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  February 24, 2006:  Juvenile Traffic Court Sends Reckless Teen Drivers Back to Class

Dearborn police will educate students in the program about risks of careless driving.

     Attention, teen drivers: The place you're speeding from may land you a spot in the area you hate the most -- a classroom.

     Dearborn District Judge Richard Wygonik has helped to create the 19th District Court Juvenile Division Traffic School for young people who commit driving-related civil infractions and misdemeanors in the city. The class is expected to start within two months, Wygonik said.

Wygonik, along with 19th District Chief Judge Mark Somers and Court Administrator Sharon Langen, created the program to address youth traffic safety issues. The program, which will start about every six weeks, is funded through a $25 fee paid by participants; no tax money will be used.

"This is an opportunity to alert them to the rules of the road and to focus on things young drivers need," Wygonik said. "A lot of their problems are different than adults'. We don't know the quality of driver's education they have gotten. This is something to increase our role in making the community a safer place and to improve our roads."..

     "If we can get to them young, we can move a long way to improving our roads and making sure the kids get through their young lives without hurting themselves or someone else," Wygonik said.

Full story, from The Detroit News

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  February 24, 2006:  IIHS Safety Video for Teen Drivers Preview

     Crash rates for young beginning drivers are much higher than for older drivers. This videotape listens to 16 year-olds tell why they want their driver's licenses and what driving means to them. Parents of teenagers who died in crashes tell how the tragedies happened and how their families have been affected.

     The focus is on ways to reduce the crashes by limiting higher risk driving by beginning 16 year-olds. Graduated licensing laws on the books in most states are helping to do this, but parents should introduce their own restrictions — limit the hours teenagers are allowed to drive unsupervised and limit passengers (especially other teens) in the car with a teenage driver. Parents also have to make sure the beginning drivers in their families get plenty of supervision behind the wheel. These measures can save lives while teenagers learn to drive and become more mature.

[Source: Autochannel]

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  February 23, 2006:  DPS Wants Teens to 'Arrive Alive'

     The Sikeston Department of Public Safety will again participate in Operation Safe Teen, a statewide enforcement and educational program to reduce injuries and deaths among young drivers on Missouri roadways.

     This is the second year DPS has participated, according to Sikeston D.A.R.E. officer Keith Hente. “Last year we did two checkpoints,” he recalled.

     The program will begin Monday and will run through March 17 during which time checkpoints will again be part of the program.

     While some tickets are likely to be issued at checkpoints, writing citations is not the program’s goal.

     “We’re just trying to promote seat belt usage,” Hente said. “The main reason for the checkpoint is to stress the importance of seat belts.”

     While seat belts are the focus, officers at checkpoints will also make sure drivers have a valid driver’s license and current insurance on their vehicles, he said.

     As the program is geared toward promoting seat belt usage among teen drivers, the provisions of the law that make safety belt usage a requirement of the intermediate license will be enforced....

     Authorities advise the best way to ensure you “arrive alive” is to buckle up every time you get into a car.

Full story, from Skieston Standard Democrat     [SMc]

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    and  ALL February 23, 2006:  Young Drivers out on The Road Alone

     Driving alone can be very scary for some, especially inexperienced young drivers. Car insurance can compensate us for many road accident eventualities but being attacked when out in the car alone can be a terrifying, life changing ordeal that many do not fully recover from.

     If you’ve ever had that feeling that another car is following you through a long, dark country lane or been nervous about venturing across a multi storey car park unaccompanied at night then read on for some advice of how to deal with these unpleasant situations.

     A road trip action plan for young drivers

     Plan your journey – go online and plan your journey or sit down with a map and road atlas to work out your route. GPS satellite navigation systems are also very useful, although a bit pricey, but you may be lucky enough to already have one installed in your car.

     Get breakdown cover - many motor insurance companies will offer this service for a small fee. It provides peace of mind that in the event that you breakdown all alone in the middle of nowhere on a cold, dark blustery night someone will be along very soon to help.

     Rest breaks – it is advisable to take breaks from driving when travelling long distances. If travelling alone make sure that you stop at respectable looking service stations and ensure that there are plenty of other people around. If you feel uneasy about entering an unfamiliar public toilet alone then alert a member of staff that you are going into the toilet so that they can send for assistance if you are a long time returning.

Full story, from Daily India     [SMc]

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  February 23, 2006:  More Drivers Than Ever Talking on Cellphones

     More people than ever are turning their cars into personal phone booths, with a million and a half drivers gabbing on cell phones at any given time. Women and young people are the most common yakkers.

     About 10 percent of the people on the road during the day are using cell phones, up from 8 percent in 2004, the government reported on Thursday.

     Six percent of drivers were holding the phones to their ears, up from 5 percent last year.

     The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which issued the report, recommends that motorists use cell phones while driving only during an emergency.

     Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia prohibit talking on hand-held cell phones while driving. The new data could add fuel to the debate over whether drivers should be limited in their use of cell phones on the nation's highways....

Full story, from Montreal Gazette

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  February 22, 2006:  European Research to Advance Road Safety

     €100 million have been made available from the Sixth Framework Programme for Research that will advance the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians. This background note provides information about a few key projects, many of which feed into European and international working groups on vehicle safety and supports European transport and industrial policies.

     The APROSYS project is looking to make a specific contribution to reducing road deaths among 4 specific groups: car occupants, motorcyclists, truck occupants, and pedestrians and cyclists. Results will include new mathematical models of the human body to help with car design; a worldwide, harmonised female crash test dummy for side impact testing; new tools for design, implementation and evaluation of intelligent safety systems; test methods and protection systems for injury reduction.

     Other key areas are:

• Reducing whiplash injuries

• Improving passive safety

• Improving crash compatibility between cars

• Daytime running lights

• Better crash test dummies

• In-vehicle system to sense danger

• Improved safety through car-to-car communication

• Road sector working together to identify its research agenda

Full article here, from Europa

 DSA Comments    All research to help reduce road deaths must always be welcome, but if one reads -- for example -- the section in the full article about 'Improved safety through car-to-car communication', it states:  "A vehicle sends a warning message when it detects a breakdown, high traffic density, congestion, or dangerous road surfaces. This allows early warnings to be sent to other vehicles on the same road, and makes it possible to brake early when a car hidden by the one in front is already braking."

     We would strongly suggest that unless such projects are paralleled by major educational and enforcement campaigns, such a boost in engineering will see only modest gains in casualty reduction.  It is a well known fact that many drivers, when given safer vehicles, simply drive with less care because they feel cocooned in safety.  And in this example it is highly likely that drivers would recklessly drive even closer to the vehicle ahead, in the belief that the early warning 'gadget' would protect them.

Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc.

