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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
We recommend that you repeatedly use your 'Page Down' key to quickly scroll through this often-huge page, so that you may select the countries or topics that interest you.
If you or your organization have safety-oriented driving news for publication, click here to contact us.
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Shocked drivers could do nothing as a runaway dump truck hurtled toward them down Avon Mountain and careened into cars and a bus during morning rush hour Friday. It left a path of death, of twisted metal, of vehicles in flames and of people crying and screaming. By nightfall, the death toll stood at four. Of the 30 people involved, 15 were injured, four critically. Investigators waited for hours as crews searched cars burned beyond recognition for more victims.... The tragedy started atop Avon Mountain on Route 44, when the 12-wheel rig, owned by American Crushing and Recycling LLC of Bloomfield and carrying a full load of sand, swerved from the westbound into the eastbound lane. It apparently had a mechanical failure somewhere on the 1.4-mile-long hill.... [Afterwards, it was found that] pieces of what appeared to be the truck's brakes littered the hill; police at one point had 48 truck parts marked.... Find the full story at The Republican-American ___________________________
Road safety is not just important, but is a major concern for everyone in Oman. This was the inspiration for a national level road safety campaign launched by Shell Oman in association with the Royal Oman Police. The aim of the campaign was to help all segments of Omani society understand their responsibility towards road safety and to leave in their minds an embedded consciousness of the importance of maintaining discipline on the road. The campaign was developed around a series of press advertisements highlighting basic road safety messages with an emotional appeal so as to enable the reader to relate and respond favourably. In order to evaluate awareness, the advertisements also carried an SMS-driven contest. The contest actually helped reinforce the road safety message with questions and safety tips. On offer was a trip to Malaysia. The fact that there was an overwhelming response to this SMS contest is a testament to the success of the entire campaign. The campaign also reached out through Radio FM in Arabic and English during popular drive-time shows. Once again, a quiz contest on road safety for listeners helped reinforce the campaign message. Roadshows at key Shell service stations throughout the country also helped take the campaign message to the people on a one-to-one basis. An activity book for children was distributed at the road show to help them learn about road safety and have fun colouring pictures. Children visiting the road show were also encouraged to participate in an on-the-spot colouring and drawing exercise on the theme of road safety. To leave a lasting impression of all who visited the road show, films were also screened along with computer games for visitors to learn about the topic in an entertaining, yet engaging manner. [Source: the Times of Oman] and another Shell initiative....
More than 400 students from 13 primary and eight secondary schools in Bintulu Division took part in the annual Shell Traffic Games [STG] held at Traffic Garden here recently. Shell Malaysia Gas and Power General Manager for Human Resource and Corporate Affairs, Abang Azahari bin Abang Zen said that the game was first introduced in the country in 1957 before making its debut in Sarawak in the early 1960s. The STG was jointly organised by Sarawak Road Safety Council, Bintulu Development Authority, the Police and Road Transport Department and other voluntary organisations. Azahari said the aim had always been to ensure what the participants learn would continue to be used when they become licensed road users as young adults. "It is also our efforts to try and embed road safety and road courtesy as a way of life in young Sarawakians," he said. In view of the fact that children nowadays had becoming more and more knowledgeable and IT savvy, Azahari said Shell were currently assessing the practicality of introducing an interactive computer-based programme which was likely to be implemented next year throughout the State. [Source: The Borneo Bulletin, at Brunei Online] ___________________________
Sri Lanka Police will fine buses that violate rules of the road from next week. Although it was an offence to [pick up] passengers or allow them alight from the buses at undesignated stops along the road, the law has not been strictly applied so far. From next week Traffic Police will begin first educating both bus workers and the passengers and then to fine those violate the rules of the road. While Bus [drivers] will be fined Rs.500 for a road offence, the passengers will be fined Rs.50.... Police [personnel have] observed that buses [pick up passengers away from] bus halts and allow the people to get off the buses from any point they wish. They have observed often the buses let people get in and get out at signal lights, a gross violation of the rules. This sort of practice both by the bus workers and the public who travel in buses have contributed heavily to road accidents, Police said.... Full story, from Colombo Page ___________________________
A new emergency rescue service deploying ambulances at call can save 30 percent of accident victims who die en-route to hospital in dangerous trishaw journeys. Trishaws or three wheelers are the often the first and fastest at an accident, carrying as many as 52 percent of injured to hospitals for help and bystanders moving most others. The lack of a proper ambulance network means just eight percent of injured are actually carried in ambulances to hospital, Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, said. The obvious lack of proper attention or healthcare in transporting victims by trishaws often results in severe debilitation or even death en-route. “Narrow roads makes transport challenging but sometimes too much enthusiasm by the public also causes a worsening of the situation,” Kariyawasam said. “We could save up to 30 percent of lives of patients transported to national hospitals or 300 people annually if they had proper care before being taken to hospital,” Kariyawasam said. The new rescue service on a toll free ‘110’ hotline, will deploy eight ambulances with 30 trained emergency rescue technicians to accident sites within Colombo initially.... About 20 percent of [the 300 daily casualties in state hospitals in Columbo] are road traffic accidents, which are among the more severe due to multiple injuries suffered. Head injuries are the most common cause of death. About 60,000 accidents a year are reported from all around the island, with the highest road accidents outside of Colombo happening on the Colombo-Katunayake and Colombo-Kandy Highways. Full story here, from Lanka Business Online ___________________________
Thousands of parents are putting their children's lives at risk as one in ten children traveling in the back of cars do not use seat belts or child restraints, according to the RAC Foundation during Think before you drive! Month. In addition, the lives of the majority of children in child safety seats may also be at risk as RAC Foundation spot check surveys and numerous other studies show that two thirds of child safety seats are fitted incorrectly. Think Before You Drive Month is a campaign promoted by the RAC Foundation in conjunction with the FIA Foundation and Bridgestone to help motorists understand the four easy steps they can take to improve safety on the roads. The campaign is giving advice to parents and drivers via free leaflets to ensure child safety seats and restraints are fitted correctly.... The RAC Foundation child seat fact file shows that:
Full report with additional, very important information (for all countries), here. ___________________________
Manchester United star Wayne Rooney could escape a court fine up to £5,000, if he completes a £150 driving improvement course instead, it was revealed today. The £50,000-a-week striker damaged his black BMW X5 in a collision with another car. The other driver, a 45-year-old woman, suffered minor whiplash injuries. Rooney later received a summons to appear at Stockport Magistrates Court, to face a charge of driving without due care and attention, and he could be banned or fined up to £5,000 [U.S. equivalent $8,800]. But now Rooney has been offered the opportunity to go on a two-day course to improve his driving skills. A source said many of the people on such courses are "boy racers" who have been stopped by police for minor traffic infringements and bad driving. The course, "Re-Examining good driving attitudes" is run by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, the ten local councils. Half a day is classroom based, two half days on-road with the course being taken by advanced driving instructors. Clients are required to 'complete the course and make an improvement'. ___________________________
A Melbourne P-plater who killed two of his friends when he crashed his high-powered car while street racing has been remanded in a youth training centre. University student Samuel Khuat, of Maribyrnong, was behind the wheel of a Nissan GT-R coupe – which he was prohibited from driving as a probationary licence holder – when he lost control and crashed.... The Victorian County Court heard today the 19-year-old, who pleaded guilty to two charges of culpable driving, was racing alongside another carload of his friends at speeds of up to 126km/h when he lost control in the crash during the early hours of October 5 last year. The his car hit a pole and rear-seat passengers William Curtain, 18, and David Nguyen, 19, died. Khuat had had his probationary licence only for a few months at the time. Judge Felicity Hampel, who sentenced Khuat to three years in a youth training centre, said youth, inexperience and speed contributed to the crash with "devastating consequences".... The court was told that Khuat was a model son before the crash, an excellent student and a skilled tennis player with a bright future ahead of him. The judge said she also took into account that Khuat had taken full responsibility and demonstrated deep and genuine remorse over the tragedy.... The parents of William Curtain.... called for the Victorian Government to introduce mandatory defensive driving courses for learner drivers, and wider publicity about restricted vehicles for probationary drivers. A government spokesman said steps were being taken to address some of these issues, including a trial of a safe driving course for newly licensed drivers. The course could become compulsory for new drivers at the end of the 12-month trial. He also said "hoon drivers" caught drag racing or driving dangerously face the prospect of having their car impounded or confiscated permanently. Full story here, from News.com ___________________________
