toronto, Ontario. Presentations given at the AGM are now available, and include:
To view the presentations, click here. ___________________________
Beginning July 6, a new state law will require parents to properly secure every West Virginia child up to age 8 in a federally approved child safety or booster seat. [Only] if the child has attained a height of 4 feet 9 inches, he or she may strap into a regular, adult seatbelt.... Lawmakers during the recent legislative session overwhelmingly approved the new measure, prompted by Gov. Joe Manchin and based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration guidelines.... Full story, from the Charleston Daily Mail ___________________________
[California's] Bay Area law enforcement agencies reported Monday that DUI arrests for the 2005 Memorial Day weekend were significantly higher than arrests for the same period last year. For the first three days of the four-day holiday period, 415 DUI arrests had been made in the nine Bay Area counties, with two deaths reported. The number of crash injuries was not available by Monday afternoon. Last year, 351 arrests, three deaths and 85 injuries were recorded for the same period. "We had more arrests because we had more officers out on the streets and highways doing checks," said California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Wright. The highway patrol reported that 125 municipal police departments joined the agency in its DUI enforcement campaign this year.... Full story, from the San Francisco Chronicle. ___________________________
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Eleven persons were killed and 324 others were injured in 786 crashes investigated by State Police during the four-day Memorial Day holiday driving period, Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller announced today. Miller said three of the fatal crashes and 95 of the total number of crashes were alcohol-related. "Far too many people are being killed or injured because of drunk drivers," Miller said. Miller noted that State Police arrested 351 individuals for driving under the influence, an increase of nearly 24 percent from the 284 arrested for DUI during last year's holiday driving period. Miller said eight of the 11 persons killed were not wearing seat belts. During the holiday driving period, troopers issued 6,450 speeding citations, cited 565 for failing to wear seat belts and issued citations to 57 persons for not securing children in child safety seats.
Miller said the crash numbers cover only those incidents investigated
by State Police and do not include statistics on crashes to which
other law-enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania responded. [Source: Pennsylvania State Police Department] ___________________________
There were 34 deaths this weekend on the roads of Georgia. That is the highest amount ever recorded since 1969, the first year data was available. But it wasn't just the deaths that were up, it was accidents in general. In every category: total number of accidents, injuries, and deaths, the official estimates were low.... "If we just take the 2500 accidents, multiply that by about four thousand dollars, which is a conservative average cost of repair, you're realy talking in the $12 million category, says David Colmans of the Georgia Insurance Information Service. But the 12 million doesn't include the medical costs, lost wages, and potential lawsuits ahead. Colmans says there's got to be something done about it. "I think ultimately, what we're going to have to do is come to a need for a stronger law enforcement presence."... Full story, from News Channel 9, Chatanooga. ___________________________
In the woods moose are intriguing spectacles, beloved symbols of wildlife in northern New England. But on the roads they can be deadly. Collisions with a one-ton animal can severely damage cars and injure or kill drivers and their passengers.... Last year the state saw 265 collisions with moose including two fatalities. Moose stand high off the road, and when you hit moose you take legs out from under them, bringing them right though the windshield. That's where people get severely hurt.... Drivers should be vigilant and slow down, so they have more braking time if a moose comes along. Don't veer into an oncoming lane. That can lead to a head-on collision with a car. And if you can't avoid the moose, try not to hit it straight-on. Hit it in the tail so it doesn't come back onto your car.... Full story, from WCAX TV ___________________________
The number of people killed on the Capital's roads fell by 21 per cent last year new figures out today reveal. The figures published by Transport for London (TfL) show that 216 people lost their lives in 2004, 56 fewer than in 2003. And there were also 939 fewer serious injuries compared to 2003, down to 3,953. These results mean that the Capital has [already] almost reached the [UK Government's] target to cut death and serious injury on the roads by 40 per cent by 2010. Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "We are now almost within touching distance of our 2010 targets a full five years early, however, 216 deaths is totally unacceptable and I believe the time is now right to raise the bar. "I am asking Transport for London to start work with the boroughs and the police with a view to establishing an even more challenging target of a 50 per cent reduction by 2010 in the number of deaths and serious injuries on the Capital's roads." Jenny Jones, the Mayor's Road Safety Ambassador, said: "Road safety is working in London, because we have spent more and more money on doing the things which we know save lives.... "This is an amazing success story, but while there are still people being killed or injured, we need the local authorities and the police to do everything they can to make our streets safe for all road users."... Peter Hendy, Managing Director Surface Transport, TfL, said: "Today's figures demonstrate the progress that has been made in London in reducing unnecessary deaths on the roads, 56 lives saved is a huge achievement. "Measures such as 20mph zones, improved road layouts and the further roll out of safety cameras mean that we are making great progress. "However, we must not be complacent, only by continuing to work with boroughs and the police, and pressing the message of road safety home can we help to ensure lives aren't needlessly lost." Full story (with more statistics), from Transport for London ___________________________
