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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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December 2005
Our apologies to our regular readers but our staff have been away, around the Christmas holidays. News articles will be retrospectively added where possible, for the days that we have missed.
Law enforcement officers around Florida kept the headlights on their
patrol vehicles lit Friday and were hitting the roads in force on the
eve of the New Year's weekend. Police,
deputies and troopers joined forces for the program, called Operation
Lights for Life. ___________________________
Harrogate Police and Fire service are continuing their tough
crack down on drink-drivers over New Year.
North Yorkshire Police are operating targeted static checks
across the county, “at any time, at any place” according to the
Head of Tactical Operations.
Superintendent Kevin Doyle added: “We see no reason why
people should be killed, injured or have their lives ruined by those
who drink and drive.
“As well as surprise static checks we are operating extra
patrols, and we guarantee that every driver involved in a crash will
be breathalysed and every driver stopped for a motoring offence will
also be tested. There will be at least one static check every day.
“Extended drinking hours will make no difference – North
Yorkshire Police officers will test every driver we speak to under
these circumstances, what ever the time of day or night. Protecting
life and reducing casualties is a 24/7 operation for us.”
Meanwhile the Fire and Rescue Service are taking a hard-hitting
roadshow round North Yorkshire throughout the campaign, which runs
until 2 January.
Firefighters are taking the mangled wreckage of a crashed car
to locations across the county. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris
Anderson said: “The message could not be simpler – this is the
indisputable consequence of drinking and driving.... Full
story, from Harrogate
Today
[SMc] ___________________________
Turning 16 and obtaining one’s license has been a rite of
passage, which ranks right up there with apple pie and the American
way of life. To most parents, it is a mixed blessing of less time
spent chauffeuring and more time spent worrying. Worse yet was the
issue of when a teen driver obtained his or her license and wanted to
take your child out for the first spin. A parent became the devil
incarnate if he or she refused such a “generous” offer on behalf
of your mortified child....
Oklahoma was the 33rd state in 1999 to pass a “Graduated
Driver License” law. The “GDL” law got some teeth this past
spring. The latest version restricts teen driving between the hours of
5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with certain exceptions. For example, teens may
drive during other hours if they are going to work, school, church or
a related activity, or if a licensed driver is sitting beside the
teenager. The bill does not allow teenage drivers to chauffeur friends
around town. Teens with a GDL cannot drive with multiple passengers
younger than age 21 (other than a family member). If the teen driver
keeps a clean driving record over a one-year period, the restrictions
are removed....
As for the law itself, the good news is that it should decrease
the number of teen deaths. Statistics support this fact. In Oklahoma,
in their first year of driving, 25 percent of 16 year-olds will either
receive a ticket or be in an accident. In 2003, 671 drivers died in
this state in traffic accidents. Forty-five of those accidents
involved teen drivers who were 17 or younger. Another 10,711
non-fatality accidents involved drivers who were 17 or younger.
In states where tiered drivers licenses are in effect, the
rates of accidents and deaths, involving under-18 drivers have
declined. Oklahoma’s law is patterned after North Carolina’s law,
which was adopted in 1997. That state has seen a 27 percent drop in
car related deaths of 16- to 18-year-old drivers. Iowa, which adopted
a version of the law in 1999, has seen traffic violation convictions
and car related deaths drop by about 20 percent. These are not
insignificant numbers.... Full
opinion, from The
Edmond Sun [SMc]
___________________________
The RACV has pleaded with parents not to leave children locked in cars as Ballarat prepares for extreme summer heat. The call came after it was revealed 1300 RACV patrols were called out to assist people and pets [in such circumstances] across Victoria in the last 12 months. RACV chief engineer, vehicles, Michael Case said the figure equated to more than three rescues a day.... Mr Case said the interior temperature of a vehicle could rise by as much as 40 degrees Celsius in just 15 minutes. He said children could suffer heatstroke, dehydration, or even die as the mercury neared the lethal 60 degree mark. Mr Case said leaving a window open a few centimetres would not ensure protection. [He added that] parents who were tempted to leave children in vehicles while visiting shopping centres must think again. "In the past we have heard of horrifying stories where children ... have been locked in cars while parents attended to other business," he said. Ballarat Police endorsed the message after attending two reported incidents this week. Meanwhile, Ballarat Police Acting Inspector David Hermit urged people to be vigilant with temperatures forecast to soar above 30 degrees today and tomorrow. Full story, from The Courier, Ballarat. ___________________________
Northland's top traffic cop has drawn a line in the sand, saying he is determined to break the region's abysmal drink-driving record.... To counter the problem, police will continue a drink driving blitz in the region for at least another year. That's how long it will take to change deep-seated attitudes to drink driving in the region, says Northland's police roading inspector, Rob Lindsay.... The region's shameful drink-driving statistics had forced police to put stringent bail conditions on repeat offenders, Whangarei Senior Sergeant Alastair Ward told the Advocate in September.... Full story, from The Northern Advocate [SMc] ___________________________
Road safety campaigners yesterday slammed Homer Simpson. The cartoon star is regularly shown knocking back pints of Duff beer before getting in his car, often with his family in tow. Amanda Roberts, 43, of the Campaign Against Dangerous Driving, said: "The example they are setting by showing Homer in this light is more than careless, it is downright dangerous."... This year's festive ad campaign is under way to raise awareness of the [drunk-driving] problem. One in 10 UK drivers admits drink-driving. [Source: The Daily Record, Scotland] ___________________________