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is applauding a new move by the province that will see mandatory breathalyzers installed in the cars of chronic drunk drivers. Drivers will now have to pass a breath test on a device attached to their ignition before the car will start. B.C. becomes one of the last provinces in the country to initiate such a program - and it's about time, says Bob Rorison of MADD.... But Rorison stressed the move should be just the first step in combating drunk driving. He wants longer suspensions to be handed out than the current 24-hour driving bans. "We want people to be stopped from driving the first time they're caught drinking and driving," Rorison said.... Full story, from Vancouver 24 Hours ___________________________
Statement of U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta “The Congress is to be commended for passing comprehensive transportation legislation that meets the President’s goal of investing record levels in new highway, transit and safety programs in a fiscally responsible manner. This bill funds vital new transportation projects, holds the line on gas taxes and avoids adding to the deficit. More importantly for America’s drivers, this bill contains significant new safety provisions, including the creation of a $5 billion core highway safety program and powerful incentives for states to increase safety belt usage. State and local officials now have the resources, flexibility and support they need to make driving safer, fight congestion and ensure that the nation’s transportation system keeps pace with the rapidly expanding economy.” [Source: Department of Transportation -- DOT 107-05] ___________________________
Statement from Public Citizen: A U.S. House-Senate conference committee has reached agreement on the federal highway bill, H.R.3 and it has included the vehicle safety provisions we have sought for three years in the agreement. Congress is expected to vote for final passage of the bill shortly. Safety has won on Capitol Hill! Among a number of other improvements, these auto safety improvements require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to:
The bill requires NHTSA to issue these critical safety standards by specific dates in the bill, between 2008 and 2009. While the dates were delayed as the bill was debated more than we prefer, they will push the agency to act and finish these safety standards. The dates also give automobile companies notice so they cannot claim to need more time. The next step is to make sure that these legislative improvements are implemented. You can read the text of the conference committees report on auto safety provisions, which is the final bill text, at http://www.house.gov/rules/109hr3title10cr.pdf. The safety provisions are listed under Subtitle C. [Source: Public Citizen] ___________________________
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) congratulates Congress for enacting the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act -- A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) after a nearly three-year effort. Jim Champagne, chairman of GHSA, praised the bill and said, "GHSA members are pleased that this long reauthorization effort has concluded and that so many new resources are provided for State Highway Safety Offices. The additional funding will help states maintain the progress they have already made on highway safety and help them make new inroads against existing and emerging highway safety problems." See the full GHSA statement, here. ___________________________
The surface transportation legislation being finalized by Congress today provides increased funding for programs that have played crucial roles in getting more Americans to buckle up. "The combination of high visibility enforcement and additional states enacting primary enforcement seat belt laws has increased seat belt use from 61 percent in 1997 to 80 percent in 2004," said Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign Executive Director Phil Haseltine. The new legislation requires at least two law enforcement mobilizations annually for the next five years and provides $29 million per year for advertising to accompany the enforcement campaigns. One of these mobilizations is to focus on occupant protection and a second on impaired driving. The Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign, a program of the National Safety Council, working in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and other partners, including the law enforcement community, began organizing the national seat belt mobilizations in 1997. More than 12,000 law enforcement agencies throughout the country participated in the last mobilization, conducted in May. [Source: Air Bag & Seat Belt Safety Campaign] ___________________________
A toddler who wandered onto Interstate 70 was struck and killed by an unknown motorist last night about a mile west of the Kingdom City exit, a Missouri State Highway Patrol official said. Cole Aaron Robison, 2, was reported missing last night from his trailer park home off Old Highway 40 about a quarter mile away in Kingdom City. Around the same time, about 8:05 p.m., drivers reported a dead child, later identified as Robison, in a westbound lane of I-70, which runs parallel with Old Highway 40. His parents were looking for the child when they discovered the accident.... Callaway Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Tim Osburn said.... the department is still investigating and hasn’t decided whether to arrest the parents on suspicion of child endangerment. Highway patrol Sgt. Paul Reinsch said this morning the driver and vehicle that struck the child were still unidentified. He said no witnesses had come forward.... A second accident occurred at the same location at 10:01 p.m. when Logan Hearn, 24, of Holladay, Tenn., ran his Nissan pickup into the back of a tractor trailer, according to a highway patrol report. An official with the highway patrol said the tractor-trailer was stopped with other traffic at the time because the lanes were shut down for the Robison investigation.... Full story, from the Columbia Daily Tribune
In 2004, public fire departments responded to... 266,500 highway vehicle fires, down 6.8 percent from [2003]. Full story, from Homeland Response ___________________________
For the second consecutive year, the European Commission is organising a large summer campaign to promote the European Road Safety Charter. Between 29 July to 15 September 2005, European road users will be invited to become ambassadors of the European Road Safety Charter by participating in a Europe wide contest. “Tougher police controls have substantially improved road safety in many countries but more action is needed to reach our goal of halving the number of road fatalities by 2010”, said European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot in charge of transport. “This campaign emphasises that road safety is also every driver’s responsibility”, he added. This year’s Summer campaign will see the distribution of leaflets at most of the toll stations in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal inviting European road users on their way to their holiday destinations to share their ideas on how they will individually contribute to safer roads in Europe. These ideas can be submitted by post or via the website of the European Road Safety Charter. A jury will evaluate the contributions and the winner will receive a trip for two persons to the annual ASECAP (European association of tolled motorway companies) conference in Croatia in 2006, where he or she will be invited to present the winning contribution. The campaign will also underline the importance of frequent rests for drivers, particularly on a holiday trip. The slogan of this year is “A break every two hours makes your journey safer and more comfortable!” [Source: European Commission Press Room] ___________________________
The Ministry of Internal Affairs intends to finish reorganization of traffic police into State traffic security service before September, as reported by the Minister of Interior Yuri Lucenko..... The Minister also declared that MIA has submitted for consideration in Verkhovna Rada a bill draft, which provides for increase of fines, and the right to deprive driving licence in four cases: driving in a state of intoxication, driving out to a centre strip, perpetration of accident with further disappearance from the place, perpetration of accident on level crossing. Full story, from forUm ___________________________
Dozens of garda [i.e. police] checkpoints will be placed on roads across the country this Bank Holiday weekend in a bid to avoid a spate of crashes, it was confirmed today. Gardaí said a massive road safety campaign, which will target drink drivers, would get underway at midnight tonight. A garda spokeswoman said: “Over the August Bank Holiday last year five people were killed and 89 injured on our roads.” Last weekend, six people lost their lives in a spate of crashes. Gardaí confirmed the death toll so far this year had mounted to 221. Officers confirmed arrests for drink driving offences have increased by 16% to 872 in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2004. Full story, from IOL ___________________________
More convicted drunken drivers may have to blow into devices that won't let them start their cars if they're intoxicated now that several states are embracing tougher penalties. New Mexico recently became the first state to require "ignition interlock" systems for first-time offenders. The devices, which act as breath-alcohol analyzers that control a car's ignition, will be on their cars for one year. Drivers with four or more DWI convictions are required to drive with the interlocks for the rest of their lives. The devices cost the offenders about $1,000 a year. Until now, they were required only for repeat offenders and for a maximum of a year. "This is the first time it's been so broad," Jonathan Adkins, communications director for the Governors Highway Safety Association, said of the New Mexico law. "States realize we haven't won the drunken driving battle yet.".... Full story here, from the Detroit News ___________________________
'In 2002, there were 42,815 fatalities land over 2.9 million injuries on the nation's highways. Crashes on rural roads-roads in areas with populations less than 5000-account for over 60% of the deaths nationwide, or about 70 deaths each day. Further, the rate of fatalities per vehicle mile traveled on rural roads was over twice the urban fatality rate." According to a recent GAO report on highway safety, the nation's road system consists of 3.9 million miles. Of this total, rural roads account for about 3 million miles-or about 77%. Local agencies have jurisdiction over 2.1 million miles of all rural roads. Local agencies can access LTAP centers for resources related to rural road safety. One such resource is a study performed for the Minnesota DOT, which found that the installation of street lighting at isolated rural intersections reduced night-time crash frequency by 27% and crash severity by 20%.... Read the full press release, in considerable detail, here.