New Zealand's top traffic officer will push for law changes after eight people were killed on New Zealand roads at the weekend.... Six [of the] people, including four from the same family, died when their car crashed into a tree in heavy fog on State Highway 35, near Ruatoria, on Saturday morning. None were wearing seatbelts.... The crashes have prompted the police national road safety manager, Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald, to push for law changes to bring New Zealand into line with Australia, where drivers are held responsible for ensuring that passengers wear seatbelts.... Associate Transport Minister Harry Duynhoven said last night that he would be "favourably disposed" to any such approach.... The East Coast had one of the lowest seatbelt-wearing rates in New Zealand, about 90 per cent, compared with the average of 94 per cent.... Full story, from STUFF ___________________________
"Every six minutes, one person is hospitalised due to road accidents," said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, describing the huge number of people injured on Malaysian roads. The rate, he said, was based on the total of 82,304 people admitted to hospitals nationwide after they were involved in road accidents in 2003 which also saw 6,286 killed. "What saddens us is five per cent of those killed were children below 12 years old," he told reporters... He blamed the attitude of road users in 80 per cent of the cases such as exceeding the speed limit and negligent overtaking.... "A study done in the United Kingdom by the European Transport Safety Council showed that if a vehicle has adequate safety features, the number of passengers killed and seriously injured in an accident could be reduced," he said. Therefore, he called on car makers to enhance the safety features in the vehicles they produced. Full story, from Bernama ___________________________
..... The familiar cautions apply [in Florida] against drinking and driving, driving recklessly or allowing others' recklessness to trigger road rage, and being sure everyone in the vehicle is using seat belts or child restraints.... It's all so obvious, simple and deadly important, yet Florida drivers continue in unusually high numbers to abandon common sense, and to die in unusually high numbers. Florida's fatality rate is higher than the national average, 12.85 per 100,000 people compared to 11 [see DSA Comments, below]. Some special factors — not to say excuses — apply, including heavy tourist and seasonal traffic and lots of good weather. Poor seat belt use and reckless driving are also blamed by experts for Florida's high road death toll. The Florida Highway Patrol will be focusing on this weekend with its "click-it-or-ticket" campaign to get people to use their seat belts. Last year's holiday claimed 40 lives on [Florida's highways], and 83 percent of the victims were not belted.... Full story, from The News-Press
DSA Comments We are very curious indeed about the reference to the USA having a national average fatality rate of 11 per 100,000 people. Our own calculations show that the rate for 2003 [i.e. the latest available figure] is, in fact, 14.66 per 100,000 population. In other words, if the USA really did currently have a per capita fatality rate of just 11 then "only" about 32,500 people would be killed each year rather than around 42,500 as has been the case for several years. We are also bemused by the "12.85" rate shown for Florida. According to our information the rate in 2003 was 18.64, up from 18.4 in 2002. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. View 2003 multi-country per capita rates here. View 1988-2002 historical multi-country data here. View 2003 per capita rates for all 50 American states, here. ___________________________
Work is in progress, but critics say more is needed. A little more than two years after the March 2003 announcement of an ambitious plan to install median barriers at the state's most dangerous crossover accident locations, five such projects have been completed in Central and North Jersey, and a sixth is under construction.... In March 2003, the department announced a $15 million program, dubbed "Safety First," to build barriers [over a five-year period] on the medians of targeted interstate highways where there have been high rates of crossover accidents or which are considered at risk. The barrier program was part of a series of recommendations by a Highway Safety Task Force, which was formed after three accidents on Nov. 20, 2002, that claimed a total of four lives on Interstates 78 and 287, injured six and gridlocked traffic in Central Jersey.... Full story, from c-n.com ___________________________
Oregon drivers rank as the most knowledgeable in the nation when it comes to the rules of the road and automobile safety, according to a new study by an insurance company. Nearly 5,000 licensed drivers between the ages of 16 and 65 were tested nationwide by GMAC Insurance Group to measure their driving and safety knowledge. Oregon drivers ranked highest on the test with an overall average score of 89 percent while Rhode Island ranked lowest at 77 percent.... Full story, from Oregon Live Also read the full report from GMAC Insurance Group (press release) related story