The Ad Council and U.S. Department of Transportation Expand Focus of Drunk-Driving Campaign to Buzzed Driving After more than twenty years of the highly successful “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk” campaign, The Advertising Council and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have expanded the focus of their Drunk Driving Prevention campaign to target “buzzed driving.” The new public service advertising (PSA) campaign is launching today to coincide with the holiday season, a time when drunk driving fatalities are at their highest.... In continuing their efforts to prevent drunk driving, NHTSA and the Ad Council have evaluated ways to extend the reach of the campaign, which has been accomplished by focusing on individual responsibility in an effort to reduce impaired driving. The “buzzed driver” is one who drinks too much and drives, but does not consider himself a hazard on the roadway or a drunk driver because he believes his drinking is “moderate.” The expanded campaign is designed to correct that perception, by instilling the notion that if you are “buzzed,” you’re too impaired to drive safely. It will inspire a dialogue about and recognition of the dangers of “buzzed” driving and, subsequently, motivate people to stop driving “buzzed.” “The Drunk Driving Prevention campaign is one of the most successful campaigns in our country’s history,” according to Peggy Conlon, Ad Council President and CEO. “Buzzed drivers don’t equate themselves with the drunk drivers that they would condemn, even though the statistics show that their behavior can be just as dangerous. I am confident that this new creative will continue to change the culture as it relates to alcohol consumption and driving and communicate to buzzed drivers that even a few drinks can have devastating consequences.” Created by Massachusetts-based ad agency Mullen, the new television and radio PSAs target men aged 21 to 34 because, according to NHTSA, 59% of the nearly 13,000 impaired driving fatalities last year were people age 21-34, with the overwhelming majority of them men. The PSAs feature people who are visibly drunk and should obviously not be behind the wheel of a car, and then show people who are “buzzed” and may not recognize that they are too impaired to drive. The ads conclude with the tagline “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.” To view the PSAs, visit: www.adcouncil.org/campaigns/buzzed_driving/ .... Full story, from NAMC ___________________________
The holiday season, particularly New Year's Eve, is among the year's deadliest for drunk driving fatalities. Year-round, the statistics are bad enough: Every 30 minutes, someone in America dies in an alcohol-related crash, and in Florida, more than a third of all accidents involve alcohol. This season, once again, the AAA Auto Club and Budweiser are teaming up to offer a convenient alternative [to prevent drunk driving]. Any adult in Florida who calls 1-800-AAA-HELP will get a ride home and their car towed, free of charge. AAA estimates the "Tow To Go" program, available through New Year's Day, has already kept nearly 5,000 potential drunk drivers off the road over the past six years. So if you don't know when to stop, at least know who to call, and keep the number handy. [Source: The South Florida Sun-Sentinel] ___________________________
Mercury Insurance Group and the San Diego Police Department have produced "Every 15 Minutes," a two-day program to teach high-schoolers the dangers of drinking and driving. The goal of both Mercury Insurance and the San Diego Police Department is to save lives. According to historical data from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in eight teens is likely to drive after drinking alcohol this holiday season, and 30 percent of American teens in December will ride with a driver who has been drinking alcohol. Additionally, statistics show that in 2003, 27 percent of 16- to 20-year-old passenger vehicle drivers fatally injured in crashes had blood alcohol levels of 0.08 percent or more, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. December is designated "National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month" by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.... Full story, from the Insurance Journal ___________________________
The year 2005 has become the deadliest ever on the roads in southern Nevada -- and appears headed for a record statewide. Authorities are blaming population increases, aggressive driving, motorists distracted by cell phones, onboard DVD players and eating behind the wheel. As of Tuesday, 297 people died from traffic crashes this year in Clark County. That compares with 279 traffic deaths in all of 2004 -- according to the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Statewide, 393 had people died in car crashes as of December 15th -- with the number appeared headed over 400 for the first time. Last year, there were 395 crash fatalities statewide. About one in three was blamed on speeding, almost two in five on alcohol impairment and almost half on failure to use seat belts.... [Source: KESQ News Channel] [SMc] __________________________
Cape residents are being urged to help cut road deaths by a massive margin this year. Deaths on the region's roads this December have dropped by 25 percent from last year. However the month still has four more days to run and some figures are up - like the number of drivers arrested for drunken driving. But Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane said on Tuesday that they were hopeful of a dramatic overall decrease in the number of road deaths.... Drugs had been seized at roadblocks around the province, as had nine stolen cars. "But the second major problem is speeding," he said. "Drivers are not hearing us when we are saying speed kills." The maximum speed recorded this week was 184km/h [115mph]. Last week it was 194km/h [121mph].... Full story, from Independent Online [SMc] __________________________
Limiting the number of passengers P-plate drivers can carry will reduce peer pressure, dangerous driving and deaths on country roads, says Ballarat Traffic Management Unit Senior Sergeant Murray Rowe. Sen Sgt Rowe's call for stricter measures comes as the State Government considers adding a year to young drivers' probationary period. Under the plans a restrictive P1 licence would be held for one year before a three-year P2 licence could be obtained. Currently P-plate drivers are on probation for three years. The government has taken submissions and will make a decision on law changes at a later date. Sen Sgt Rowe said he was [also] a strong advocate for restricting passenger numbers in the early years of driving.... [He also said that] ideally everyone would undergo advanced training but the biggest hurdle would be cost. "It would be a good Christmas or birthday present to do an advanced driving course," he said.... The Young Driver Safety and Graduated Licensing Discussion Paper is available at www.arrivealive.vic.gov.au Full story, from The Courier, Ballarat. __________________________