Teen drivers are dying at alarming rates. In San Antonio, 26 teens were killed in crashes over the past 10 months. Past News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooters investigations dug deeper into the causes of the problem. Now, [they have] put many of the key players in one room to look for solutions. [WOAI] invited a teen driver, his mother, a transportation expert, a traffic officer, a driving instructor, and a father whose his 16-year old daughter died in an accident, to help us find ways to solve one of San Antonio's more pressing problems. News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooter Jeff Coyle asked the most obvious question first. "Why are so many teens dying on the roads?" [The discussion] began with the driving age. The U.S. allows teens to drive at a younger age than most countries in the world. New research shows that the part of the human brain that weighs risks and makes judgments isn't fully developed until age 25. "Is sixteen too young to drive?" Coyle asked the group. "A lot of people are dying. I think 18 would be perfect. Hopefully, they'll mature," answered, Addison Quiroga, age 17. He got his license this year because he and his mother agreed he wasn't ready at 16. Addison says, "A lot of teens think they're invincible and they think that they want to cool things like race and show off to their buddies." Officer Rob Sullivan with the San Antonio police department believes changing the age to 18 is not a fair solution. "By pushing it to 18, you'd punish a bunch of them," Sullivan says. Trouble Shooter Coyle followed that with, "You're saying there are some that are not ready at 16 and there are some that are?" Sullivan explained, "I can show you some that I stop that are 35 and they shouldn't be behind the wheel.".... Full story, from WOAI
DSA Comments Officer Sullivan's comments are exasperating to say the very least. As long as the naive attitude persists that getting a driver's license at 16 (or even 15 in certain states) is some sort of rite of passage then America will continue to lose young drivers at the current obscene rate. Why on earth should protecting the lives of our loved youngsters be interpreted by anyone -- let alone a police officer -- as 'punishing' them? As for his 'explanation' that some people should not be driving at 35 that is undoubtedly true, but then it is also his job to get those people off the road before they kill somebody. Officer Sullivan's apparent comments about 16-year-old drivers are among the most banal we have ever heard. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc., and a former traffic patrol police officer. ___________________________
German road users have been asked to ‘Erst Denken Dann Lenken’ by Michael Schumacher at the launch of the German Think Before You Drive campaign.
The Ferrari
driver and 7 times Formula One world champion briefed journalists on
the messages of the road safety advice campaign at the German Grand
Prix in Hockenheim, at an event organised by the German automobile
club AvD. The FIA Foundation seatbelt slide operated by Bridgestone at the grand prix circuit was a success once again, with thousands of people experiencing the stunning impact of a low speed crash. And the AvD / Bridgestone countrywide campaign also began at street level, with a Ferrari Formula One car displayed in a nearby shopping centre serving as a magnet to attract shoppers, who then received a Think Before You Drive leaflet and were offered a tyre safety check. A few people doing their early morning food shopping were unimpressed with the multi-million dollar car, but the vast majority of shoppers promptly responded to invites to have their tyres checked.... [SMc] More on the global Think Before You Drive Campaign (in English) from the FIA Foundation __________________________
We all have our reasons to speed: because we’re late, because we’re busy, because everyone else does it … But for every reason there is to speed, there’s a better one not to. Here are ten compelling reasons to stop speeding, backed by some sobering statistics regarding the costs of speeding. 1. Because summer is the most fatal period on the roads; 2. To save lives; 3. To save your own life; 4. To save gas [i.e. petrol] 5. To avoid getting an expensive ticket [or a fine] 6. Because the [U.S.] Government is planning more crackdowns on speeding [and, in other countries, more cameras are being erected] 7. Because speeding doesn't really save you much time; 8. Because speeding wastes [national] money, and not just lives; 9. Because speeding isn't just a 'city' problem; 10. Because speeding contributes to road rage.
DSA Comments Although this article appeared in an American publication it does of course apply in every country (with only minor variations to the wording). You may read the full article here, from Autobytel, via the Canyon News, California. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
An article in the Malaya Sunday Mail has brought forth comments from the staff at Drive and Stay Alive about reducing deaths and injuries to those goodhearted individuals who try to help victims at crash scenes. The excellent article at the heart of this response contains many truths, the most pervasive of which is found here: "Society gets no respite as accidents make their rounds regularly on the roads. Our hearts bleed, our souls cry. Road deaths occur so often that they have become run-of-the-mill news. So much so, people don’t bat an eye when, for example, a newspaper article says four people die in a crash.".... Read the full article and the safety guidelines here. ___________________________
In an attempt to test new safety systems, Carmaker Volvo has asked for permission from the Swedish government to let its test drivers drink and drive [on the company's own private circuits]. Volvo, known for its safety-conscious family cars, has designed the technical systems to warn drivers who fail to react to danger whether they are tired, sick, intoxicated or under the influence of other drugs. Sweden, which has some of the strictest drinking and driving laws in Europe, boasts one of the best road-safety records in the world. One beer is reportedly the most a driver can have without risking a large fine or jail time according to Stockholm County Traffic Police. However, Volvo wants a special exemption from Sweden's harsh laws, which apply to both public and private roads, to test-drive the cars with the safety system on its own test track. [Source: the Canyon News] ___________________________
Gardaí [i.e. the Irish police] and road safety groups are bracing themselves for the forthcoming August Bank Holiday weekend after six people died within 24 hours on Saturday. A nationwide blitz on speed and drink-driving will be launched mid-week to help curb the current 2005 death toll of 216. Full story, from IOL ___________________________
The Malaysian car manufacturer Proton has introduced free dual controls on the GEN-2 GLS and GSX range, targeting the driving schools and private driving instructor market. Driving instructors wishing to book the GEN-2 dual control for a test drive should contact their local dealer. [Source: Proton UK] ___________________________
As millions of families prepare to hit the road for their annual summer holiday or plan days out during the school break, the Highways Agency is taking steps to help people enjoy trouble-free journeys and avoid delays on the roads.... The Agency now has around 2,000 electronic motorway message signs to warn drivers of delays ahead. When they are not needed for safety messages, these signs can be used to display other driver information. During the summer some of these signs will be used for messages supporting the Department for Transport's Think! road safety campaign. To help drivers stay safe on the roads, the Highways Agency offers the following 'top tips' for a safe journey: 1. Plan ahead. Check your route for possible delays and roadworks before you set out -- www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo -- and listen to travel bulletins on the radio. 2. Allow plenty of time - and don't forget to stop for a break at least once every two hours. Tiredness kills! 3. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition, and that you and your passengers are prepared for a long journey. 4. In very hot weather, the Highways Agency encourages drivers to take drinking water with them and take frequent breaks in their journey because hot weather causes drowsiness. 5. Stay calm on the road, and drive safely. Poor driver behaviour causes frustration and increases the risk of accidents. In particular: -- Keep left - don't hog the middle lane; [for U.S. readers, etc., that of course translates as keep right -- DSA] -- Don't tailgate. Keep your distance; -- If traffic has to merge, merge in turn; [this refers to lane merges at roadworks, NOT joining a highway] -- Avoid switching lanes suddenly. 6. Drive carefully at roadworks. Lane restrictions and reduced speed limits are there for the safety of drivers and to provide a safe area for the workforce. [Source: Highways Agency News Release (HA048-05)] ___________________________
Two hi-tech safety innovations to debut on three BMW models in the UK Two groundbreaking safety innovations will be available on BMW models this autumn when Night Vision and High-Beam Assistant are offered for the first time. Night Vision uses a special thermal imaging camera to 'illuminate' pedestrians, animals or any objects emitting heat up to 300 metres ahead of the car. Infrared technology generates a clear image of the road ahead on the iDrive screen and the system is particularly effective on long stretches of unlit road or motorway. Bi-xenon headlamps already illuminate the road 150 metres ahead, but Night Vision offers the driver a significantly longer range of vision. The result? All round better awareness of the road ahead and safer driving. Road safety levels can be further increased by the use of High-Beam Assistant - a system that automatically sets the Bi-xenon headlights to the optimum range and brightness depending on other traffic movements. A sensor at the front of the car detects any oncoming exterior light source, allowing the car to automatically switch between high and low beam for the best level of illumination.... ___________________________
Roadside assistance service Green Flag has joined forces with charity Brake to launch a nationwide integrated PR and marketing campaign to encourage nursery schools to run an event to educate young children on road safety. Beep Beep! Day events aim to teach pre-school children aged up to six years simple road safety messages in a fun and engaging way. Nursery schools can hold their own Beep Beep! Day, between August 1 and October 31, either by taking children on a short walk on safe pavements near their nursery, or using ride on toys in the playground to learn basic road safety lessons. A direct mail campaign targeting all major UK nursery schools and National Day Nurseries Association members is currently underway, supported by joint PR activity and press advertising in national newspapers and specialist educational press. The annual campaign aims to reduce the numbers of children killed and injured on UK roads each year. In 2003, 20 child pedestrians aged six and under were killed on Britain’s roads and 2,679 were injured*. This means that some seven child pedestrians aged under six years are injured on UK roads every day. [Source: Green Flag] ___________________________