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  February 22, 2006:  Road safety:  Europe Must Do More

     The European Commission today published figures showing the efforts made in the European Union since 2001 on road safety. Considerable progress has been made, especially in some Member States. In 2005, there were 8000 fewer road deaths than in 2001. But not enough progress has been made and more effort will be needed, at national and European level, to achieve the objective of halving the number of road deaths by 2010.

     “The progress we have seen must be an incentive for everyone to do more still”, said Jacques Barrot, the European Commission Vice-President responsible for transport.

     Since 2001 and with the European Road Safety Action Programme adopted in 2003, the European Union has helped to put road safety at the top of the agenda of the Member States' political concerns. Several Member States which had not yet done so have now adopted national road safety plans, often taking over the common target of halving the number of road accident victims.

     In 2001,  50,000 people were killed on the roads in the countries which today make up the European Union. The joint target proposed in 2001 and updated after enlargement in 2004 is that by 2010 there should be no more than 25,000 fatalities a year. The figures for 2005 show there were about 41,600 road deaths, a fall (albeit too small) of 17.5% over 4 years. At the present rate, there are likely to be 32,500 road deaths in the European Union in 2010, not [the target] maximum of 25,000....

     The Commission currently has plans to launch new initiatives once the revised Transport White Paper has been adopted, this being expected at the end of April. The informal Council of Transport Ministers will discuss road safety in Bregenz (Austria) on 2 and 3 March.
Full article here, from Europa

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  February 21, 2006:  Increase in Road Deaths Since the Start of the Year

     The Police Traffic Division is reporting an increase in the number of fatal traffic accidents for the first 46 days of 2006, when compared with the corresponding period in 2005.

     "The figure for traffic accidents for 2006, up to February 15, was 37 fatal collisions and this resulted in 41 deaths. Last year, at this time, we had 35 fatal, collisions, which resulted in 37 deaths," revealed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in charge of administration at the Traffic Division, Byron Powell.

     Overall for 2005, there were 286 accidents resulting in 326 deaths and that compared to 309 accidents with 360 deaths in 2004.

     "So last year, we had 23 accidents less and 34 deaths less than the previous year, which translated into a seven per cent decrease in accidents and a nine per cent decrease in fatalities. This year, we are looking to drive accidents down to below the 300-mark," the Deputy Superintendent told JIS News.

     DSP Powell noted too, that upon analysis of the figures, it had been observed that pedestrians and cyclists have been numbering significantly in the fatalities - both last year and so far this year....

Full story,  from the Government of Jamaica     [SMc]

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  February 21, 2006:  Several Weekend Crashes Involve Teen Drivers

          Several teenagers were involved in crashes this weekend and some of them were very serious.

Driving experts said that in many cases where teens are cited, the crashes involved excess speed.

     At a driving class Monday, most of the teens were there because of speeding.

Some of them said they have learned their lesson; still others said they refuse to slow down....

     In Ohio, if a teen has two moving violations within one year before age 18, their drivers license is taken away for a minimum of 90 days.  It can be costly with insurance increases, cost of tickets and the required refresher course.

     Experts said some teens risk paying the ultimate price for speeding: life.

Full story, from WHIOtv.com     [SMc]

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  February 21, 2006:  ‘Crash Magnets’ Focus of Road Safety in Scotland

     Teenage drivers, nicknamed "crash magnets" because of their dangerous habits, are being targeted in a campaign to cut down on road casualties.

     Pupils with their own cars – as well as those who have access to a parent's car or whose friends own cars – will be shown a DVD in schools about risky driving, the work of the emergency services, and the "harrowing" aftermath of a serious crash.

     They will be encouraged to discuss their own experiences.

     Developed for the Scottish Executive by Road Safety Scotland, the material has been piloted among 14 to 18-year-olds in 20 education facilities, including Holyrood Secondary and Anniesland College in Glasgow.

     Announcing the scheme's national roll-out, Tavish Scott, the transport minister, said two children were killed or injured every day in road accidents in Scotland. "That's two too many," he said. "This innovative new resource will help shape attitudes to issues such as speeding, drink-driving, drug driving and in-car safety.

     "The message I want our young people to get is passing the driving test gives you the right to drive, but with that right there are many responsibilities."

[Source: The Herald]     [SMc]

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  February 21, 2006:  Car Crashes, Road Deaths in Israel Increase Since June '05

     The Central Bureau of Statistics revealed on Tuesday that the number of traffic accidents has risen since June 2005, despite the decrease that was seen in the previous 15 months.

     In January 2006, 36 people were killed and 166 seriously injured. Israel Police recorded 1,571 accidents during that time involving injuries or deaths.

     Between June 2005 and January 2006, the numbers of traffic accidents increased at a rate of 0.5% per month. The number of casualties increased by 0.3% per month during that time.

[Source: Jerusalem Post]     [SMc]

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  February 20, 2006:  Stop The Carnage, Say Firefighters

     A hard-hitting campaign is being launched by firefighters in a bid to cut the number of young people injured and killed on the roads.

     Feelings of futility and anger among crews called to carnage-strewn crash scenes have prompted the campaign, which uses shocking images of the devastation caused by road accidents to try and change attitudes.

     The men leading the campaign – Drive Safe Live Long – said colleagues are desperate to do something to halt the increase in young casualties on the roads.

     Sub-officer Carl Kinvig of the community safety division said: 'This idea came from the crews because their feelings are "can we do something about it". Part of the problem may be no one ever sits down and talks to these kids and that is what we are trying to do.

     'If you go to a house fire and rescue someone, you know you have done something to make a difference. They compare that with the futility of turning out to a road collision where there are three or four bodies mangled in a car and they feel they have done nothing good.'...

Full story, from Isle of Man Today     [SMc]

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  February 19, 2006:  Long Road for Laws Curbing Young Drivers - Two Bills Stuck in House Transportation Committee

     Supporting bills to place more restrictions on young drivers is occupying some state lawmakers’ time, but no one can predict when new regulations will be enacted.

     “These types of things take enormous amounts of time to move,” said Joseph Battisto, of Cresco, a former state lawmaker from Monroe County who served on the House Transportation Committee for 14 years. Mr. Battisto co-sponsored the bill that established more stringent licensing laws in 1999. “Having a hearing is definitely a step in the right direction, though,” he said.

     Last month, parents, police and safety advocates stood in front of the House Transportation Committee for three hours testifying as to why two proposed bills enforcing passenger restrictions on teen drivers should be passed.

     The session was prompted by fatal accidents in Bucks County that claimed teens’ lives.

     House Bills 1904 and 787 would prohibit teen drivers from having more than one passenger under the age of 18 without parental permission.