Bad drivers come in all types, but according to a study released this week by the GMAC Insurance Group, Massachusetts suffers from an acute case of driving ignorance. The survey tested people's knowledge of basic road and safety rules and only Rhode Island drivers fared worse than the Bay State set. It's a dubious distinction, but not a new one. And while basking in the reputation may satisfy some, bad driving is a public safety issue that state leaders have recognized and want to confront.... One state program run through the RMV encourages people to report reckless drivers. But then the accuser must attend a hearing and face the accused and for many people... it's not worth the trouble.... Drunk driving continues to be a serious problem. Yesterday, Governor Mitt Romney filed legislation called ''Melanie's Bill,'' named after a Marshfield girl killed in 2003 by a repeat offender drunk driver.... Full story, from the Cape Cod Times Also read the full report from GMAC Insurance Group (press release) ___________________________
Gov. Mitt Romney unveiled legislation yesterday that calls for tougher measures against repeat drunk drivers, including a one-year mandatory license suspension for motorists who refuse a chemical breath test. Romney's bill also calls for ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders, measures allowing judges to impound the motor vehicles of some offenders, and creation of new felony crimes for driving with exceptionally high blood-alcohol levels. Saying that Massachusetts "is a great place to come if you're a repeat drunk driver," Romney insisted his bill could help reduce alcohol-related accident deaths by as much as 25 percent or more. The state had 207 alcohol-related auto fatalities in 2003. "We're all shocked when we read a story about somebody who has been arrested time and time again for drunk driving, and they're out again, and someone is killed at their hands. We wonder, 'How can that be?'" Romney said. "This legislation is about saving lives."... Full story, from The Berkshire Eagle ___________________________
Twenty people were arrested in Johannesburg on Friday night for drunken driving, police said on Saturday. Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the metropolitan police made the arrests at three different roadblocks in the city. He said the roadblocks were part of operation Token Days in which 620 drunken drivers and 1220 people have been arrested in Johannesburg since November 8 last year. [Source: News 24] ___________________________
A juggler, driving to his next performance, is stopped by the police. "What are those machetes doing in your car?" asks the cop. "I juggle them in my act." "Oh, yeah?" says the doubtful cop. "Let's see you do it." The juggler gets out and starts tossing and catching the knives, and another man driving by slows down to watch.
"Wow," says the passer-by. "I'm glad I quit drinking.
Look at the test they're giving now! ___________________________
The Federal Republic of Germany continues to assist in the rebuilding of the Afghan National Army. Through its German Armed Forces Technical Advisory Group here, Germany is providing technical maintenance training [and driver training] to the growing Afghan Army. The German advisory group is a $1.9 million program designed to provide the Afghan Army with comprehensive, technical training in the areas of automotive maintenance and driver training. The program, which relies on help from Afghan civilian workers in addition to German military trainers, is scheduled to run through 2008.... The advisory group annually trains 192 soldiers in basic automotive [skills] and 50 soldiers in driver training.... The advisory group driver training course lasts five weeks. It begins with one week of instruction on vehicle basics such as how to perform preventive maintenance checks and services. The remaining four weeks of instruction focus on cross-country driving and traffic regulations, and include two weeks of actual driving time on public roads.... Full story, by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mack Davis, for Black Anthem ___________________________
Over 100 people were injured, some of them critically when a violent clash broke out between police and students at the Dhaka University campus and nearby areas over the killing of a female student in a road accident at the city’s Shahbagh crossing yesterday morning.... Witnesses said Shammi Akhter Happy, a 3rd year student of Psychology Department of Dhaka University, was killed when she was crushed under the wheels of a speedy Uttara-bound minibus at Shahbagh crossing at about 11:30 am. The minibus (Dhaka Metro Ja-11-2642), ignoring the red traffic signal, also hit six [other] pedestrians at that time. The angry people halted the bus and set ablaze the vehicle. They also put barricades on the road in an instant protest.... Full story, from The New Nation ___________________________
A total of twelve persons were killed and 60 injured as [one] bus rammed a truck in Rangpur and [another] bus ploughed into a crowd at Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj, on Friday night and Saturday morning. Full story, from The New Nation ___________________________
In its continuous effort to promote and increase public awareness on road safety in the country, Sin Hup Huat Tyre Company in close cooperation with the National Road Safety Council and Land Transport Department, will once again hold the "Tyre Safety Check". The three-day campaign is scheduled to start today at the Land Transport Department Headquarters in Gadong from 8am. Members of the general public are welcome to the event and have their tyres checked for free by Sin Hup Huat Tyre Co technicians who received special training from Michelin. "Regular tyre checks are essential for your safety. Worldwide, Michelin promotes and supports such programmes that are done globally," said the General Manager of Michelin Asia, Mr Alain Waha. [Source: The Borneo Bulletin, via Brudirect] ___________________________