A banned [U.S. "suspended"] driver raced along a Scottish motorway in a high-performance BMW at more than 140mph, a court was told. The High Court in Glasgow heard Robert Weir, 27, of Gartferry Street, Balornock, Glasgow, also drove the wrong way along the southbound M74. He was eventually caught by police after he crashed into trees. The court heard police stopped the car after receiving a tip-off there was a consignment of drugs in it. A bag was recovered with cocaine inside with a street value of £146,000.... Full story, from the Evening Times
DSA Comments Given that police pursuits can be a contentious issue, we believe it worth pointing out that if this particular pursuit had not taken place a very large quantity of cocaine would have reached the streets. And what danger or damage to human lives would that have caused? We would respectfully suggest that some people find it too easy to complain about police pursuits without considering the full implications of doing away with such. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
Leaders of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Highway Administration today signed a memorandum of understanding that unites the agencies in combating the impacts of weather on U.S. roads and highways. "Working with the Federal Highway Administration, NOAA can help mitigate the 7,000 deaths, more than 600,000 injuries, 1.4 million crashes and $42 billion in economic losses that occur each year due to adverse weather," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. This new MOU fosters more effective coordination and integration between NOAA's environmental data managers who handle transportation-relevant weather observations and the researchers and managers at the Federal Highway Administration who interact with the surface transportation community. "Our partnership with NOAA will provide accurate and timely weather information that is crucial to finding ways to reduce weather related road hazards," says Mary Peters, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. [Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] ___________________________
International oil companies (IOCs) in Qatar have praised the efforts of the Traffic Department in improving road safety and addressing other issues of road use. The companies also extended their support to the traffic department’s initiatives during a meeting of IOC executives with the Minister of State for Interior, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani. They also offered their support to the ongoing National Campaign for Road Accident Prevention, which was launched on May 1.... A documentary was also shown on the accidents caused by reckless driving, which has resulted in deaths, particularly of youngsters.... ]According to Wayne Harms, speaking on behalf of oil companies,] road safety is a top issue for the country’s residents. The oil companies shared the concern of the road users on safety and, as a group the companies are keen to be proactive and eager to support the Traffic Department. Full story, from the Gulf Times ___________________________
Shenzhen's traffic authorities put a punishment and checking system in place this month to deal with errant traffic officers who didn’t deal with accident black spots and traffic jams. Full story, from Xinhuanet ___________________________
Vehicle safety activists say they want President Bush to name a strong leader - not a caretaker - to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Dr. Jeffrey Runge will leave NHTSA's top post next month. He was named last week to the new position of chief medical officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Runge, 49, has been the nation's chief regulator of vehicle safety since August 2001. Supporters credit him with focusing NHTSA on clear priorities with the highest potential for improving safety. "The natural instinct would be to get someone who's just going to be a caretaker or risk-averse," warns Dr. Ricardo Martinez, who led NHTSA from 1994 to 1999. "In this case it would be missed opportunity.".... Full story, from AutoWeek ___________________________
Audi Becomes the First Manufacturer Ever to Get Two 'Double Best Pick' Ratings
both
of the Institute's tests, and they want to get the results out more
quickly to demonstrate to buyers their cars' state- of-the-art
crashworthiness. The A6's 'double best pick' performance, especially,
is the kind we hope to see every time we test a vehicle." ___________________________
Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge was not what one might have expected as the Bush administration's top auto safety regulator. If officials in the administration are often stereotyped as siding with corporate interests, Dr. Runge did not fit the mold. In January 2003, he angered auto executives in Detroit by saying that he would not let his child drive a vehicle that received no more than two stars in government rollover ratings even if it were the last one "on earth." Auto executives considered the comment an attack on the rollover proclivity of sport utility vehicles. Though Dr. Runge eventually dialed down his tone, he got his way, and automakers have started to change their S.U.V. designs. On Thursday, the Transportation Department said he would step down after four years as head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Dr. Runge, who was not available for comment Friday, will become the first chief medical officer at the Department of Homeland Security. On Thursday, the Transportation Department said he would step down after four years as head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Dr. Runge, who was not available for comment Friday, will become the first chief medical officer at the Department of Homeland Security.... Full story, from the New York Times ___________________________
An oversight in the Traffic Law may allow numerous convictions for drunk driving to be reversed. In a recent case, the crown lost its prosecution against an expatriate male in his early 30’s for drunk driving.....
DSA Comments This article has been included here in the hope that it may prompt people in other national and regional jurisdictions to double-check that their relevant 'breath, blood or urine' legislation will not permit another lapse in justice in this manner. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
Residents of Bilimdon mahalla (community) of Mirabad district met with the specialists of the Road Safety Department of the Tashkent city Department of Internal Affairs on 15 July. The Road Safety Department was organised in cooperation with the Tashkent office of Mahalla Fund. Residents of the neighbouring communities, including Mustakillik, Fayzobod, Barat-huja, are also invited to participate in the meeting. The issues raised at the meetings held by the citizens and specialists of the Road Safety Department are discussed from various perspectives. Some of the problems traditionally discussed include the growing statistics of traffic accidents, particularly with children getting injured. The problem is especially acute during the summer vacation time.... Full story, from UzReport ___________________________
The proposal to give Edinburgh's traffic wardens who generally patrol bus lane routes more powers is to be welcomed, particularly as the purpose of the exercise is not to heap further punishment on motorists but to improve safety for road users and pedestrians alike. Arming a new breed of super wardens with speed guns and giving them licence to patrol proposed 20mph zones around schools will be welcomed by every parent. By next April, roads outside every primary school in the city will be covered by a 20mph speed restriction. The new wardens will help ensure that these limits are adhered to. The introduction of speed bumps and additional cameras allied to other traffic-calming measures introduced in the city has provided [Edinburgh] with a road safety record that is the envy of many other major conurbations. Since 2002, the number of deaths on [Edinburgh] roads has fallen by 72 per cent. Much of this has been attributed to the success of strategically-placed speed cameras which are slowing motorists down - although the fact that an average of 55 are still being caught speeding each day shows there is little room for complacency.... It is ironic that part of the reason for deciding to concentrate efforts outside primaries is the increased traffic volumes brought about by parents who drive their children to school. Police say it is the increased number of vehicles in the vicinity of schools which is making children even more vulnerable than they are already. The new traffic support staff will also be handed additional powers to deal with irresponsible motorists who double park - a move welcomed by the Evening News, which has repeatedly called for tougher sanctions on safety grounds.... Full story, from The Scotsman ___________________________
It has acquired a pejorative name from critics who believe it is a rapacious instrument of the state. Advocates are confident, however, that it will do the job intended. Will it save life, or greedily feed on one of the most common modern human pursuits? The answer will emerge when the Speed Enforcement Camera System (Specs), unveiled by Cathy Jamieson, the justice minister, yesterday, goes into operation later this month. Some 28 miles of the A77 between north of Ayr and south of Girvan, one of the most dangerous stretches of road in Scotland, is the venue for the latest, and biggest, extension of the Specs initiative. In England, where it is already in use, motorists have dubbed it "the yellow vulture" because of the colour and the way cameras are mounted on gantries above the road. The hi-tech cameras measure the time it takes a vehicle to travel between various points, enabling average speed to be recorded.... The Ayr-Girvan stretch of the A77 is the ideal place to test the system, for all the wrong reasons. In the five years to 2004, there were 15 fatalities and more than 300 accidents on it. If the experience of speed cameras on other roads is anything to go by, the Specs system will succeed in its aim to reduce accidents and deaths.... Yet this new initiative, for all its potential benefit, has attracted criticism from predictable quarters. The Association of British Drivers said the Specs system could increase risk because drivers would concentrate more on speed than on the road. Does not the evidence show that most drivers manage to keep within the speed limit without compromising their overall concentration – or road safety? The RAC suggested that other factors, such as line of sight at junctions, were a main cause of accidents. We have a duty to make the road infrastructure as safe as possible but, in the end, it is drivers who cause accidents. If parts of a road are hazardous, it is even more important that motorists – who are responsible for ever more powerful and speedy vehicles – obey the limit. Critics can employ all the sophistry they can muster, but the facts speak for themselves. Speed kills. Speed cameras make for safer roads – and pavements [i.e. sidewalks] too. Full story, from the Glasgow Herald ___________________________
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Advanced Drivers' Association (a name mercifully shortened to RoADA) is celebrating its half-century this year. Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman will be speaking at a Golden Jubilee reception in the House of Lords on Tuesday 19 July, and representatives from RoADA groups around the country will be among those present.... ___________________________