A father died yesterday and his three children and their mother were seriously hurt in the first accident of a catalogue of road deaths that saw the toll climb to 10.... Crash investigators are still carrying out inquiries but driver fatigue is being investigated as a possible cause.... Police are appealing for calm driving and patience at this dangerous time on the roads. Top Waikato traffic policeman Leo Tooman, who himself drove from Wellington to Hamilton yesterday, said the volume of traffic and mix of speed and slow-moving vehicles towing trailers was a recipe for disaster. "They're having a go when they shouldn't."... Full story, from the New Zealand Herald [SMc]__________________________
Ten people, including three children and four women, were killed and more than 20 were injured when a lorry collided with a bus on the Changanassery-Alappuzha road at Parackal near Perunna this evening. Of the injured, four were in serious condition and have been admitted to various hospitals. The ill-fated bus was on its way to Alappuzha when the accident took place, the police said. [Source: WebIndia] [SMc] ___________________________
Twenty-seven people died and sixty were injured when a loaded truck in which they were travelling skidded and landed in a ditch, a senior road safety official said on Tuesday. The accident happened on December 24 at Bakura junction in northwestern Zamfara State when the truck, carrying 87 people and 200 bags of grain, skidded off the road and ran into a ditch, Federal Road Safety Commission official Umar Liman told AFP. The truck was heading to a market in Illela, a town on the border with neighbouring Niger Republic, he said. The driver lost control, apparently due to exhaustion, he said. Twenty-seven of the passengers died, while 60 others were injured, 16 of them seriously, he said. Road accidents in Nigeria are often caused by indiscipline, speeding, drunkenness and the poor state of roads and vehicles. [Source: Independent Online]
Vehicle Crashes has Exceeded the Target for the Full Financial Year NORFOLK, Va (NNS) -- The Naval Safety Center reported, Dec. 27, that the Navy has exceeded its targeted limit of 29 Private Motor Vehicle [PMV] mishaps for the entire fiscal year (FY)—a critical statistic because nine months remain in the fiscal year. Two PMV mishaps late last week put the Navy over the number that would have allowed it to stay on track to reduce mishaps 75 percent by FY '08. “We are shocked at the numbers,” said Capt. Bill Glenn, Director of Shore Safety Programs at the Naval Safety Center. “A lot of dedicated people around the fleet have done an enormous amount of work to prevent traffic-related mishaps and deaths. We are looking at all areas of responsibility and ways to stop the terrible increase in the loss of our Sailors and Marines.” Fiscal year 2006 started off poorly with a series of motorcycle and PMV mishaps in October. After a short decline, mishaps continued their climb to the highest [level] in 17 years. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, four Sailors and Marines died, and mishaps continued to accumulate. In early December, the Chief of Naval Operation (CNO) Adm. Michael G. Mullen addressed this problem in NAVADMIN 315/05. “This is a trend we cannot tolerate and must correct immediately,” [Admiral] Mullen wrote.... The Naval Safety Center reminds everyone to have a safe holiday and get plenty of rest before hitting the road to visit family and friends. For more information on PMV mishaps, lessons learned, and tools to avoid mishaps, visit their Web site at www.safetycenter.navy.mil/ashore/motorvehicle Full story, from Navy Newsstand ___________________________
[Using just one American state for the sake of example] the annual cost of crashes for Louisiana is estimated at $5.6 billion, equating to just under $2,000 for every licensed driver every year. "Louisianans must pay more than they otherwise should for auto insurance because of our grim statistics," says Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley.... Full story ("Highway Mantra: Buckle up, Sober up"), from The Shreveport Times [SMc]
___________________________
P-plate drivers should face compulsory intensive training, an
overwhelming majority of Victorians believe.
Even those of P-plate age back the plan for extra training. The
only group opposed are 13 to 17-year-olds.
In a typical year, 120 people aged 18 to 25 are killed on the
roads and 2300 are seriously injured.
The Herald Sun Issues Survey 2005 shows 84 per cent of all
Victorians back the training plan.
About 63 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds agree. But 60 per cent
of 13 to 17-year-olds -- those preparing to get a driving licence for
the first time -- said P-platers should not have to do it.
The results come as the Bracks Government moves to introduce
tougher rules for P-platers to tackle the youth road toll.
Young drivers would spend an extra year on P-plates and hoons
would be forced to stay on them even longer under one proposal.
The P-plate period would be split into two stages, P1 and P2,
with extra restrictions imposed on P1 drivers.... Full
story, from the Melbourne
Herald Sun [SMc]
___________________________
Five deaths on the roads in the holiday period's first 48 hours
have police urging motorists to take more care.
The holiday period runs till 8am on January 4 and police say
motorists need to slow down to keep this year's holiday road toll
below last year's 11 dead. Three people had died last year by midnight
on Christmas Day....
National road policing manager Superintendent Dave Cliff said
the toll so far was "pretty disappointing". "People are
still travelling too fast."
Police were also issuing between 150 and 200 prosecutions a
night for drink-driving, about normal. However, it showed the
"don't drink and drive" message had not got through to some
sections of society....
Drivers were driving for too long without rest breaks. Unbroken
periods at the wheel after working long hours in the lead-up to
Christmas were a recipe for trouble. Drivers also had to be aware that
open-road driving at 100km/h required skills different from those of
the urban driving many were used to. Full
story, from Stuff.co.nz
[SMc]
___________________________
The California Highway Patrol is reporting preliminary
driving under the influence arrests and traffic deaths over the
holiday weekend statewide have already outnumbered last year's totals.
"It was a very busy weekend for officers across the
state,'' CHP Sgt. Wayne Ziese said.
According to Ziese, CHP officers arrested 1,092 suspected
drunken drivers between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday. In 2004, 622
drivers were arrested on suspicion of DUI during the same time period.
