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  September 29, 2006:  Road Accident Kills at Least 20 in Pakistan

     At least 20 people including four children and three women died Thursday as a truck collided into a passengers' van in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, police said.

     According to a senior police Makhdoom Ghulam Mohammed, a passenger van collided head-on with a truck coming from opposite direction near Dadu, a town about 750 km southwest from Islamabad.

     Twenty people including four children and three women died, local private Geo TV reported.

     The collision ruined the van completely and the corpses were retrieved out of van only after the van's body was cut down.

     The injured were shifted to local hospitals in Dadu and Moro, another major town in the area. Emergency was declared in hospitals.

     Eight people are injured, out of which five are under critical condition, Geo TV quoted doctors of local hospital as saying.

     Road accidents are common in Pakistan, where many roads are in poor conditions and many drivers are not properly trained and frequently disregard rules.

[Source: People's Daily Online]     [SMc]

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  September 28,2006:  Road Deaths and Injuries Falling

     Road casualties in Britain fell last year, although figures show the decline in deaths has now reached a plateau.

     Deaths fell to 3,201 in 2005, a drop of 0.6%, with serious injuries down 7%.

     The Department for Transport released contributory factors for the first time, showing drivers' failure to look properly featured in 32% of accidents.

     But in fatal crashes, loss of control was most common, with 35%, and excessive speed was reported in 15% of all accidents and 26% of fatal crashes....

Full story, from BBC News     [SMc]

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  September 28, 2006:  Motorcycle Deaths Continue to Edge up

     Whether it's recent soaring gasoline prices or a love for the open road, more and more Americans have become "easy riders" and are hitting the highways on motorcycles.

     But with increased motorcycle sales have come a steadily rising number of motorcycle rider fatalities, both nationwide and in Florida.

     Last year's fatalities for motorcyclists in Florida was the highest figure reported in 30 years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The number of motorcycle crashes and injuries also has consistently risen in the state over the past five years. In 2005, 7,282 motorcyclists were injured in 8,147 crashes, compared to 4,474 injured in 5,073 accidents in 2000....

Full story, from Gainesville Sun     [SMc]

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  September 28, 2006:  Twenty Killed in Road Accident in Egypt

     Twenty persons were killed and one was injured when a mini-bus collided head-on with a truck early Thursday near Minya, 245 kilometers south of Cairo. The bus was heading from Cairo to Upper Egypt. The driver tried to pass the car ahead of him when he ran into the truck coming from the opposite direction, police told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

     All the passengers of the minibus were killed, except one. The truck driver was also killed in the crash, the police said.

[Source: Raw Story]     [SMc]  

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  September 28, 2006: Drowsiness Can Spell Disaster at the Wheel
     High speed, no skid marks.
     The motorist never even hits the brakes before soaring off a cliff, slamming into a tree or barrelling serenely into oncoming traffic.
     Detectives recognize the hallmarks of one of the most menacing hazards on today's busy highways - the drowsy driver....
     ...."Driving sleepy is the same as driving drunk," cautions Dr. John Kimoff, director of the sleep lab at the McGill University Health Centre. "There is no difference in terms of risk. If you can have Mothers Against Drunk Driving, you can have Mothers Against Sleepy Driving, too.
     "Sleep deprivation produces an impairment in performance and attention that is really indistinguishable from that associated with moderate alcohol intoxication."....

Full story, from The Gazette     [SW]

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  September 27, 2006:  Irish Road Safety '10 Years behind UK'

     Ireland is lagging about 10 years behind the UK in terms of road safety, a survey claimed today.

     According to the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, some 78 lives could have been saved every year if the drop in road deaths after penalty points were introduced had been maintained.

     Experts found there was a significant reduction in the number of people killed in car accidents when the system began in 2002.

     But six months later the road death rate began to increase....

Full story, from Ireland Online     [SMc]

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  September 27, 2006:  Road deaths in Dubai Soar 45% in 8 Months

     Dubai: Three people were killed in a horrific accident on Tuesday as police announced a 45 per cent increase in road deaths in the first eight months of this year compared with the corresponding period in 2005....

     The death toll is mounting, with 156 people being killed in road accidents in the first six months of this year, an increase of 42 per cent over 2005.

     Police have called on motorists to be careful on roads and be courteous, especially in traffic jams, and respect the right of other road users.

     "Motorists should reduce speed, especially while nearing interchanges. They should also leave enough space between vehicles and the front vehicle," a traffic police officer said.

Full story, from Gulf News     [SMc]

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  September 26, 2006:  Teens to Get Driver Training

     A new Georgia law that takes effect January 1 requires 16-year olds to complete a safe driving course before they get their drivers license.