A paramedic is calling for safety barriers to be put along [the sides of a busy road] to deter children from using it as a pedestrian school route. During the week, scores of youngsters of all ages dice with death as they run across Bretton Gate, near Edith Cavell Hospital, in Bretton, Peterborough, in a rush to get to classes. For ambulance medical technician Brian Norkett, watching children put their lives at risk when there is an underpass further along the road, is very concerning. He said: "Each day when I am at work in the hospital's ambulance station, I watch as they run across the road as quickly as they can to avoid the cars. "I don't think anyone has been hurt yet, but I fear that if they don't change their routes to school, and no deterrent is put in place, then a child could lose their life on this road. "It is very frustrating, because further along Bretton Gate there is an underpass, which is rarely used because they would rather take the quickest route." Mr Norkett, of Drayton, Bretton, is now calling for safety barriers to be installed at the side of the road to deter children from crossing there to Bretton Woods School and the area's junior schools.... Full story, from Peterborough Today ___________________________
Boy who fired bottle rocket fireworks into traffic dies while fleeing from angry driver At Spanway, Washington state, a driver angry that a 12-year-old Tacoma boy was shooting bottle rockets at cars early Friday got out of his vehicle and chased the boy into traffic, where he was struck and killed by another car, authorities said.... Full story, from the AP, via the Seattle Post Intelligencer ___________________________
An Ocean City priest was sentenced Tuesday to one year in jail because of drinking and driving.... “I don’t know what to make of this,” Judge Theodore Eschenburg said in Circuit Court in Snow Hill. Weisman’s contributions to the community would be among the best in the county, yet he had been arrested three times for drinking and driving. Although the first arrest was 25 years ago and the second was 18 years ago, those arrests still mattered, the judge said. The bottom line, Eschenburg said, is that it would not make a difference to a mother who lost a child or a man who lost a wife [whether it had been a priest or somebody else whose] drinking and driving had resulted in a fatality.... Full story here, from Ocean City Today
DSA Comments This man -- despite being found unconscious at the wheel, at a traffic light signal, and despite failing the field sobriety tests "miserably" -- still tried that age-old lie of telling the court that he had only had two drinks. One might conclude that this clearly flagrant untruth was nearly as profound an indictment on his vocation as was the fact that he has on three occasions been willing to put other people's well-being at risk for the sake of his own drinking. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
A suburban Detroit man charged with second-degree murder in a triple-fatal crash has transferred his million-dollar vacation home into a trust. Thomas Wellinger of Farmington Hills suffered a broken neck and other injuries in the May 2nd crash. Authorities say his blood alcohol level was more than five times the legal limit. He will undergo a competency review. Lawyers for Gary Weinstein think Wellinger is trying to protect his assets from a potential wrongful-death lawsuit. Weinstein's wife and two sons were killed in the crash.... Full story, from WWMT ___________________________
The inventor of a children's lightweight automobile helmet, Michael P. Fleming has filed a formal patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for his new child safety device.
"The time has come for the development of a helmet that protects
children in automobiles," said Fleming, an attorney who lives in
the Houston area. "Too many children throughout the world are
killed in car crashes because of head injuries. Too many of those who
survive must face a future filled with the terrible pain and lingering
symptoms of severe head injuries. A protective helmet like the one I
have designed must be produced to confront this problem." The design will also be comfortable, including a padded exterior, which means injuries to other passengers can be avoided. Michael Fleming may be contacted via: mfleming@mpfpc.com ___________________________
Anyone who's suffered one in a vehicle mishap will tell you that there's nothing quite as painful as a whiplash injury. The effects of a serious one can last for months -- even years -- and that's why automakers and safety legislators have been trying to minimize these kinds of injuries for decades. Of course, the first line of defence against whiplash injury is a well-designed head restraint -- commonly miscalled a "headrest" by safety and insurance authorities who should know better. That leather or cloth trimmed unit behind your head is not there to "rest" your head on, but to prevent whiplash injuries in a frontal or rear collision which causes the head to be flung forward, backwards and usually both. Automakers have well-staffed design departments working on seat systems and some of the engineers probably spend entire careers developing ever-more-effective head restraints. It's a good idea, especially if you're taller than average, to make sure that your new car has restraints that properly support your head in the correct place should an accident happen. The better head restraints have forward tilt adjustment that enables the user to position the unit fairly close to the head -- that's the positioning I feel most comfortable with. Of course, some automakers will always try to go the extra mile with safety systems, and Swedish manufacturer Volvo is among them. Although Volvo isn't the only automaker paying close attention to the prevention of neck injuries in auto accidents, it has produced some pioneering head restraint systems. These efforts were marked recently by a safety engineering award from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is closely watched by Canadian safety authorities. The award was granted to Volvo's Lotta Jakobsson, who, according to the NHTSA jury, has made "outstanding contributions in extending biomechanics knowledge and improving vehicle safety design." With Volvo since 1989, Jakobsson is recognized all over the world as an expert in impact trauma biomechanics and has made, according to Volvo, significant and pioneering contributions both to traffic injury research and to the design of safety systems in Volvo vehicles.... Full, interesting story, from the Vancouver Sun (registration may be necessary) ___________________________
The all-new Volvo C70 has been developed to offer new standards of preventive and protective safety in the convertible market. The car has an advanced body structure and several solutions that make it unique among open-top cars. The lack of a fixed roof has been compensated for by reinforcements in the structure and sophisticated safety technology. One unique
___________________________
A little cross on Highway 64 just outside of Williams reminds those people who knew him that 5-year-old Ryan Martinez died there on the night of Aug. 15, 2004. On Tuesday, less than a year after the accident, Ryan's mother, Kristine Hollis, was sentenced to four years in prison, after pleading guilty last month to one count of negligent homicide. Hollis, 25, had rolled the family's truck. Ryan wasn't seatbelted. She had been drinking since 7 a.m. that day. Her blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was as much as four times the legal driving limit. The sentence could have been as much as eight years in prison, but Judge Fred Newton of Coconino County Superior Court showed leniency after he heard pleas from Hollis' family and friends.... Full story, from the Arizona Daily Sun
DSA Comments We have posted this article in the hope that it might act as a "wake up call" for anybody who might ever allow themselves to lapse into the deadly "It won't happen to me!" mentality about their driving. (I think we can safely assume that this woman never thought she might end up killing her own son.) Remember: Just because you might "get away" with a risky behavior 10 times, 100 times or even 1,000 times, it does not mean either that you have become a "good" driver or that nothing will ever go wrong. And it doesn't matter whether the risky behavior is drunk driving, speeding, using a cell phone (mobile phone) while driving, habitually driving with just one hand on the wheel, or whatever. Any less-than-sensible driving habit could eventually end up killing you or -- as in this case, arguably something a thousand times worse -- killing your child or someone else you love dearly. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
The silence has been deafening since Honda Motor Co. announced last month it was going to post federal government crash test ratings on new car and light truck window stickers starting in the 2006 model year. The media should have been showered with press releases from safety advocates lauding a new effort to highlight vehicle safety, even if, for now, it pertains only to Hondas. Where are they? What about other carmakers, who have not responded in kind? Why is Honda's new initiative being ignored? Is it because Honda officials have the mettle to put the crash test ratings of every one of their models on the window sticker for shoppers to see? Is it because Honda has a higher proportion of nameplates with top, five- and four-star ratings from the government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration than any other car brand?.... Full story, by Ann Job, at the Detroit News ___________________________
The official state death toll from Hurricane Dennis has risen to seven after authorities included a Sunday night traffic accident in which three people died, state law enforcement officials confirmed Tuesday. [The three dies when a driver] lost control of a Ford Expedition on a water-covered road near Punta Gorda, according to traffic reports. The SUV rolled over and landed on its roof, where it remained submerged until the bodies were discovered.... On Friday, a three-year-old boy was killed when his father ran over him as the family prepared to evacuate their Walton County home. Gerald M. Miller was backing up to a trailer in the driveway of his Defuniak Springs home with his car door open when his son Christopher jumped out. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Full story, from the Palm Beach Post ___________________________
Without the necessary additional training, would you want a fighter pilot to fly the Boeing 747 that is taking you and your family on vacation? Of course fighter pilots are brilliant, but only at what they have been properly trained to do! Surely, flying fighters and wide-bodied passenger jets are not only different skills but they are also carried out in entirely different air space environments, too. And so it is with racing on private circuits when compared to driving in two-way traffic or, for example, through busy intersections on public roads. So why is it, then, that a large number of former racing drivers feel free to dole out advice for safe road driving? Is their undeniable expertise in speed, cornering techniques and 'winning,' in any way relevant to sensible and safe driving among day-to-day traffic? The sad fact is that not only do they get some important things badly wrong about safety but they also, on occasion, promote techniques that may be invaluable on a race track yet are positively deadly if used on a public highway.... Read the full editorial opinion piece here. ___________________________
Lt. Colonel Jim Champagne, Chair of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) today issued the following statement:
Today the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released new
research concluding that drivers using mobile phones are four times
more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.