     House Bill 1904, however, would allow passengers under 18 in the vehicle if they were the driver’s siblings or relatives who live with them....

     “After constantly assessing crash reports and looking at data, we asked what the common denominator was in all of these crashes, and it was having other teenagers in the car,” said Claudine Battisti of PennDOT’s Safety Administration....

Full story, from Scranton Times     [SMc]

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  February 19, 2006:  Be Very Afraid of SUVs  [DSA headline]

     A couple of years ago, Michelle J. White, an economics professor at UCSD, said she found herself “getting more and more terrified to drive” her [sedan] with all the big sport utility vehicles on the road.

     She eventually decided to find out how afraid she should be.

     The answer?

     Very afraid.

     Analyzing 20 years of vehicle ownership and fatal accident records, White found that for every fatal crash a sport utility vehicle or pickup owner avoids for themselves, they cause fatalities in 4.3 more accidents involving pedestrians, bicyclists and other cars.

     “The damage you are doing outside your vehicle is far greater than the safety gained inside,” says the 60-year-old White to SUV and pickup owners....

     White said the SUV study has received a lot of attention from other economists.

     “I was the first to take standard economic concepts and apply them to this area that everybody knows about,” she said....

Full story, from SignOnSanDiego

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  February 19, 2006:  No Quick Fix for Road Toll in Victoria --  Car Makers Under Scrutiny

     Do not expect to see dramatic reductions in the state's road toll over the next couple of years. That is the grim forecast from Victoria's Transport Minister.

     Peter Batchelor told The Sunday Age that big falls in the road toll could not be sustained and road-safety initiatives such as safer car designs and increased training for young drivers would take longer to have an effect.

     But he warned car manufacturers that the State Government would consider lending its voice to a name-and-shame campaign informing the public which cars had the best and worst safety features, as part of the next wave of road-safety strategies.

     Mr Batchelor said additional safety features in cars and influencing buyer attitudes would also take time to bring down the road toll. "The next round of initiatives are going to take longer to implement, so the drops in the road toll in the years ahead are likely to be less dramatic than they have been over the last three years," he said.

     The Transport Minister's concerns come as the Government's current road safety campaign, Arrive Alive, approaches completion. Arrive Alive is a five-year strategy to reduce deaths and injuries on Victoria's roads by 20 per cent from 2002 to 2007.

     The campaign, which has tackled issues including road design, speeding, drink-driving, fatigue and vehicle safety, had spectacular early results. In 2002 and 2003 the road toll fell by 25 per cent, or 114 deaths....

Full story, from The Age     [SMc]

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  February 19, 2006:  NIOSH Proposes Road Safety Education in Malaysia's School Curriculum

KUALA LUMPUR -- The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) Sunday proposed the inclusion of road safety education in the school curriculum.

     Niosh Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said in a statement it was vital for the basics of road safety to be taught to children in pre-schools and schools in the long-term effort to reduce road accidents....
     Lee said Niosh appealed to the public and private sectors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as the people to support the effort by the Road Safety Department to reduce the number of road accidents by 40 per cent over the next five years, from 44.9 [sic] deaths per 10,000 vehicles to three per 10,000 by 2010, and subsequently to two deaths per 10,000 vehicles by 2020.

     He also said that attention should be given to the roadworthiness of vehicles, improvement of hazardous locations on roads, safe road planning and design and effective enforcement.

     Road safety campaigns should primarily target motorcyclists who made up 48 per cent of the deaths in road accidents, he added.

Full story, from Bernama

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  February 18, 2006:  Twelve Truck Passengers Killed by Falling Load During Crash in Bangladesh

     Twelve people, mostly day-labourers, were killed and at least 20 others injured when a truck overturned at Jamurki in Mirzapur upazila on Tangail-Dhaka highway early Saturday.

     Police said the tragic accident took place at about 5 am when the cement-laden Gaibandha bound truck from Dhaka turned turtle at the point as the driver lost control over the steering.

     Witnesses said most of the deceased who were on board on the truck died when cement bags fell on them after the accident.

     Identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.

     On information, police rescued the injured with the help of local people and admitted them to Jamurki health centre and Kumudini Hospital.

[Source: The New Nation]     [SMc]

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  February 18, 2006:  Road Crash Death Toll in Morocco was Down by 5.75% in 2005

     Minister of Equipment and Transports Karim Ghallab has revealed that road accidents death toll decreased by 5.75% and the wounded by 11% in 2005, MAP news agency reported.

     Speaking on Friday at a debate-workshop on the occasion of the national day of road security, the minister said these results have stemmed from an integrated action plan adopted by the government in April 2004 to decrease road accidents, which went up by 3.7% during the 1996-2003 period.

     The action plan included awareness campaigns and permanent coordination between the concerned departments, the Rabat-based agency added.

     For his part, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, said he will call on mosques' preachers to sensitise people on road security, noting that Morocco's 16,000 mosques, where Friday prayer is held, are attended by between 3.5 million and 4.5 million people.

[Source: Morocco Times]     [SMc]

 DSA Comments    News of any reduction in road deaths is always excellent, but it has to be said that the above claim, alleging that road crashes only "went up by 3.7% during the [eight years from] 1996-2003" is either astonishing or -- more likely -- a major error in reporting.

Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc.

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  February 18, 2006:  Safety advocates pushing to get children ages 8-12 belted in back seats

     With 8- to 12-year-olds dying at a rate of more than one a day in automobile crashes, safety groups are pushing for more youngsters to remain belted in the back seat.

     In the past, safety experts have focused their attention on getting younger children into child safety seats and booster seats to keep them secure and protect them in crashes.

     But a report released recently by the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety raises questions about how frequently "tweens" ---- children between ages 8 and 12 ---- are wearing their seat belts and whether they're sitting snugly in the back seat....

     All children are advised to ride in the back seat until age 13....

     The campaign comes two weeks after pop star Britney Spears was photographed driving with her 4-month-old son seated on her lap instead of strapped into a car seat.

     Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said Monday that Spears' behavior was "irresponsible."

     The auto coalition said its Missouri survey found a strong parental influence ---- more than 9 in 10 children of parents who always wear seat belts follow their parents' example. But among the children of parents who do not always wear seat belts, only about 6 in 10 always buckle up.

     The group recommends that parents offer themselves as role models and buckle up. Other pieces of advice: letting children choose the radio station in exchange for sitting in the back seat and buckling up, banning handheld electronic games if children sit in the front and stressing that seat belt use is required by law.

     More information:  http://www.tweensafety.org/

Full story, from the North Country Times

 DSA Comments    Why is it that when so many other developed countries have made seat belts compulsory for all passengers, in rear seats as well as in the front, the U.S. 'powers that be' have no intention of introducing such a law?