The CHP is also reporting that 27 people died as a result of
traffic accidents statewide over the holiday weekend, which is one
more death than what was reported in 2004 for the same time span.
The CHP will continue to monitor DUI arrests and traffic
fatalities through midnight and is advising drivers to slow down and
follow other vehicles at safe distances for the weather and road
conditions.
"Wet roadways added to a few accidents yesterday,'' Ziese
said, "We continue to remind folks as they travel along the bay
returning gifts or heading out to visit friends and family to drive
according to the conditions." [Source:
San Jose Mercury News]
[SMc] ___________________________
Young adults, between 16 and 24, are inexperienced and even
at times careless drivers. According to the National Safety Council,
each year nearly 6,000 teens are killed in car accidents and more
than 3,800 are drivers age 15-20.
To help prevent any local teens from becoming part of those
statistics, Manville resident Ray Walsh, a member of the National
Safety Council, is working to launch a program teaching the
consequences of unsafe driving.
The program, called "Alive at 25," is a course
developed by the National Safety Council to prevent traffic
fatalities, collisions and violations. It is the only such course in
the nation taught exclusively by off-duty law enforcement officers,
including state troopers, police officers and deputy sheriffs.... Full
story, from the Manville
News
[SMc] ___________________________
This year AAA of Northern California is launching a new
program called "Tipsy Tow," and the concept is simple: If
you have too much to drink, just call AAA and you and your car will
be towed home for free. The program is open to everyone. You do not
need to be a AAA member to take advantage of this service to the
community.
AAA will offer the service to drinking drivers from 6 p.m. on
New Year's Eve until 6 a.m. on New Year's Day in Northern
California, Nevada, and Utah. Drivers, potential passengers, party
hosts, bartenders and restaurant managers can call: (800) 222-4357
(AAA-HELP) for a free tow home of up to seven miles. Just tell the
AAA operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow," and a truck will be on
its way.
The service will provide a one-way ride for the driver and
vehicle to the driver's home. If there are additional passengers who
need a ride, they will be taken to the driver's home as long as
there is sufficient room for them to be transported safety in the
tow truck. You cannot make a reservation.
Despite the decline in alcohol-related crashes in the last 10
years, alcohol is still a factor in more than 16,000 vehicle crash
deaths each year in the United States. Drunk-driving crashes also
account for about 60 percent of highway deaths of young people age
16 to 24 each year. It takes only one or two drinks to impair
vision, steering, braking, judgment, and reaction time.
AAA estimates that a first time DUI conviction can cost up to
$12,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and added
insurance expenses. You can't put a price tag on a crash that causes
an injury or death. [Source:
Mercury-Register]
[SMc] ___________________________
More than 300 Queensland families face a sad Christmas as they
come to grips with the loss of loved ones on the state's roads this
year.
Even before the official Christmas holiday road toll period,
due to start tomorrow, Queensland had surpassed the 2004 toll.
The death of an 89-year-old Toowoomba woman early yesterday
brought Queensland's 2005 road toll to 314 – five more than 2004's
total of 309.
But it's not statistics that keep Bernadette Gilligan awake at
night. It's the fact she will never see her only grandchild again.
The road toll is also a source of continuing frustration for
police. Metropolitan South regional traffic co-ordinator Inspector
John Murnane was clearly disappointed after a weekend blitz caught 220
drink-drivers in Brisbane.
"We just don't know what else we can do to get through to
them," Insp Murnane said.... Full
story, from Brisbane
Courier Mail [SMc]
___________________________
Young drivers in London who get behind the wheel under the
influence of drugs are being targeted by a new campaign aimed at
reducing the number of people killed or injured on the road.
Research by local road safety officers, in partnership with the
Metropolitan Police, Kiss FM and Green Flag Motoring Assistance, found
that almost 40% of young drivers get behind the wheel while under the
influence of drugs.
The survey of almost two thousand young drivers also found that
more than half the respondents (57%) readily admitted that their
driving had been impaired: almost one in five confessed to having been
‘very impaired’ while driving.
Hounslow Council’s Road Safety Manager, Liz Knight, said:
“At this time of year we tend to focus on the dangers of drink
driving, but this survey shows that people don’t realise the dangers
of driving under the influence of drugs.
"Driving under the influence of drugs - whether prescribed
medication or illegal substances - is just as dangerous as driving
when drunk. It's also against the law.
“Drugs can affect your mind and body in a variety of ways
that mean you aren't able to drive safely. Not only that, the effects
can last for hours or even days.”... Full
story, from 24dash.com
[SMc] ___________________________
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced today it would not change the way it analyzes car-crash data, despite criticism that the system needs an overhaul. The National Transportation Safety Board performs tests to help consumers understand how a car will withstand a 35 mph frontal crash. Critics say that with the popularity of larger cars and SUVs, the tests need to be conducted differently. A Government Accountability Office report said the current government crash-test program, started in 1978, is outdated and confusing, and that the current tests routinely give automobiles four and five stars, making it difficult for consumers to compare safety attributes. Full Article, from ABC news ___________________________
Pioneering solutions to improve road safety in the United Arab Emirates were unveiled by global safety innovators 3M at this year's Gulf Traffic.