Eighty participants who completed the "Defensive Driving" programme yesterday received their certificates which was presented by the guest of honour, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Dato Paduka Hj Md Yusof bin Hj Md Hassan. The presentation ceremony was held at the Police Training Field in Gadong. The chief guest in his speech said that the National Road Safety Council, with members comprising staff from the government and private sectors, has planned and implemented various programme aimed at reducing road accidents in the country through the 3E approach: Education, Engineering and Enforcement.... Full story, from BruDirect ___________________________
For the fourth time since 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned Thursday that 15-passenger vans need to be operated with extreme caution. New research indicates that 74 percent of all 15-passenger vans in the United States were likely to have "significantly mis-inflated" tires, compared with 39 percent of cars. NHTSA said improperly inflated tires can change handling characteristics and increase the likelihood of a rollover.... Full details, from the Detroit News ___________________________
An interesting articles from Forbes has led to a detailed response from Drive and Stay Alive editor, Eddie Wren. ___________________________
[This is an interesting approach. The Express India online has asked the public to send in their views on road safety. At the time of posting this link to the article a few individuals had responded and their comments are generally good. As a suggestion, we hope that Express India will forward these replies to the relevant politicians, bureaucrats and police officers so that they may respond to say what their departments are doing about each particular example -- DSA.] [One good example] The rise in the road accidents is surely the area of concern for the people. Many valuable lives are lost in the fatal incidents. We need to be more responsive. Our road infrastructure coupled with strict adherence to traffic rules can play a key role in checking the road accidents in the state. The traffic police should be particularly tough in checking driving of vehicles by untrained people.... Praveen, Chemist. Full article, from Express India ___________________________
Students of Bachelors in Mass Media (BMM) from National College, Bandra, were approached by joint commissioner of police (Traffic) Satish Mathur in mid-April to do a film on traffic safety. A month later, the five-minute musical is ready and waiting to be screened.... Says Harsh Punjabee (18), the editor of the film, “We wanted to make socially-relevant films and this film on road safety measures is right up our street.” “The film has been made as a musical so that it’s attractive to youngsters. Documentaries are monotonous and don’t hold their attention,” said Amit Wadhwani (19), the person who conceptualised the film.... Full story, from Mid Day (Mumbai) ___________________________
A national road safety road safety charity based in West Yorkshire is calling for restrictions on newly-qualified drivers – including a one-passenger limit and a ban on night-time driving. The Brake organisation – which campaigns to reduce road deaths and injuries – is urging the Government to introduce curbs on new motorists in line with those in other countries. Suggestions include a compulsory advanced driving test after they pass, a curfew restricting them to daytime driving and a law making it illegal to carry more than one passenger at a time.
The Huddersfield-based charity justifies the hard-line approach by
pointing to statistics from the courts. Research shows only one in 15 drivers is aged under 25, but more than one in four drivers killed is in this age group. [In addition] one in four drivers convicted of causing death by dangerous driving is under the age of 20. The charity said figures showed young men posed the greatest risk. Mary Williams, chief executive of Brake, said: "It is a tragedy and a disgrace that young men are the biggest culprits in killing their [friends] and girlfriends in road crashes.... Countries including Australia, Canada and the United States place restrictions on young and newly-qualified drivers. These [vary, from country to country, but] include banning unsupervised night driving, limiting the number of young passengers and requiring drivers to hold a probationary licence for a period after passing their driving test. Read the full, interesting article here, from Leeds Today
see story below
Those under 18 will need to go through an extra step before getting a full driver's license under a bill signed yesterday by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, filling in for Gov. Linda Lingle, who is off island. The new provisional driver's license comes between acquiring an instructional permit and a standard driver's license. The law is designed to reduce traffic fatalities and accidents involving teens. It takes effect Jan. 9 and will run for five years to allow lawmakers time to study its effectiveness.... To receive a provisional license, a teen must hold a permit for at least six months and complete a certified driver's license education course and 50 hours of supervised practice driving. The teen then can obtain a full license at age 17 if he or she has held a provisional license for at least six months and has no action pending that might result in a license suspension or revocation. With a provisional license, a teen is limited to driving only one passenger who is under 18, although an exemption is granted to household members. The teen is prohibited from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, or traveling to and from work or a school-related activity.... Another new law requires a motorist to stop and yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk when the pedestrian is "upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger."... The third law signed by Aiona sets a minimum penalty for repeat offenders of child-restraint laws at $100 for a second offense in three years and $200 for a third offense during the same period. The old law set only maximum penalties — $200 for a second offense and $500 for a third offense, without regard to when the previous violations occurred. The above are important excerpts from: 'Teen drivers have new hurdle to clear', from the Honolulu Advertiser