     Among other research establishments, Calspan  -- Buffalo, Western NY -- have done some excellent work on so-called 'back-seat bullets' and the deadly effect that unrestrained rear passengers can have in a crash, not only on themselves but also on people who are correctly restrained in other seats.

     There is simply no excuse for not pursuing this important aspect of safety.

Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc.

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  February 18, 2006:  Child Safety Crackdown Planned in Colorado

     Misuse and non-use of child safety seats caused most of Colorado's highway deaths last year, transportation specialists said.

     Twenty-two young riders died last year in crashes on state roadways - down from 49 child deaths a decade ago. Five youths were unbuckled when killed and there were eight more deaths related to improper safety seat use, Colorado Department of Transportation figures showed....

     "Young children are not able to make these lifesaving choices," Denver patrol managers said. "And we need to protect them."

     Combining efforts to improve the state's safety record, Sterling's patrol troop plans to join law officers across the state to target seatbelt laws, the transportation office said. The enforcement project will rely on about $126,000 of federal highway money to pay overtime for about 40 agencies in Colorado....

Full story, from the Journal-Advocate     [SMc]

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  February 17, 2006:  Montana Highway Deaths down Since 'Open Container' Law

     The percentage of alcohol-related traffic deaths is down since the state's ban on open containers of alcohol in vehicles took effect in October, but transportation officials say it's too early to connect the two.

     In the final three months of 2005, alcohol was involved in 15 of 43 reported traffic deaths, or about 35 percent. State Transportation Director Jim Lynch says that number is typically closer to 50 percent.

     Lynch says he's encouraged by the decline, but told lawmakers today that more time and data would be needed to determine if the state's open-container law was directly responsible.

     The ban on open alcohol containers in vehicles made Montana one of the last states to outlaw drinking while driving. State officials hope it will cut drunken-driving numbers and help change the attitude held by many residents that drinking and driving is OK.

[Source: KBZK-TV]     [SMc]

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  February 17, 2006:  60 Cars in a Crash, East of Montreal

     As many as 60 cars have been involved in a chain-reaction accident east of Montreal.

     Witnesses are saying there are fatalities and numerous injuries According to provincial police, vehicles are piled on top of each other in L'Assomption, Que.

     In Ontario, at least three people have been killed in a massive crash involving as many as 80 vehicles on a highway east of Ottawa.

     A winter storm in both provinces has brought icy road conditions and high winds.

[Source: Canada.com]     [SMc]

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  February 17, 2006:  15 Die in Road Accident in Far-Western Nepal

     At least 15 people died in a passenger bus accident in a district of far-western Nepal on Thursday, a local police officer said.

     At least 15 passengers died on the spot when the passenger bus they were traveling on skidded off the road and plunged into Mahakali river at Mahara area of Baitadi district, some 800 km west of Kathmandu, the police officer told Xinhua by phone.

     Of the 15 deaths, 11 were men and four were women.

     One passenger was seriously injured in the accident and the injured was undergoing treatment at local hospital in Jhulaghat area, the police officer said.

     The bus was heading for Gothapani village from Jhulaghat village when the accident occurred.

[Source: China View]     [SMc]

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  February 16, 2006:  Peru Bans 'Bus-Trucks' after Two Major Crashes

     Peru's national police launched surprise raids nationwide Wednesday, trying to get illegal and dangerous "bus-trucks" off the roads a day after two separate bus crashes killed 45 people and injured 66.

     But drivers kept the vehicles out of sight to avoid seizures.

     "As of this moment, from what I saw this morning, not one bus-truck has been captured. It appears the passenger bus companies are obeying the prohibition on circulating," said a Transportation Ministry spokesman who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to be quoted by name.

     Modified from flatbed trucks into huge passenger haulers, Peru's estimated 400 "bus-camiones" appear new but are structurally unsound, have inadequate brake systems and are four times more likely to lead to deaths in accidents than normal buses, said Lino de la Barrera, vice president of the Center for Investigation of Overland Transport.

     Police blamed "excessive speed and bad weather" for Tuesday's predawn crash of a bus-truck in Peru's southern Andes, which authorities said killed 28 people and injured 43. The vehicle slammed into a mountain near the town of Abancay, 520 kilometers (320 miles) southeast of Lima, after the driver reportedly swerved to avoid plunging into a gorge below a winding, mist-covered highway known as "seven turns."...

Full story, from CNN     [SMc]

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  February 16, 2006:  Scottish Crash Blackspots Targeted in New Drive to Cut Road Deaths

     Accident blackspots in Edinburgh are to be targeted in a new drive to cut the number of deaths, serious injuries and car smashes on the city's streets.

     Anti-skid surfacing, warning signs and speed-activated electronic alerts to drivers are to be installed on four of the worst roads. The move comes after a series of accidents on some of the city's busiest streets.

     The city council has pledged to spend almost £140,000 to improve the roads, including the A1, the A70 and London Road....

     ...Red surface treatment will be added to the street, to [deter] cars driving too close to people on their bikes.

     And anti-skid surfacing will be laid at the junctions of London Road and Hillside Crescent, at a cost of £14,000.

     The measures were today welcomed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in Scotland....

Full story, from The Scotsman     [SMc]

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  February 15, 2006:  RoSPA -- Helping Young Drivers Online

     The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has launched a new website whose aim is to cut the number of crashes among the UK's novice drivers and motorcyclists. Funded by the Department of Transport, the site contains information about private practice, professional lessons, the driving test itself and motoring law.

     A key aim of the project is to encourage less experienced drivers to gain as much driving experience as possible during their learner days, and to continue training after they have earned their full driving licences. "The driving test is only a minimum standard," says Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety at RoSPA, and there is always room for improvement.

     "The real danger comes after someone has passed their test. The more practice they have, the more competent they will be in difficult and dangerous situation."

     For more details, log on to www.helpingldrivers.com/

[Source: ITV Motoring]     [SMc]

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  February 15, 2006:  Road Accident Claims Yet Another PSL Soccer Player

     Raymond Matsobane Nthlane, the Dynamos goalkeeper, became the third Premier Soccer League player to die in a road accident recently....

     Nthlane died when the taxi he and his teammates were travelling in, overturned....

[Source: SABC News]     [SMc]

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  February 15, 2006:  RACV Targets Tired Young Drivers in Victoria

     The RACV says there is a growing problem with the number of young people who drive while tired.

     The group has surveyed 400 18 to 25-year-olds and says many use the radio or air conditioning to try to stay awake while driving.

     The result has prompted the launch of a new campaign, with the slogan: "Don't drive tired, sleep is the only answer".

     The RACV's Ken Ogden, says some young drivers are a danger to themselves and others on the roads.