Their
revolutionary signage products attracted attention from ministers,
road safety consultants, officials, police from across the UAE
and road engineering students; who were keen to learn more about the
safety solutions, in light of an alarming rise in traffic and road
fatalities. ___________________________
ANYONE visiting the
Crescent Omniplex Cinema in the coming weeks will be brought face to
face with the stark realities of the dangers of speeding on Limerick
Roads. ___________________________
The number of alcohol-related crash fatalities in 2004 in West Virginia tied a seven-year low, and law enforcement officials and traffic safety experts say it's the result of increased efforts to curb drunken driving. Though the annual number of crash fatalities in the state hovered around 400 between 2002 and 2004, the number of alcohol-related crash fatalities during that time steadily decreased. Full Article, from herald-dispatch ___________________________
The Road Transport Ministry
will implement more safety programmes to safeguard roads users under
the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), its minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy
said. Story, from Bernama.com ___________________________
Emergency services authorities and sporting identities have
joined forces to try to convince young South Australian drivers to
take more care on the roads during Christmas.
Young motorists are the target of this year's Santa Safe
campaign.
Statistics show drivers aged between 16 and 25 are injured
more often than any other age group.
Last Christmas almost 700 people were hurt in car accidents.
Deputy Police Commissioner John White wants to see less
battered bodies.
"We throw the challenge out this year to try and
maintain a low casualty crash rate for this year," he said.
South Australia's two AFL clubs are involved in the program.
Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes says young drivers need to be
tough when confronted by peer pressure.
"Show some courage and stand up for yourself and think
about your actions before you do put your foot down," Cornes
said.
Santa Safe will run until January 30. [Source:
ABC Online]
[SMc] ___________________________
At least seventeen persons, including eight women and four
children, were killed and fourteen others injured today when an
overcrowded jeep dashed against a tree in Washim district at Akola
Naka Road in east Maharashtra.
All the injured were taken to Washim civil hospital, police
said.
According to the police, the jeep was heading towards Washim
from Malegaon and was packed beyond capacity.
The driver of the ill-fated vehicle was absconding, the
police added.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena activists staged a brief 'rasta roko' in
the district to protest the incident. [Source:
Webindia 123]
[SMc] ___________________________
As everyone becomes involved in the seasonal festivities and
thinks about what presents to buy, which parties to attend and what
to wear, people are being asked to consider the importance of making
arrangements to get home safely after the Christmas celebrations.
Bucks County Council's road safety team are promoting the
nationwide 'I'll be DES' campaign, encouraging party-goers to think
about appointing a designated driver who won't be drinking to ensure
you get home safely during the Christmas period....
Think! The national road safety campaigners will this year be
promoting their drink-drive message to young men by informing them
about the dangers and consequences of drink-driving....
Causing death by careless driving while under the influence
of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of fourteen years in
prison and a driving ban of a minimum of two years and a requirement
to pass an extended driving test before the offender is able to
drive legally again. Full story, from Aylesbury Today [SMc] ___________________________
___________________________
The number of traffic accident deaths for the 11 months to
November fell by 394 from the same period last year to 6,200, with
the annual figure expected to remain below 7,000 for the first time
since 1956 if the current pace persists for the rest of the year,
the National Police Agency said Thursday.
This year's death toll is expected to drop for the fifth
consecutive year to about 40 percent of the figure in 1970, when it
neared 17,000 -- the largest number on record. Traffic death
statistics only count people who die within 24 hours of an
accident.... Full
story, from The Japan
Times [SMc] ___________________________
Deaths drop, arrests rise since lowering threshold to 0.08%
Highway deaths caused by drunken drivers have steadily inched
down, and DUI arrests have risen since Colorado lowered the
threshold for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to
figures released Thursday.
The trends fall in line with what other states have
experienced when they dropped the blood alcohol level for DUI from
0.1 percent to 0.08 percent.
"That's good news," said John Moulden, president of
the the National Commission Against Drunk Driving.
Colorado lowered the threshold starting July 1, 2004,
becoming one of the last states in the U.S. to adopt the 0.08
standard. The state retained the lesser alcohol-related offense of
driving while ability impaired triggered by a 0.05 percent
reading....
As part of the campaign to deter drunken driving, police
throughout the state will launch a crackdown this weekend to
coincide with the holiday party crunch.
"It is one of the most dangerous times," said Adams
County Sheriff Douglas Darr.
Dubbed "Office Party Weekend," law enforcement
agencies will increase patrols and target certain areas starting at
6 p.m. tonight and continuing to 3 a.m. Monday. Full
story, from Rocky
Mountain News [SMc]
___________________________
Almost half of all fatal road accidents are caused by young
drivers.
With this in mind, North Wales Police launched Operation
Saxon in a bid to reduce fatalities by targeting the behaviour of
drivers aged between 17 and 25 and advising them of the dangers of
anti-social driving....
Peer pressure from a car full of youngsters often leads to a
young driver showing off. But inexperience, coupled with
risk-taking, can result in death, and it's every parent's worst
nightmare to get a knock on the door and a police officer telling
them their child is dead. ...
Operation Saxon has been under way for a month and Insp
Hughes said: 'What we're looking for is a shift in attitude. We have
seen a dramatic decrease in KSIs [killed or seriously injured] but
there has been an increase in 17 to 25-year-olds involved in KSIs.
'They've grown up with drink-drive and seat-belt campaigns
being hammered home, yet for some reason a minority seem to ignore
it.
'There is a big problem with peer pressure. It's mostly young
males, but there are a growing number of young females....
...Sgt Andy Wynne, [who] said: 'Operation Saxon is all about
education. Anti-social driving leads to mistakes which causes
accidents.
'To be fair there are a lot of young drivers who are
responsible, but it seems to be a culture. It's not just themselves
that are affected; it is the families they leave behind.