IIHS also indicated that hands-free equipment did not reduce chances
of injury to drivers. This research, along with other recent studies
from the University of Utah and Virginia Tech University, all have
similar findings which should impact our public policy discussion
about 'dialing and driving.' The message is clear: Drivers should not
use ANY type of cell phone behind the wheel. To better understand the extent of the problem, GHSA recommends states include an element for driver distraction on motor vehicle crash report forms. Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia include driver distractions on their crash forms, which are completed by a police officer at a crash scene. The cumulative data from police crash forms are used to help develop policy and traffic safety countermeasures. GHSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation have developed model elements which include driver distraction guidelines. States are encouraged to consider implementing driver distraction data elements as crash forms are updated. The guidelines, known as the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria, are available at http://www.mmucc.us/ The IIHS report is available online at http://www.iihs.org/ State laws and restrictions on driving while using a cell phone are posted online at http://www.ghsa.org/ [Source: Governors Highway Safety Association]
DSA Comments According to the IIHS, the research was actually from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and related to a study conducted in Western Australia. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
An acting mayor and at least five others were killed and four people injured on Sunday when their truck fell into a ravine in Peru's Corongo province, some 400 km northwest of the capital city of Lima, the local police said Monday. The victims include acting Mayor of Bombas, Jacqueline Aponte, and her family members. On that same spot, a bus fell into the ravine in May, leaving 37 dead and 16 others wounded. [Source: Xinhuanet] ___________________________
It's rare these days to encounter elected politicians who are open to trying new approaches. That's why it's refreshing to hear the philosophy of Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Lyle Oberg. In a Sun editorial board meeting Oberg told of his willingness to try a whole raft of new ideas to boost traffic safety in Alberta, including turning loose a bunch of provincial traffic cops on some crash-prone roads and having graduated licences for motorcyclists.... You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to know we've got a problem with road carnage in this province.... The most recent statistics available show there were 2,778 people killed in traffic collisions in Canada in 2003 - a nation that has about 22 million licensed drivers. That death toll sounds horrific, but it's actually a 50% reduction since 1980. Alberta's experience mirrors the national situation. In recent years, the province has averaged just under 400 traffic fatalities annually - a big drop from 25 years ago when it was usually double that number. "The number of collisions and fatal collisions has been fairly constant in recent years," said ministry spokesman Trent Bancarz.... In a nutshell, Oberg figures new ideas can't help but decrease collisions. "We're committed to decreasing the (traffic) death rate two-thirds by 2010," he vowed. Full story, from the Edmonton Sun
DSA Comments As ever, it is delightful to see a country take an aggressive stance towards the reduction of road casualties, and to aim for significant reductions in the actual number of deaths each year. It would be interesting to know which year or period Alberta intends to use as a benchmark against which to obtain the 66 per cent reduction in deaths. Whatever that benchmark is, Drive and Stay Alive wishes Alberta every success. A 66 per cent reduction in just 5 years is a huge goal, and possibly unattainable, but as the old saying goes: If you aim high and miss by a bit, you will still have done well! Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
Six people were killed and a woman suffered injuries as a result of a traffic accident on the Rostov-Moscow federal highway on Sunday. "The road accident occurred at about 10 a.m. near the town of Novoshakhtinsk in the Rostov region, when an Audi and Toyota cars collided," a spokesman said. Full story, from Interfax ___________________________
It is back to basics for Irish motorists. An advertising campaign will be launched later this year to teach “dismal” Irish drivers fundamental tasks such as how to use roundabouts, overtake safely and drive properly on motorways. The National Safety Council (NSC) is spending €300,000 on the new road safety campaign aimed at correcting common mistakes such as hogging the fast lane on motorways and circling roundabouts in the outside lane. According to Alan Richardson, the NSC’s acting chief executive, Irish people are “fairly brutal” when it comes to essential driving skills and the problem is causing chaos on our roads. “Irish drivers are the pits,” he said. “We hog the road on motorways, we haven’t a clue when it comes to roundabouts and we can’t overtake safely. The campaign will be similar to ones used years ago, but will be more modern in style.” The council will focus on improving aspects of driving that are not included in the country’s test for learners. “It doesn’t help that some of the most important parts of driving are not part of the test for provisional drivers,” said Richardson, who described this as “a disgrace”. Learner drivers are not allowed on motorways and are not tested on this aspect of driving in the exam. Overtaking is also not examined.... Irish drivers rarely indicate before leaving roundabouts and often use the outside lane to travel past too many exits [on roundabouts] instead of the inside one, said Richardson.... Conor Faughnan of the Automobile Association said the new campaign was timely. “Generally the council has to focus in on the main causes of accidents and these are speed, drink-driving and non-wearing of seat belts. But there is a need for better education of the public to improve driver awareness and these ads will help,” he said.... The government has been criticised for delaying the introduction of other road safety initiatives such as random breath testing, the outsourcing of fixed and mobile speed cameras to a private operator and a mandatory new training regime for both drivers and motorcyclists.... Full story, from The Sunday Times, Ireland ___________________________
Old, vehicle-packed Calcutta is set to flow with the times. To better manage the increasing number of cars on the city’s clogged streets, traffic authorities have decided to introduce light-operated signals and a video monitoring system directly controlled by the Lalbazar traffic headquarters.... Traffic officials said the decision to introduce automated signals was taken as more and more people are being caught violating manual signals. “Often they say the manual signal is confusing and they fail to understand it, therefore mistakes are inevitable. But now they will not be able to violate it on that pretext anymore,” [said deputy commissioner, traffic, Arun Sharma]. The new system also means that violators who zoomed past a constable’s outstretched baton will find it tough to get away so easily in future.... Full story, from The Telegraph, India. ___________________________
Three people died and 65 were injured in a traffic accident late Thursday when a municipal bus, a cargo truck and a small truck collided on a highway outside Istanbul, the Anatolia news agency reported. The pile-up occurred in Pendik. Full story available from the Turkish Daily News (registration necessary) ___________________________
Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Todd Larkins was killed yesterday in a roadside incident. Ironically, an article about his good deeds, helping a stranded family on July 4, appeared in yesterday's Dickson Herald — the day Larkins died when he was struck by a tractor-trailer as he stood beside his parked patrol car during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Dickson County.... The driver of the tractor-trailer.... was charged last night with vehicular homicide and was being held without bond in the Dickson County Jail, a sheriff's spokesman said. THP Col. Lynn Pitts said a recent state law directing motorists to move away from the emergency lane when possible to avoid emergency vehicles "for some reason didn't happen here. It (the truck) went from the driving lane to the emergency lane instead." The new law followed a similar incident last year involving Metro Police Officer Christy Dedman, who was killed when she was struck while helping a stranded motorist along I-40 on the east side of Nashville. Among other, close family members, Trooper Larkins is survived by his wife, Alicia, and his 12-year-old daughter, Carina. Full article, from The Dickson Herald, via The Tennessean ___________________________
Over the Fourth of July weekend... [Alasaka] state troopers alone arrested thirty-seven people for driving under the influence.... Greg Wilkinson with the Alaska State Troopers said: "...It's really something each one of us needs to be aware of. It's not just the other guy.” Alaska's "You Drink, You Drive, You Lose" campaign has been very successful. In 2001, alcohol was involved in over 50 percent of the fatal crashes in Alaska. By 2004, that number was down to 31 percent. In an effort to keep the momentum going, troopers along with local police agencies are embarking on a new campaign targeted at drunk drivers called the High Visibility Impaired Driving Enforcement Plan. For the next ten months extra patrols will be out of the roads working overtime to keep the roads safe. Wilkinson says, “You don't have to be drunk to be arrested. You just have to be impaired. And that can happen at any level after your first drink.” Troopers believe that this is a campaign that the public appreciates as opinions on drunk driving continue to change. According to Wilkinson, “It used to be a more socially accepted type of a situation. I think people are much more critical of it that they need a designated driver or need to call a cab.” Full story, from KTVA, Anchorage ___________________________