     "Twenty-seven per cent of people said they'd nearly crashed as a result of driving while tired," he said.

     "Ten per cent actually told us that they'd driven after being awake for 24 hours and that they'd done that in the last fortnight, so this tells us that driving while tired is a particular problem amongst young people."

     Mr Ogden says many young drivers are trying to delay the effects of tiredness.

     "The only cure for tiredness or fatigue is sleep," he said.

[Source: ABC Online]     [SMc]

Same subject....

  February 15, 2006:  Australian Sleep Deprived Drivers are Warned

     A busy lifestyle is being blamed for a high number of young Victorian drivers getting behind the wheel of a car while they are sleep deprived.

     New research by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) has found 43 per cent of 400 surveyed drivers aged between 18 and 25 admitted to driving a car while they were tired.

     RACV general manager of Public Policy, Ken Ogden, said the results were alarming.

     "Ten per cent of young drivers admitted that in the last fortnight they went for 24 hours without sleep and then drove the car," Dr Ogden said.

     "A third admitted that they nearly crashed their car because they were tired," he said....

Full story, from The Australian     [SMc]

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  and ASIA  February 14, 2006:  Road Accidents Threat is Greater than that from AIDS or TB, says WHO

     The World Health Organisation (WHO) has projected that by 2020 road accidents will be the third highest threat to public health, outranking public health issues like tuberculosis, diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS.

     In South Asia alone, road traffic fatalities are expected to increase from 135,000 in 2000 to 330,000 in 2020, a 144 percent increase in deaths from road crashes, according to a WHO report "World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention" released Tuesday.

     Around 85 percent of the road accident deaths in the world occur in developing countries, with South Asia accounting for a fifth of the fatalities.

     The region has witnessed a rapid increase in motorised traffic, typically over 10 percent annually in major urban areas, according to the WHO.

     The report highlights that most of the victims of road accidents are not necessarily in a motor vehicle. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders were the most vulnerable road users and accounted for the majority of traffic deaths in low and middle-income countries....

Full story, from New Kerala     [SMc]

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  February 14, 2006:  New Police Plan to Lower Road Deaths in Cyprus

     There has been a reduction in traffic accidents from 2004 to 2005 but to meet the declared goal of halving traffic accidents by 2010, the police are taking certain measures that include lowering the legal alcohol limit, increasing police surveillance, raising penalties for youth violators, and introducing speed and traffic cameras....

     Statistics suggest that most, or at least many, of the deaths could have been warded off if basic protective measures had been followed. In 2005, 74 per cent of car crash victims did not wear seatbelts, while 58.3 per cent of the motorcycle and moped victims were without helmets.

     Excessive speed accounted for 34.4 per cent of the total road deaths.

     Out of the 32 blood tests taken on dead drivers in 2005, 13 of them (40.6 per cent) exceeded the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit.

     With Cyprus maintaining one of the worst records in terms of road deaths in Europe, the government last year pledged to halve road deaths by 2010....

     As part of the plan, laws will be amended to increase the penalties for young people and to reduce the legal BAC limit from 0.9 mg/ml to 0.5 mg/ml, the average limit within the European Union.

     Specific laws for roundabouts and traffic lights will also be created since they do not presently exist. There are also plans to implement legislation regarding the use of anti-radar devices....

     A number of speed cameras and traffic light cameras will also be mounted at intersections and on the roadside.... 

Full story, from Cyprus Mail     [SMc]

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  February 14, 2006:  Double Penalty Points for Young Drivers in Cyprus

     New drivers, be warned: no longer will you be able to run amok once you get your hands on a glitzy new Mini Cooper S or dad’s more conventional sedan.

     At least, that’s the idea behind a drastic bill approved by the Cabinet last week that would come down like a ton of bricks on inexperienced motorists.

     From now on, drivers with less than two years’ experience will get double the penalty points, meaning just a couple of infractions on the road could cost them their licence.

     Currently, people amassing 12 points must go to court, which will then decide on a case-by-case basis whether the offences warrant taking a driver off the streets.

     The austere measure targets the 18-21 age group and aims to curb the alarmingly high road death toll in Cyprus, which is well over one-and-a-half times the EU average.

     Studies made by the Traffic Department show that that approximately 95 per cent of accidents are due to human error, and that the number of fatalities has been steadily rising since 2002....

Full story, from Cyprus Mail

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  February 13, 2006:  Bus Campaign Targets Drivers in Wales

     Young drivers are being targeted with a hard-hitting bus publicity campaign.

     The message 'Young drivers - You Are Not Immortal; Neither Are Your Passengers' will be emblazoned on the sides of the city's buses, along with the image of Jason Taylor, who spent two weeks in hospital following a car crash.

     The campaign, run by Cardiff council's road safety team, will target drivers aged between 17 and 25 because they are much more likely to have accidents, according to the council.

     The adverts, backed by South Wales Police and the National Assembly, will be displayed on buses until May.

[Source: ic Wales]     [SMc]

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  February 13, 2006:  New Cameras to 'Cut Road Deaths' in Northern Ireland

     A new type of speed detection camera is to be used in a bid to save lives on one of Northern Ireland's most dangerous roads....

     [Speed Enforcement Camera System] Specs deploys digital safety cameras in pairs to electronically record drivers' average speeds between two fixed points.

     The time it takes for the vehicle to travel between both points is used to calculate the average speed.

     The cameras do not flash and all the data is digitally stored so there is no need for film....

     Inspector Cordner said police wanted drivers to "understand that the speed limit was in place for good reason".

     "Catching increased numbers of speeding motorists is not the aim and we hope that community representatives and road users will welcome the influence this system will have on driver behaviour and speed," he said. 

Full story, from BBC News     [SMc]

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  February 13, 2006:  Five Killed, Twenty Injured in Traffic Accident in China

     A 41-vehicle pileup accident took place Sunday on the Hefei-Xuzhou expressway, east China, leaving five people killed and at least twenty injured, local police said Monday.

     The pileup took place due partly to a dense fog on Sunday morning, according to the police.

     The police rushed to the scene and the traffic resumed normal at about 4:00 p.m. Sunday.

     As of Monday morning, all the injured are receiving treatment in the local hospitals, while further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

[Source: China View]     [SMc]

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  February 12, 2006:  State of Mind: Educate People to Wear Their Seat Belts

     Deaths on Kentucky's highways were up in 2005, currently reported at 984. Though the Kentucky State Police could not immediately confirm it to be so, that number is being quoted as a 30-year high by the Kentucky Education Cabinet.

     The Cabinet is weighing in on highway deaths in its own attempt to give muscle to Gov. Fletcher's support of a primary seat belt law, which would make it OK for an officer to pull you over and cite you for no other reason than a failure to wear a seat belt. Currently, you can't be cited unless pulled over for another reason, at which time it is discovered that your seat belt is not secured....