'If we can protect them, if they actually take heed and
change their thoughts, Operation Saxon will be a success.' Full
story, from ic
NorthWales
[SMc] ___________________________
The Russian Cabinet met in session on Thursday to discuss and approve of a draft federal program for greater road safety for 2006-2012.... The Interior Ministry’s draft program envisages greater responsibility of driving schools for the quality of instruction, including the insurance of the risk of traffic rules abuse by graduates during the first year at the wheel. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov sees an urgent need for introducing a far tougher punishment for those motorists who do not use safety belts. Zhukov said the draft required great investments into research and development, but “there are also measures that need no scientific confirmation and are known to all, such as the tough requirement for using safety belts.” ___________________________
Teenage drivers are involved in proportionately more deadly automobile accidents than just about anyone else on the road, and they are far more likely to crash if their friends are riding along with them, experts say. .. Studies have shown that, nationwide, a 16-year-old is four times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as a driver who is 21 or older. That figure rises almost exponentially with each additional teen in the vehicle, according to a 2005 study by the institute, based in Arlington, Va. .. A study by the California Highway Patrol showed that teenagers comprised just 4 percent of the state's drivers but were involved in nearly 10 percent of its fatal accidents in 2003. The study also found that California teen drivers were more than twice as likely to be involved in fatal crashes as those between 25 and 29. .. Full Article, from San Francisco Chronicle ___________________________
It seems people are paying
attention to the fact those uniquely marked police vehicles around the
region could show up anytime, anywhere. ___________________________
A fashion trend dreamt up in Putnam County will soon be spreading
throughout Ohio, as will its message about safety. ___________________________
The Roads and Traffic Authority has been blamed for an increase in deaths on NSW roads over last year. The RTA's statistics show there were 500 deaths on state roads this year, until Monday, compared to 482 deaths for the same time last year. Paul Gibson, chairman of State Parliament's road safety watchdog, the Staysafe Committee, said the increase in road deaths was "a frustrating and continuing tragedy". "As the nominated lead agency for road safety, the Roads and Traffic Authority is responsible for achieving a target of less than 300 deaths by the year 2010 under the Road Safety 2010 strategy," he said. "We are half way through the Road Safety 2010 strategy and the RTA is no way near achieving the task that the Iemma Government has set."... Story from Daily Telegraph News [SMc] ___________________________
A national highway
safety group is urging a public awareness campaign to reduce
speeding. With good reason: Nationwide, traffic deaths are down, but
fatalities are up in a majority of states that have raised speed
limits.
Speed still kills.
The Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents
state highway safety agencies, contends that higher speed limits
have reduced the effectiveness of a decline in drunken driving and
wider use of seat belts.
"We should have much more gains in highway safety than
we're seeing," Barbara Harsha, the group's executive director,
told USA Today.
Since Congress repealed the national 55 mph speed limit in
1995, all states have raised the limit. Thirty-one raised it to 70
or 75 mph. Most of the Northeast, including New York, held the limit
to 65 mph on certain roads.
Of the 31 states that raised the limit to 70-75 mph, 24 saw a
15 percent increase in vehicle-occupant deaths, according to a 1999
study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit
group funded by auto-insurance companies and cited by the governors'
association.... Full
story, from The Journal
News [SMc] ___________________________
Young drivers – especially girls – are increasingly thumbing their noses at the law, with the number under 25 caught drink-driving soaring by 60 per cent in just four years. And even with the Christmas season to come, more P-plate and L-plate drivers – who cannot drive with any alcohol in their system – have been caught drink driving already this year than in the whole of 2004. One P-plate driver was caught with a blood alcohol reading of 0.303, a level police described as "near comatose". The highest reading for an L-plater was a blood alcohol level of 0.275. Police say the surge in drink driving youngsters is "shocking" and admitted expensive anti-drink driving campaigns had failed. "It's unreal the number of young drivers being caught drink driving," Chief Inspector and acting manager of traffic support Ian McDonald said. "It's obvious from the increased statistics that people are not getting the message about drink driving."... Story from The Advertiser Adelaide. [SMc] ___________________________
Graduated program 'needs to be tougher' New Brunswick needs a tougher graduated driver's licence program to protect young drivers, says the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Don Forgeron, vice-president of Atlantic IBC, said new research shows rookie drivers need to spend more time behind the wheel and spend that time with a more experienced driver. New Brunswick was one of the first in Canada to introduce graduated licences for new drivers. But that was about 10 years ago and other provinces now have tougher regulations. "We think we have a great opportunity here to put New Brunswick back at the forefront in terms of road safety," said Forgeron.... Recently the bureau hired the Ontario-based Traffic Injury Research Foundation to look at graduated driver's licence programs around the world. That research led to almost 50 recommendations. The main ones are more time behind the wheel and better supervision.... Full Story, from Canada East [SMc] ___________________________
The message is simple for people who wreck lives and Christmas celebrations by drinking and driving - "Police your own drink before the police do it for you". The Department for Transport has launched its annual THINK! Christmas Drink Drive Campaign with this stark warning as Police forces around the region get even tougher on drink drivers. Transport secretary Alistair Darling says: "Sadly, the number of people who are being killed in drink drive related accidents has risen in recent years. "Drink drivers need to remember that the police are out there and they will be caught. "Britain has one of the best road safety records in the world and we are determined to improve that. "We will continue to come down heavily on those who endanger us all by drink driving."... Inspector Alistair Oates of Northumbria Police Warns: "Normally sensible drivers can be tempted to drink and drive during the festive season and we will be targeting the few who decide to chance it. "Anyone over the limit faces a ban of at least a year and a fine. "You may also become un-insurable for the ten years the conviction stays on your licence leading to problems hiring cars. "And if your job depends on driving, would you still have a job if convicted of drink driving?" Full story, from n-e-life.com [SMc] ___________________________