SEOUL -- The United States Forces in Korea (USFK) has demanded its jurisdiction be recognized in the case of an American solider who is charged with killing an elderly Korean woman in a traffic accident last month, prosecutors said Friday. In the June 10 accident, a 51-year-old woman was struck by a 2.5-ton military truck while pulling her delivery cart along a road in Tongduchon, north of Seoul. "We received an official duty certificate from the USFK on July 5," an official at the Uijongbu district prosecutors office said. "The Justice Ministry is likely to decide whether to hand over jurisdiction of the soldier to the U.S. military." It remains uncertain whether the ministry will ask the American side to waive its rights to try the soldier, he added.... In a similar accident in 2002, two South Korean schoolgirls were crushed and killed by a U.S. armored vehicle. The two American soldiers operating the tracked vehicle were later acquitted by a U.S. court-martial. The verdict inflamed many South Koreans, inspiring tens of thousands to demonstrate by holding candlelight vigils for several nights.... Full story, from The Korea Times ___________________________
The Commission has sent reasoned opinions to two Member States which have so far failed to communicate to it measures for the transposal into national law of European legislation on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor vehicles. Improving road safety is a constant priority of European transport policy. The Directive in question supplements the existing legislation by extending the scope of the harmonisation of the requirements relating to the installation and use of speed limitation devices. It requires that vehicles intended to transport passengers registered as from 1 January 2005 and having more than eight seats, including the driver’s seat, must be equipped with a speed limitation device set in such a way that their speed cannot exceed 100 km/hour [62mph]. Vehicles used for the transport of goods having a maximum weight in excess of 3.5 tonnes registered as from the same date must be fitted with a speed limitation device set in such a way that their speed cannot exceed 90 km/hour [56mph]. ___________________________
Four teenagers in one car and the elderly driver of another car all died following a head-on collision on the A6, near Scalesceugh Hall, south of Carlisle last night. Police believe the accident happened just before 8pm, when one of the two cars lost control on a bend and skidded into the opposite carriageway, where it was hit side-on by an oncoming car. Luke Johnson, 19, Neil Guy, 18, Harriet McGilloway, 17, and Carly Hullock, 17, all from the Penrith area, died when their Honda was involved in a collision with a Suzuki driven by 72-year-old Roger Diver, of Dalston. The Honda burst into flames after the impact. All of the teenage occupants died at the scene. Ms McGilloway, a passenger in the Honda, was the daughter of South Lakes police chief inspector Kevin McGilloway. Mr Diver was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, where he later died. His wife Stephanie, a passenger in the car, was cut from the wreckage and remains in a serious condition in hospital. The road was closed for six hours while police examined the area. The fatal accident brings the death toll on Cumbrian roads this year to 17. Full story, from the News & Star ___________________________
The organisers of tonight's Motor Transport Awards say they have decided to postpone the event in view of the terrorist attacks on Central London this morning. Motor Transport's deputy editor, Toby Clark, says Motor Transport will give more information over the next few days. ___________________________
WASHINGTON -- American drivers say the aggressive and distracted behavior of other drivers is more aggravating than traffic delays, road construction and personal stress combined. That's the finding of a new national poll of motorists who, ironically, admitted to many of the same bad highway habits they criticize in other drivers.... All that adds up to growing anxiety among drivers, who view the road as an increasingly risky place. The third annual Drive for Life poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, found drivers feel less safe and perceive they are more likely to get into a collision than five years ago.... Full details, including the chance to win a Volvo S40 sedan, here.
The most effective and most proven way to truly enhance your protection from serious injury or death in road crashes, in the longer term, is through true, in-depth advanced driver training (and not some home-made pretence of such that some people advertise, or courses from racing drivers). Click here for further details, from ADA. ___________________________
..... In response to the Sheinin Committee's recommendations for a 9 percent hike on mandatory insurance to fund a comprehensive road safety program, Adi Eldar, chairman of the Union of Local Authorities in Israel, wrote in a statement to The Jerusalem Post that the current dangerous road conditions are a result of government neglect. Up until two years ago, a spokesman for Eldar said, the national government helped fund road improvements such as placing street signs, fixing pot holes and painting streets. This funding came to a halt in 2003.... Full article, from The Jerusalem Post ___________________________
Retailers, manufacturers and company directors and all other parties in the heavy vehicle industry will be held legally responsible for truck drivers' safety under legislation being drafted for the [South Australia] State Government. Under the "chain of responsibility" law, everyone involved with the movement of freight – including packers, receivers, employers and senior managers – will face liability for road safety breaches. The move is part of a national agreement designed to stamp out pressure on truck drivers to break the law by speeding, driving without adequate breaks or carrying overweight loads. Companies will be fined up to $50,000 for involvement in breaches of road laws, and courts will also be able to target any profit they make from breaches. All parties in the multimillion-dollar industry will be required to take reasonable steps to ensure their conduct does not compromise road safety. Enforcement officers will also have greater power to inspect vehicles and premises, including the ability to seize documents. The legislation is expected to be introduced for debate in State Parliament by the end of the year.... Allowable driving hours and minimum breaks are already specified under existing regulations. Full story, from The Advertiser ___________________________
Four regional winners have been selected from over 6,000 UK-wide entries in the BMW Education Programme 'Safe on the Street' competition. Primary schools throughout the United Kingdom were invited to participate in the competition which consisted of five multiple choice questions, followed by a tie-breaker to design a screen saver incorporating a road safety message. Schools were encouraged to hold their own competitions and submit the top entry in each year [i.e. 'grade']. Over 6,000 schoolchildren participated in the programme and the designs demonstrated a high level of creativity and awareness of the road safety issues that children have today. Each of the four winning pupils -- one from each relevant year-group -- won £200 for their school, a special BMW gift and a certificate for themselves in recognition of their outstanding achievement. "BMW is delighted that the competition provided an opportunity for young people to develop their artistic skills at the same time as providing valuable tips on road safety," said Jim O'Donnell, managing director of BMW United Kingdom. [Source: BMW UK] ___________________________
Last year, Dorel Juvenile Group Inc. invested $25 million in its Columbus, Ind., plant in anticipation of a growing demand for child car seats. This year, the gamble is paying off as seven states enacted broader safety laws requiring more children to ride in booster seats. Similar legislation is pending in 16 other states. Dorel - North America's largest car seat manufacturer under the Cosco, Safety 1st and Eddie Bauer brands - projects 15 percent to 20 percent growth in car seat sales this year as parents scramble to buy new seats for children as old as 7.... Full story from the Detroit News
It is the ultimate back seat driver. Motorists face having their cars fitted with a “spy” device that prevents speeding. The satellite-based system will monitor the speed limit and apply the brakes or cut out the accelerator if a driver tries to exceed it. A government-funded trial has concluded that the scheme promotes safer driving. Drivers in London could be among the first to have the “speed spy” devices fitted. They would be offered a discount on the congestion charge if they use the system. The move follows a six-month trial in Leeds using 20 modified Skoda Fabias, which found that volunteer drivers paid more attention as well to keeping to the speed limit. More than 1,000 lives a year could be saved if the system was fitted to all Britain’s cars, say academics at Leeds University, who ran the trial on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT). It is part of a two-year research project into “Intelligent Speed Adaptation” (ISA), which the department is funding at a cost of £2m. Results of the initial trial will be presented to ministers this week.... Full story here, from The Times ___________________________