     The public looks at this issue as one of personal freedom, and in the end just another attempt by government to inject itself further into our daily lives.

     Yes, you should wear your seat belt. It's the law. Yes, the loss of life because one doesn't wear a seat belt is tragic. It is costly to us all, but can't be quantified, no matter how hard we try....

Full story, from The Danville Advocate     [SMc]

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  and    February 11, 2006:  Two Britons Die in Bus Crash

     Two Britons, including a 14-year-old boy, have died in an accident in Germany involving buses carrying schoolchildren, local police said.

     A further 28 children aged between 14 and 18 were injured - four seriously - according to a Cologne Police spokesman. The Foreign Office had reports of 29 injured....

     It is believed a lorry crashed into a coach carrying the Thomas Mills pupils, which had stopped on the motorway hard shoulder between Kerpen Buir and Duren. The second bus then crashed into the scene....

Full story, from The Telegraph     [SMc]

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  and    February 10, 2006:  Bus Crash in Rome - Bodies of 12 Tourists to be Flown to Home to Turkey

     The bodies of twelve Turkish citizens who died in the traffic accident in Rome will be flown to Turkey on Friday.

     Diplomatic sources in Rome said on Thursday that the bureaucratic proceedings regarding the transfer of the bodies from Rome to Istanbul would be completed on Friday afternoon. The bodies are expected to arrive in Istanbul at 5.00 p.m. Friday.

     A passenger bus carrying Turkish tourists skidded off the road and plunged into a ravine in Rome, killing 12 people and injuring 18 others two days ago. 

[Source: The Anatolian Times]     [SMc]

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  February 10, 2006:  Four Killed in Philippines Highway Accident

     Three barangay captains and a resident of Tuba, Benguet, died in a vehicular accident along the Marcos Highway late Thursday afternoon.

     The victims were riding a jeep toward Baguio when a bus carrying 42 college students from Iba, Zambales, reportedly lost control of its brakes and smashed into the smaller vehicle....

     The Marcos Highway collision happened only a week after a vehicular accident in Kabayan, Benguet. Eight died and 20 others were critically injured.

     Vicente Tomazar, director of the Office of the Civil Defense, has appealed to motorists and bus operators to regularly check their vehicles for roadworthiness. 

Full story, from ABS CBN News     [SMc]

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  February 10, 2006:  Young Drivers Go to Pot

     You can't talk about teens driving without talking about drugs, too.

     Today's young drivers have grown up in an era where drinking and driving is frowned upon socially. But when it comes to drug use, particularly if it's marijuana, the most commonly used drug next to alcohol, it's not the same.

     In 2003, the Ontario Student Drug Use Survey found that 20 per cent of drivers in grades 10 to 12 admitted to driving within an hour of smoking pot, compared to 14 per cent who said they had driven after consuming two drinks. That's the first time drug use before driving surpassed alcohol use and driving.

     "You know where we are with drugs and driving and teens? Where we were with alcohol in the `80s," says MADD Canada's Andrew Murie....

     ...Police officers are now being trained in drug recognition for outward signs of impairment, but there isn't a simple device like the roadside Breathalyzer to check drug use.

     There is also not enough data, since drivers who die are automatically tested for blood-alcohol levels, but not necessarily for drugs, Murie says.

     MADD has been pushing for tighter drug-impaired driving legislation.

Full article, from the Toronto Star     [SMc]

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  February 10, 2006:  Alert as Two Killed on Roads

     Police have warned motorists to be careful driving in wet weather after two people were killed on Tasmanian roads yesterday....

     Const Mason said the on-ramp was extremely slippery, with one witness saying he also experienced very slippery driving conditions.

     "It is quite common that after a dry period, the first rain will cause oil, petrol, diesel and other fluids to rise to the surface of the road and create hazardous driving conditions," he said.

     "Accident investigators who attended the scene would like motorists to take care when travelling through this area in the next few days."...

     Police reported 24 traffic accidents across the state between midnight and 3pm yesterday.

     Most were single-vehicle accidents and appeared to be a result of people not driving to the conditions.

Full story, from The Mercury     [SMc]

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  February 7, 2006: Booster Seats Signed into Law

     Four- to 8-year-olds now will need more than a seat belt to ride in a car.

     A bill signed Monday by Gov. Jim Doyle makes Wisconsin the 34th state to require children deemed too old for car seats and too young for adult-size seat belts to use special booster seats. The law goes into effect in four months.

     Previous state laws only required special car seats for children under age 4, and thereafter simply required adult seat belts.

     .....With passage of this law, Wisconsin is eligible for $625,000 in federal funds and up to $2.5 million over the next six years. The money is earmarked for child safety seat education and training programs as well as programs that provide child safety seats to low income families.

Full Story, from postcrescent

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  February 7, 2006:  Traffic Safety Expert on the ‘Unique Failure of U.S. Traffic Safety Policy’

     Leonard Evans, president of Science Serving Society, will speak at the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies...

     Evans will address the factors that led to the “uniquely U.S. failure of traffic safety policy -- and the lack of recognition that it is indeed a dramatic failure.”

     In the 1960s, the United States had the safest traffic in the world, as measured by traffic fatalities per thousand vehicles. The U.S. now ranks 16th and is sinking. “If our traffic fatality rate had declined as it has in Canada, Great Britain, and Australia (and other countries), we would now be killing 15,000 fewer people on our roads every year.”

Full Article, from University of Minnesota

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  February 7, 2006: Department of Transportation budget set at $65.6 billion 

     President George W. Bush’s proposed fiscal year 2007 budget has earmarked $65.6 billion to the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) out of the total $2.77 trillion. The DOT said that this would fully fund the highway bill signed by the President in August—providing nearly $50 billion for transit, highways and safety programs...

Full Article, from Fleet Owner

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  February 6, 2006: Colorado Motorists Asleep at the Wheel

     Colorado's roads are among the deadliest in the U.S. when it comes to drivers succumbing to a dangerous habit: drifting off to sleep behind the wheel...

     In 2004, 54 people died in 49 fatigue-related accidents in Colorado, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That represents 8 percent of the 594 fatal crashes in Colorado in 2004 - more than double the national average of 3 percent.

     Colorado, along with Texas and Maine, had the sixth-highest percentage of fatal drowsy driving accidents in the country.  Wyoming led the nation with 13 percent...

     The federal government has conservatively estimated that about 100,000 crashes a year are caused by driver fatigue, resulting in 71,000 people being injured and 1,500 fatalities. But safety officials said those figures are probably low because of the difficulty of determining fatigue as the cause of an accident, especially when alcohol or other factors are involved....