The total cost of lives lost on our roads is estimated to run in millions of dollars each year. A study in 1999 by the University of the South Pacific estimated the cost to be about $29million. In 1995 alone, the Asian Development Bank estimated the figure to be around $31million. National Road Safety Council acting executive director Timoci Satakala said the current figures would be much higher.... He said the Government gives $500,000 towards road safety every year and the amount is shared between NRSC, police, St John Ambulance and Public Works Department. He believes that the road safety program should be allocated more money though and that the Government should give gives continuously. Full story, from The Fiji Times [SMc] ___________________________
More people have died on Chicago area highways this year, prompting state leaders to call for local police to crack down on drunken drivers and seat-belt scofflaws during the holiday season. Overall, the number of traffic deaths in the six-county region has jumped nearly 4 percent through November, led by 20 more fatalities in Cook County than during the same 11-month period last year. In 2004, there were almost 100 fewer traffic deaths in Illinois than the previous year. Through November this year, there were 1,238 deaths statewide, 10 more than during the same time last year.... Along state highways and interstates patrolled by State Police, fatalities have declined by 9 percent. The number of accidents spiked in "municipalities, the townships, the rural areas," Martin said. [Source: Chicago Sun-Times] [SMc] ___________________________
Police in Lilongwe on Wednesday held anti-road accident campaign activities in an attempt to sensitise the general public about the impact of road accidents on national development. Among the activities performed during the sensitisation were dances, plays and speeches by various stakeholders urging every road user to take responsibility in ensuring that traffic regulations are followed. Deputy director of Road Traffic James Kalinde said it is sad that once people get licences after being examined they immediately disregard road traffic regulations, thereby causing many accidents. “Many road accidents are happening due to carelessness and negligence of drivers, because once some of them get licences, they do not follow the required road instructions,” said Kalinde. Kalinde said a good driver is supposed to check and ensure that everything is in order such as tyres, insurance, permit, certificate of fitness (COF), fire extinguisher, hooters, lumps, brakes and so on before going on the road.... Full story, from The Nation [SMc] ___________________________
Kindergartners through 12th-graders can participate in the 62nd annual AAA Traffic Safety Poster Program national competition, which features 52 prizes totaling $18,400. Students can design posters depicting the following safety themes: nighttime visibility, kindergarten through second grade; helmet safety, third through fifth grades; buckling up a safety belt, sixth through eighth grades; and alcohol awareness, ninth through 12th grades. The top entrant nationally in each of the kindergarten through eighth grade divisions will win a $1,000 Visa gift check. The high school winner gets a $5,000 Visa check. For complete contest rules and to order an entry form, visit www.aaa.com/trafficsafety and click on the link for the AAA National School Traffic Safety Poster Program. All contest entries should be submitted by January 13. [Source: The Gainesville Times] ___________________________
The longer we refuse to accept our individual responsibility for safety, the more people will be killed on our roads, says John Whitmore I feel obliged to start this article with a health warning. It does not make comfortable reading. Some may even object to it appearing in the Motoring section, and that's exactly why it should.... Driving is so normal, something we take for granted almost as easily as walking, that we are lulled into forgetting the hair-trigger response and power of the machine in our hands. We simply do not take the lethal potential of the car seriously enough. Most of us do not even think about it.... I am not defending careless driving. But accidents are not deliberate, and before we condemn those involved we should ask ourselves what level of competence and concentration we expect, bearing in mind our own complacency. Does anyone who has never taken the trouble to seek out a few hours of advanced or defensive driving tuition have the right to condemn another driver's mistake? Should we not all consider how we would feel if we made a small error with monstrous consequences? Is our refusal to do so a way of avoiding an uncomfortable truth about ourselves?.... What, as a society, are we willing to pay, or forgo, per life saved? Are you prepared to invest in defensive driving lessons? What else could we do? I don't know. Do you? Read the full, immensely thought-provoking article, from the Daily Telegraph, Motoring Section ___________________________
Recent evidence shows that Stability Control can dramatically reduce the chances of being involved in certain types of accident. Stability Control electronically senses when a driver is about to lose control by detecting differences between a car’s course and the driver’s intended direction. By selectively applying the brakes to individual wheels, Stability Control helps the driver to maintain control of the car and to steer safely. This can make the difference between an accident and a near-miss. ___________________________
Following the latest NRMA Motoring & Services and NSW Roads and Traffic Authority crash testing, car manufacturers are being urged to fit all models of cars with head protecting side airbags. In Australia motorists [could] pay up to an additional $10,000 to have head protecting side airbags fitted [in cases where these are only available as part of a 'luxury accessories' package]. In Europe these airbags are already standard fitment in most cars. Accident research shows that head protecting side airbags devices halve the chance of fatal or serious head injuries when a car is involved in a severe side impact. For the last two years, the NRMA and RTA have been advocating that head protecting side airbags be a standard fitment in all vehicles. The same organisations also advise that new vehicle buyers should also consider selecting vehicles with electronic stability control to reduce the risk of being involved in a crash in the first place. [Source: NRMA] ___________________________
The Savoy, London. (Details from: jwalsh@roadsafe.com)
Full details of all awards, plus links to their individual websites, may be found here.