MOSCOW (Itar-Tass) -- Traffic policemen are marking their professional holiday on Sunday. They will go to work in formal military [uniform?] on the day when the 69th anniversary of Russian traffic police is marked. However, despite of the festive mood traffic policemen will still be strict to drivers who violate the traffic rules. At present about 118,500 officials work in traffic police, and about 60,000 traffic inspectors ensure security on Russian roads round-the-clock. However, the work of traffic policemen is not only difficult, but also dangerous. About 230 traffic policemen were killed and more than 650 were wounded when performing their [official] duties in 2004 alone, the traffic security department of the Interior Ministry told Itar-Tass. Drunken drivers often knock down duty inspectors on the roads. They also fall victims of car hijackers.... The state automobile inspection was included in the Soviet Union Interior Ministry after its restoration in 1967. Under a presidential decree in June 1998 the state automobile inspection was transformed [into the] traffic police. The former initial word in the name of the service (GAI) that drivers got more accustomed to was restored four years later.... Full story here, from ITAR/TASS ___________________________
Why does the USA have such an appallingly poor rate of deaths, as a proportion of the population, when compared to other developed nations? For 2003, for example, the nation had a per capita death rate of 14.66 -- slightly more than two and a half times worse than the leading countries, which had rates in the 5.8's. In other words, for every 100,000 members of America's population, 14.66 people are killed in road crashes each year. That might not sound like much but the result is the equivalent, in the number of deaths, to a tragedy such as the World Trade Center massacre happening here every 23 days. Clearly, the overall standard of driving is not the only contributory factor in the USA's 43,000 annual road deaths -- road and vehicle 'Engineering' form one key factor, the preventive effects of law 'Enforcement' are another, but basic driver training is a vital element in the 'Education' which forms the third of the most commonly cited 'E's of road safety.... In an article in the Sacramento Bee -- July 3, 2005 -- it is mentioned that California state qualifications for driving instructors (quote) "are basic: a high school education, a driver's license, 60 hours of training and passing a written test. DMV officials last year dropped the special behind-the-wheel test for applicants, saying it duplicated the test for a driver's license. Drug tests are not required. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify a job candidate." On the face of it the training aspects in California might sound acceptable, but.... comparisons are called for. In Britain, for example -- the country which has had the safest roads more times than any other country in recent years -- the average training period for a new driving instructor lasts several months and involves three demanding tests which are all carried out by national examiners from the Driving Standards Agency.... Read the full editorial opinion here, from Drive and Stay Alive ___________________________
"We're working to reduce highway deaths in Tennessee by 10 percent by 2009," said Department of Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips. "'Stay Alive in '05'" activities include sobriety checkpoints and driver license checkpoints in all 95 counties," said Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Lynn Pitts. "By finding dangerous drivers before they cause a crash, we lessen the chances of fatalities on Tennessee roads.".... [Source: THP announces enforcement campaign for holiday weekend, from The Mountain Press]
DSA Comments We are delighted to see Tennessee taking this approach rather than just toeing the official line for reductions in the VMT rate, which can be described as a comparatively meaningless exercise. There can be no doubt that by far the most meaningful reductions and improvements in road safety are those which involve targets whereby the actual number of people killed is reduced, year-on-year. Having said that, it also has to be acknowledged that in terms of the per capita death rate, Tennessee loses a stunningly high proportion of its population each year (i.e. 20.57 people for every 100,000 members of the population -- 2003 figures). This compares with a U.S. national average of 14.66 deaths/100,000, and that in turn compares very poorly with rates of less than 6 deaths per 100,000 in the leading, highly-motorized, developed nations. So we wish Tennessee every success with the planned 10 percent reduction and hope that the state will then go on to set more rigorous targets. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
The Fourth of July is one of America’s greatest holidays. There are barbecues and swimming pools and fireworks and more. It’s a time of celebration for sure, but too often these celebrations involve heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. Heavy alcohol consumption can lead people to make uneducated and irresponsible decisions, such as getting behind the wheel of an automobile. The result can be getting arrested, wrecking their car, or even causing the death of someone you love. Earlier this year we learned that approximately 4 million young people drove under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which is a statistic that is shocking enough by itself. The latest information available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that the Fourth of July is one of the deadliest holidays on the roads. In fact, nearly 55% of all traffic fatalities on this holiday [presumably in 2004 -- this isn't stated -- DSA] were alcohol-related, totaling 282 deaths. The percentage is higher than New Year’s Eve and the overall number is nearly three times more than the last two New Year’s Eves combined. Narconon Arrowhead would like to remind you that the Fourth of July is a day that is supposed to be a celebration of our freedom, not to mourn the loss of a loved one. To find out how you can help make this Fourth of July safer for your community and see other statistics on drinking and driving log on to www.maddonline.org [Source: Narconon Arrowhead]
[In addition, general information about drinking and driving, plus the blood-alcohol limits in over 80 countries are available from Drive and Stay Alive, Inc.] ___________________________
In KentuckySomerset police weren't horsing around Thursday when they arrested Millard G. Dwyer and charged him with drunk driving - again. ___________________________
Drivers on Tasmanian roads are now subject to random drug testing. [DSA italics -- our congratulations to, Tasmania.] Police can ask drivers to undergo a saliva test to screen for illegal drugs like marijuana and speed. If the driver tests positive, he or she will then be required to provide a blood sample for laboratory analysis. Road Safety Task Force chairman Paul Hogan fully supports the new testing regime. "We see this legislation consistent with what the Government has done over recent years of introducing legislation that can make a meaningful difference to the reduction in the road toll," he said. "We all know that for too long illicit drugs, and in come cases licit drugs have been involved as the primary cause, of many road crashes." [Source: ABC News Online] ___________________________
The city has beats stringent 2010 European targets in just 40 per cent of the permitted time. In 2003, 416 people were killed or injured on Aberdeen's roads compared to the mid-80s average of 1223 and the late 90s average of 716, reductions of 66% and 42% respectively. These figures include 'slight' casualties and are therefore more difficult to achieve than the national targets.... This has been achieved using AIP cluster, route and area identification and treatment of problems, together with comprehensive traffic management on an area-by-area basis across the City.... Road safety education and enforcement are vigorously pursued with our partners and this holistic approach seems to be bearing fruit.... .... Our road safety record continues to be the best in Europe.... ___________________________
From today, people buying a new car will be able to tell how environmentally friendly a vehicle is as new colour coded labels start to appear in car showrooms. The fuel efficiency labels - announced by Alistair Darling earlier this year - are similar to those currently displayed on fridges and other white goods. They help get a variety of information across to consumers, such as how fuel efficient a particular vehicle is, how much motorists can expect to pay in fuel bills, and whether it qualifies for a reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty. All major car brands in the UK have signed up to the introduction of the voluntary labelling scheme. The label is due to appear in all UK car showrooms by 1 September. [Source: DfT News Release 2005/0074] ___________________________
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July
30, 2005: Shell Road Safety Drive Draws Big Response in Oman
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and GLOBAL
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July
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July
11, 2005: Two Crashes at Same Location Kill 43 in Peru
July
10, 2005: Six killed in traffic accident in the Rostov
region of Russia
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and 
July 6, 2005: 