     ...Some states have cracked down on drowsy driving. In 2003, New Jersey became the first state to enact a law, called Maggie's Law, under which drivers can be charged with vehicular homicide while sleep deprived if they have been awake for more than 24 hours.

     Michigan and Massachusetts have introduced legislation that would amend current laws to include fatigue as a factor of reckless driving.

     New York has gone one step further, with the introduction of a bill that would enable authorities to charge a driver with a Class A misdemeanor for driving while impaired by fatigue...

Full Article, from Rocky Mountain News

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  February 6, 2006: 'Can't Imagine the Terror' --  SUV Sinks in Canal; Mom and Son Die

     Terror-stricken Cassandra Read screamed into her cellphone and begged a 911 emergency operator for help as her sport utility vehicle drifted and sank into the icy waters of a canal north of Toronto Saturday night.

     But the 32-year-old Keswick, Ont., woman and her four-year-old son drowned before rescuers could find the submerged SUV and pull it to the surface.

     "I can't even imagine the terror they would have gone through, totally submerged in water, dark, where you can't see anything," said Paul Heshka, of South Simcoe police.

     "Especially with a little guy like that, I just can't imagine how awful that would have been."

     Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Frank Jonkman said town officials have tried unsuccessfully for more than a decade to get approval and funding from senior government levels to shift the canals and create a land buffer along Canal Road....

Full story, from the Winnipeg Sun     [SMc]

 DSA Comments    How often do people have to die at dangerous locations before requests for safety measures are actually met?

Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc.

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  February 6, 2006: Statistics Show Airbags Getting Safer

     Government safety statistics show a continuing drop in airbag-related deaths and injuries as technology and seat beat use improves.

     Two children died in the U.S. last year as a result of injuries caused by airbags. No adults were killed according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That is an improvement over previous years.

     While the reduced number of deaths and injuries can be attributed to better airbag technology, more people are wearing seat belts and more children and infants are being placed in the back seat....

     There is, however, a continuing problem with airbags failing to deploy in accidents. There are no reliable statistics on how many deaths and injuries have been caused by such incidents....

Full story, from Consumer Affairs     [SMc]

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  February 6, 2006: Children Need Booster Seats for Safety

     ...A little girl sits on her mother's lap in the passenger seat, the father is at the wheel and the older children are in back.

     But the words beneath the photo shatter any feeling of nostalgia: "You didn't use a booster seat when you were a child. But you didn't think asbestos was dangerous either."

     After all, as much as our mother loved us, her arms alone could not have saved us from injury or death if the danger on the road was real. A mother's arms are not child safety restraints. A mother's lap is not a booster seat.

     Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of children ages 2 to 14. To increase awareness on child passenger safety, especially the use of booster seats, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety and several partners statewide are joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mark National Child Passenger Safety Week from Feb. 12 to Feb. 18...

Full Article, from Myrtle Beach Online

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  February 6, 2006: Potential Highway Safety Boss Faces Questions About Qualifications

     Five years ago, Nicole Nason was a midlevel congressional aide. Now President Bush wants her to be the nation's top automotive regulatory and traffic safety official.

Some public-safety advocates question whether Nason's background qualifies her to serve as chief of the National            Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sets safety and fuel economy standards for cars and distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in traffic-safety grants every year.

     Bush nominated Nason, 35, last month. She's currently the Department of Transportation's chief lobbyist to Congress, her first job in the transportation field. She's held it less than three years.

     Among the Bush administration's talking points on her behalf: Her dad was a police chief on Long Island. "Safety was the name of the game" growing up, said Brian Turmail, Department of Transportation spokesman.

     That doesn't impress critics, who point out that most previous NHTSA chiefs had extensive experience in public health, public safety or transportation policy. They say such a background is important because the agency is about to write new rules in key areas such as side-impact and vehicle-rollover standards and power-window safety, all mandated by last year's transportation bill.

     "A very awesome responsibility," said Joan Claybrook, the president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen and NHTSA chief during the Carter presidency...

Full Story, from Fort Wayne.com

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  February 5, 2006: Crash Scene Police Officer Killed by Van in Scotland

     A police officer has been run over and killed while investigating a road accident.

     Alan McMurray, 39, was hit by a van while working as part of the team at the scene of an earlier crash....

     Later, at 7am, a van struck McMurray, who was investigating the earlier accident. Despite the best efforts of his colleagues and emergency services he died at the scene....

     The AA and the Scottish Executive are carrying out separate research to identify the reasons for deaths on the road in Scotland.

     The most recently released figures, for 2004, revealed that there were 13,855 accidents in which 18,405 drivers and passengers were hurt.

     The casualty numbers were down 2% on the previous year, but 306 died and 2,742 were seriously injured.

     In a table of 31 European countries, Scotland's death rate per head of population is 25th.

Full story, from Scotland on Sunday     [SMc]

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  February 4, 2006: Four Kids Hurt, Father Arrested in California

     It appears none of the children were properly restrained. No child safety seats were found in the vehicle, according to the CHP. State law requires children under 60 pounds or six years old be secured in safety seats...

     The accident occurred just one week before the National Child Safety Seat Week campaign, scheduled to start Feb. 11, 2006.

Full Article, from SFGate

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  February 3, 2006: Trust Me!

     We grew up learning that we can't trust strangers. We could never talk to strangers, get a ride from strangers or accept candy from strangers. But why do we trust strangers when we drive?

     I watch drivers sitting at a red light and they're doing everything from checking their hair or makeup, to looking at people standing on the corner. I guess they trust the person approaching from behind is going to stop. How do we know they're going to stop? Considering the most common collision in North America is a rear crash, shouldn't we be monitoring the mirror while we're stopped? At least that would tell us when a driver's coming up too quickly. The next step would be planning an escape, such as a driveway, parking lot or another lane and being ready to move out of the way....

     What I'm asking is this: think of the risk before doing a driving task. Decide if it's worth it to "try to beat the light" or turn in front of another driver. Think of it in the long term and don't trust the other driver. What would your friends and family think as they visit you in hospital because you took that risk? Is it worth it? Think about it. Go ahead. Trust me!

Full article, from the Hamilton Mountain News     [SMc]

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  February 3, 2006: New Driving Laws Steer Teenagers Toward Safety

     California's updated graduated licensing law went into effect Jan. 1 requiring teen drivers to have their license for one year before they may legally transport young passengers without an adult in the car. The old law required teens to wait six months...

     According to a 2004 study by the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Berkeley, crashes involving 16-year-old drivers decreased 16 percent after California's graduated license law took effect in 1998.

     The graduated driver's license is a phase-in of privileges, beginning with a learner's permit, followed by a provisional license with restrictions and an unrestricted license more than a year later...