___________________________
The Northern Territory Road Safety Council says it is disappointed and frustrated there have been eight pedestrian deaths this year. The latest was on Friday night when a 65-year-old woman was hit by a car as she crossed the Stuart Highway, eight kilometres south of Ti Tree. The chairman says the current campaign aimed at educating indigenous people about road safety is failing to get through. Peter Poole says the Indigenous Territorians need to value their lives. "The real challenge is if someone sleeps on the road in the middle of the night or crosses at an unsafe location somewhere on the outskirts of a town or is intoxicated and staggers onto the road, they're going to be killed or injured," he said. [Source: ABC Online] [SMc] ___________________________
With three deaths and 10 injuries as the result of police chases in Oklahoma City in recent months, the police department is examining its pursuit policy. Captain Jeffrey Becker says Oklahoma City's current pursuit policy gives officers discretion on chasing a fleeing suspect. Other cities have adopted more restrictive policies that prohibit police from chasing suspects unless they're violent offenders. Oklahoma City Police Sergeant John Dragus died October 20th when he wrecked his cruiser while pursuing a stolen motorcycle. Kent Castleberry died last month when a car being chased by Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers slammed into a car in which he was a passenger. Kevin Leotis Grant died October 24th when his car plunged into the Oklahoma River while he was being chased by Moore police. [Source: KOTV] [SMc] ___________________________
At a time when traffic-related deaths on S.C. roads are on a record-setting pace and seat belt use in the state is among the worst in the country, a state law that takes effect Friday gives police the authority to stop a vehicle if they spot anyone inside not buckled up. Law-enforcement officials are extolling the new measure as a way to boost seat belt use and reduce serious injuries. Critics bemoan it as further erosion of the rights of Americans in a post-Sept. 11, 2001, world and charge it could be used to target minorities. So far this year, of the 790 people killed statewide who had access to seat belts, 546 were not wearing them, according to the S.C. Department of Public Safety.... As it now stands, police must have a separate traffic violation such as a broken tail light before an officer can pull a car over. If during that traffic stop the officer sees a restraint violation, a ticket can be issued. Currently 22 states, including North Carolina, plus the District of Columbia have a so-called primary seat belt law. South Carolina is the only state to put the law on the books this year.... Full story, from Myrtle Beach Sun News [SMc]
DSA Comments While racial problems and so-called profiling are undoubtedly terrible things, the fact remains that it is very difficult to be profiled when one is dead! It is a well-researched and proven fact that poor communities -- often the self-same communities where allegations of racial profiling are the most rife -- are the ones where safety precautions such as the rate of wearing of seat belts are the lowest. Enforcing seat belt laws saves many lives -- period -- so using this situation merely for political gain or melodramatic activism is both disingenuous and deadly. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
Survey: 9 Out of 10 Americans Want Access to Dozens of Car Models That Get High mpg Ratings ... But are not Sold in U.S. A Built-in Market: 2.5 Million Americans Frustrated in Trying to Purchase Fuel-Efficient Cars; Why do Only 5 Car Models in U.S. get Combined Mileage of 40mpg or More, When 86 Car Models not Sold Here do That Well or Better? Adding insult to injury: Most of these fuel-efficient vehicles are either made by U.S. manufacturers or foreign car makers with extensive U.S. sales operations. related story
___________________________
Car thieves, fugitives and Amber Alert suspects are just some of the targets of innovative license plate reader technology that Motorola, Inc. and PIPS Technology are releasing to public safety organizations nationwide. In Britain, the Metropolitan Police has five ANPR teams that jointly made 2,000 arrests in 18 months. The arrests included 731 for theft, 448 for car crime, 322 for drug-related offences, 359 people wanted on warrant and 435 for other crimes. For a full press release from Motorola, click here. ___________________________
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling and 'Coronation Street' star Sally Lindsay joined forces today in the Rovers Return [TV pub] to launch this year's Christmas drink drive campaign. This years advertising -- part of the £2million THINK! drink drive campaign -- will run throughout December and highlights that motorists can't calculate their own drink drive limits, and so should drink no alcohol if they plan to drive. In 2004, 590 people were killed in drink drive accidents, the highest figure since 1992. A television campaign running on all commercial networks will be complemented with radio advertisements which use real police officers to highlight that the police will be out enforcing drink driving. They explain that more people are stopped and breathalysed at Christmas than at any other time of the year. To reinforce and extend the THINK! Christmas drink drive message, the campaign will again be supported by a wide range of organisations involving over 20,000 pubs, bars, off licences [i.e. liquor stores] and transport providers. They will help to deliver drink drive messages to an audience of potential drink drivers at crucial decision making moments.... As well as enhanced publicity campaigns, the Government is introducing various additional measures to tackle drink driving: * the law has already been changed to allow blood samples to be taken from unconscious drink-drive suspects without consent * the police have recently been given new powers to carry out roadside evidential breathtesting, subject to type approval of appropriate equipment * the Road Safety Bill, currently before Parliament, provides for increased penalties for drink drive offences, including a requirement for all drivers disqualified for two or more years to retake their driving test. This will also catch anyone committing two drink-drive offences in a 10-year period * the Bill also provides for the introduction of a breath alcohol ignition interlocks programme (or "alcolocks") as a new court disposal to discourage re-offending * other Bill provisions are designed to improve the effectiveness of the drink-drive rehabilitation scheme and encourage greater take-up of places on rehabilitation courses. [Source: DfT News Release (128)] See the THINK! Drunk Driving web page ___________________________
As drinkers toast Britain's move to 24-hour licensing, Ford has issued a strong anti-drink drive message after researching the consequences of getting behind the wheel when over the limit. Ford's volunteer drink driver consumed alcohol under test conditions until his levels were one and a half times the legal limit. He found confidence soared when driving on the secure track – just as his accuracy and control plummeted. Ford staged the experiment at its European proving ground at Lommel, Belgium, where six driving control tests were attempted every two hours during a day of continuous drinking. Twelve units of alcohol – glasses of wine – were consumed in total during a six-hour period....
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