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The European Commission welcomed on 26 May the major step taken by the European Parliament towards substantially improving road safety in the European Union. By adopting three directives on the mandatory fitting of seat belts, the Parliament has made a major contribution to the goal of halving the number of road accident victims by 2010. The requirement to fit seat belts in commercial vehicles should now apply six months after the Directive enters into force, i.e. in the last quarter of this year. Initially applied to all new vehicle types, it will then be extended to new vehicles of types already in production. This measure, applying to all commercial vehicles and in particular tourist coaches and minibuses will have, in conjunction with the obligation to wear seat belts, a major effect on the dramatic figures seen in Europe in recent years. ___________________________
The European Commissioner responsible for enterprise and industry, Günter Verheugen, welcomed on 26 May the European Parliament’s vote (first reading) on a Directive which will provide better control on the use of frontal protection systems, or ‘bull-bars’ as [they are] more commonly known. These controls will ensure an improved level of safety for vulnerable road users. At the same time the Directive will also allow use of these systems where they can be proven to provide an improvement in safety levels when used on certain vehicles presently on Europe’s roads. The Directive has still to be approved by the Council of Ministers. related article
MEPs [i.e. Members of the European Parliament] are calling for tougher safety standards for frontal protection systems on road vehicles in a legislative report on a Commission proposal setting out tests for such systems, which include bull bars. Car manufacturers have already made a voluntary agreement with the Commission not to install "rigid bull bars" on new cars. This new draft directive details the tests for approving all frontal protection systems. MEPs are anxious that frontal protection systems should be designed in a way that improves pedestrian safety and reduces the number of injuries.... European, Japanese and Korean manufactures made a voluntary commitment with the Commission not to install so-called ”rigid bull bars” as frontal protection systems on new vehicles from 2002.... This new proposal goes further and lays down tests that must be complied with by frontal protection systems, either as originally fitted to a vehicle or put on the market as separate technical units. The aim is to improve the protection of pedestrians and mitigate the severity of injuries to them and other vulnerable road users in the event of a collision with a vehicle fitted with such a system.... The requirements consist of four tests (based on the recommendations of the European Enhanced Vehicle safety Committee, or EEVC) which will be required to be carried out on these systems in order for them to be acceptable for use. Parliament, in amendments adopted, tightens up some of these tests.... Full story, from the A2 Media Group ___________________________
Drivers who tailgate other vehicles or use a handheld phone while at the wheel are the most dangerous threats on the road, according to a new survey from the Institute of Advanced Motorists. More than half of all drivers regard each of these two activities as "highly dangerous", according to a survey of almost 700 motorists carried out for the IAM, a leading UK organisation for improving driving standards. Drivers who overtake on single carriageway A-roads when there is oncoming traffic, and those who cut others up, forcing them to brake, are regarded as the next most dangerous threats.... ___________________________
54% of Drivers Say They've Been a Victim of Road Rage; 78% Say They've Witnessed a Road Rage Incident This Memorial Day weekend will officially kick off a summer driving season during which American drivers will log over one trillion miles on our nation's increasingly congested, chaotic roads. Throw in some screaming kids, heavy road construction activity, and scorching temperatures -- and it all adds up to a 'perfect storm' for Road Rage. To help drivers stay cool, collected -- and in one piece! -- this summer, Autobytel's "Take the Pledge to Slow Down" safe-driving program has published 10 simple tips for avoiding road rage. ___________________________
Porter County says it will pay a $50 bounty to anyone whose tip results in the arrest of a drunken driver in the county.... In addition to offering the rewards, the task force also is paying for police departments throughout Porter County to have extra officers on duty to look for drunken drivers. Statewide, 12 people were killed in crashes last Memorial Day weekend. Half of the fatalities involved alcohol. Full story, from AP, via The Indy Channel ___________________________
"There's a little bit of 'Volvo' in every vehicle on the American road," says Anne Belec, president and CEO, Volvo Cars of North America. Such a bold assertion is based on Nils Bohlin's development of the three-point safety belt. And it is now widely recognized that no other single safety device has saved more lives than the three-point safety belt. |
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