      According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, beginning teen drivers who transport other teens are three times more likely to have a fatal crash than other drivers.

     Crash rates for young drivers are high because of immaturity and driving inexperience. Teens are more likely to speed, pass inappropriately and follow other vehicles too closely. Their lack of experience behind the wheel makes it difficult for them to recognize and respond to hazards....

Full Article, from The Davis Enterprise

  February 2, 2006: European Social Rules for Road Transport

     On 2 February  the European Parliament adopted the agreement on the draft European legislation to improve driving times and rest periods for professional drivers and step up checks on lorries [US: 'trucks']. Drivers will have at least two full days off every two weeks and a longer rest period each day. These new rules clarify the existing rules and bring the practices of the different EU Member States closer together. They also contribute to road safety. “Opening up new markets has to go hand in hand with rules that apply to everyone to ensure fair working conditions. These European social rules create new rights for workers and protect against social dumping”, said Jacques Barrot, Commission Vice-President responsible for transport.

     ....The package brings in an obligatory minimum daily rest of 9 hours for drivers (instead of the present 8 hours) and an obligatory rest of at least 45 consecutive hours every two weeks. This “weekend off” for professional drivers, in the form of a real rest for two full days at least every fortnight, is unknown in most Member States. It is a substantial innovation benefiting the well-being of drivers and their families and the safety of all.

     Another important measure is the reduction of maximum driving time for professional drivers. At present they can drive for up to 74 hours a week. When this instrument comes into force, no professional driver in Europe will be allowed to drive for more than 56 hours a week. Several Member States will have to review their legislation to incorporate this social advance. It complements the legislation already in force since 23 March that limits the working time for professional drivers to an average of 48 hours a week over a four-month period....

Full text here, from EUROPA.

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  February 2, 2006:  Life in The Slow Lane for Hopeful Drivers

     Young Tasmanians who are ready to go for their P-plates are having to wait up to two months to take their driver's licence test.

     The long wait may put new P-platers in danger when they finally hit the road, young drivers and relatives say.

     Learner driver Andrew Verwey, 17, of Lenah Valley, says he expected he would be able to take his driver's licence test within two weeks of booking.

     "I'm going to have to wait almost two months," he said. "That's ridiculous. I was pretty shocked. Seriously, it's pretty bad."

     Having accumulated more than the mandatory 50 hours of driving experience, he went to Service Tasmania to book his test on January 25. But a backlog of learner driver tests means he cannot sit for his licence until March 21.

     Infrastructure Minister Bryan Green acknowledged the delay but said the department was working to find a solution.

     "Young people wanting to get their licence should be aware the failure rate is still about 50 per cent," he said. "People could use the time of the delay to better prepare themselves for the test."...

Full story, from The Mercury     [SMc]

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  February 2, 2006:  Finalists Named for Road-Safety Award

     Three finalists have been named for the Road Safety Achievement of the Year award, presented by the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists' Committee for Active Road Safety....

Story from, Motoring & Independent Online

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  February 2, 2006:  Governor of Alaska Signs Primary Seat Belt Bill

     Tuesday Alaska Governor Frank H. Murkowski signed into law SB 87, a bill that makes driving without buckling up a primary offense. Sen. Con Bunde sponsored the bill. While current law requires Alaska drivers to wear a seat belt, police and troopers are able to write a ticket for the offense only if they have stopped the driver for some other traffic or vehicle equipment violation. The new law, which goes into effect in 90 days, will allow law enforcement personnel to stop a driver if they can see he or she is not wearing a seat belt.

Read the Article, from The Sitnews

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  February 2, 2006: Tackling road safety in Lebanon

     "One million and two hundred thousand people get killed around the world every year as a result of road accidents," according to the World Health Organization representative in Lebanon Dr. Jawad Mahjour, quoting international statistics.
     Mahjour's statement came during the opening of the Arab Seminar for Developing Driving and Traffic Laws Thursday held at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut...

Full Story, from The Daily Star

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  February 1, 2006:  Eleven Road Deaths on Ma'al Hijrah Holiday

     Eleven deaths occurred in road accidents on the Ma'al Hijrah holiday Tuesday, bringing to 151 the total number of fatalities in road accidents since the Ops Sikap X road-safety campaign was launched on Jan 23.

     A statement issued by the Bukit Aman Public Relations Branch said motorcyclists made up the most number of fatalities with eight deaths while the others were a pillion rider, a cyclist and a pedestrian.

     Five of the deaths occurred in accidents on state roads and three each on federal and municipal roads.

     A total of 725 road accidents were reported Tuesday, with 257 on municipal roads and 220 on federal roads. There were 160 accidents on state roads, 56 on highways and 32 on other roads.

     A total of 10,561 summonses were issued for various traffic offences Tuesday, bringing to 93,929 the total summonses issued so far under Ops Sikap X.

[Source: Bernama]    [SMc]

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  February 1, 2006:  Cyprus to Slash Drink Driving Limit

     Cyprus is to reduce the drink driving limit, the House Communications Committee decided yesterday, following a suggestion from the government, based on a European recommendation.

     Cyprus currently has the highest legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit in Europe. Where most European countries have a limit of 0.5mg/ml [0.05% BAC], Cyprus has a legal limit of 0.9mg/ml [0.09% BAC]....

     The decision [has been] made as part of a broader attempt to reduce road deaths by 50 per cent [by] 2010.

     The European Recommendation, dated January 17, 2001, said that all Member States should adopt a legal BAC limit of 0.5mg/ml or lower for all drivers and a limit of 0.2mg/ml for inexperienced drivers, motorcyclists, drivers of heavy vehicles and drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods....

     Based on... statistics, Cyprus has 13.3 fatalities in every 100,000 residents, above the EU’s average of 10.3 to every 100,000 citizens....

Full article, from the Cyprus Mail (and brought to DSA's attention by one of our long-term correspondents, Chris Collins, the Road Safety Project Officer for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, in England).

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  February 1, 2006:  Recognizing the Danger on America's Roads   [DSA Headline]

                                        [From the article: Her Efforts may ease the dangers of teen drivers]

     The number of Americans killed annually on our roads — the figure was 42,636 in 2004, according to the most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration figures, and has stayed around 40,000 in recent years — is a staggering figure. There is no getting around it. There is no getting used to it.
     Yes, much progress has been made in the fight against drunken driving. And because of better-designed roads, safety features in cars like stability control, anti-lock brakes and air bags, and other factors, the number of fatalities per million miles traveled (about 1.5) is lower than it used to be.
     In other words, that 40,000 figure could be worse. But it still is unacceptable...

Full Article, from The Morning Call