     In some parts of the state, that's not so easy to do because of a shortage of certified driving instructors. An initiative called “Safe Teen Georgia”, sponsored by the Safe America Foundation hopes to train 2,500 new instructors in the state by 2007.

     More than 120,000 Georgia teenagers will turn sixteen during 2007. There are only 703 certified driving instructors in the state.

     The dilemma is simple. There are not enough instructors to teach young drivers....

Full story, from WXIA-TV     [SMc]

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  September 26, 2006:  16 Perish in Road Accident in Tanzania

     Sixteen people died yesterday,15 of them on the spot, in a tragic road accident that involved a passenger bus christened `Champion`, heading to Dodoma from Dar es Salaam.

     According to eyewitnesses, scores of other passengers were seriously injured when the bus plunged into a deep valley when the driver, who was overtaking a saloon car, attempted to avoid a head on collision with an oncoming tanker.

     Reached by telephone, the police said from the scene that the accident occurred in the morning at Kongowe village in Coast Region on the Dar es Salaam-Chalinze road, some 25 kilometres from Kibaha town.

     ``After failing to control the bus, the driver,who also perished in the accident, swerved to avoid a head-on collision and plunged into the ditch, killing 16 passengers,`` an eyewitness said....

Full story, from IPP Media     [SMc]

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  and GLOBAL  September 25, 2006:  FACTBOX-Key Facts about Road Traffic Deaths

     Twenty-five million people have died on the world's roads since the first recorded automobile fatality occurred in London in 1896, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said....

      - Africa has the world's worst death rate from road crashes, with 28 deaths per 100,000 population, the WHO report The Road Ahead said in June 2006.

      - Britain has the safest roads in the world, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) reported in 2004, in terms both of deaths per capita and of deaths per kilometre travelled....

      - The WHO estimates the cost of road traffic accidents exceeds the total amount of development assistance received by low- and middle-income countries....

Full story, from Reuters AlertNet     [SMc]

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  September 25, 2006:  Young Drivers and Speeding Does not Mix

     Police said two teens were arrested for racing over the Blue Bridge in Pasco.

     Sunday morning, two boys in the Seattle area died after plunging their Ford Explorer into the Elliott Bay.

     Police said the mixture of inexperience and speed can kill.

     According to government statistics collisions cause 75 percent of all deaths among American teens and two-thirds of all deaths among Washington teens.

     Police said young drivers need to be careful.

     Kennewick Police Officer Mary Buchan said, "It's really a game of Russian Roulette and sometimes the out come is not good."

     Police near Seattle said they are still investigating the situation but said drugs and alcohol might have been involved.  Police also said four other teens survived the crash.

[Source: KNDO/KNDU]     [SMc]

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  September 25, 2006: Tons of Steel in Motion — and the Bicyclist
     ....Bicycle injuries are no joke. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, they account for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities and injuries. Luckily, I wasn’t included in that statistic. And lucky for you, Milwaukee is a relatively safe city in which to ride a bike.
     Police reports involving bicycle accidents in this area are few and far between. Bad news for folks living in California, Florida, New York, and Texas: those four states accounted for 43 percent of bicycle deaths in 1999, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports. But regardless the state you live in, there are precautions any bicyclist can take to prevent his or her next ride from becoming an accident....
Full article from The UWM post, (a ''student-run independent newsweekly'' at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)    [SW]

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  September 25, 2006: Two Cyclists Trying to Cross I-580 in Pt. Richmond Struck by Car
     Two bicyclists sustained serious injuries Sunday afternoon when a car struck them on westbound Interstate 580 just before the Richmond-San Rafael bridge toll plaza.
     Rescue workers stopped traffic on the bridge in both directions from 4:18 to 4:32 p.m. to allow two helicopters to fly both victims to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California Highway Patrol Officer Tracy Hoover reported.
     The crash happened when the two bicyclists were attempting to cross the freeway on their way to Point Molate, according to Richmond Fire Department Battalion Chief Erik Newman....
Story, from Marin Independent Journal    [SW]

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  September 25, 2006: Troopers Try To Put Brakes On Street Racing
     For the second time in a week, state Highway Patrol troopers have broken up a drag race on a rural highway.
     Six people were arrested this weekend when troopers put the brakes on a race along Tippett Road, a dead-end state road a few miles west of Interstate 95 in Halifax County, authorities said....
     ....The Highway Patrol is concentrating its crackdown on drag racing in Halifax and Nash counties, which have miles of lonely stretches of road that make them ideal for street racing, authorities said...

Full Story, from WRAL.com     [SW]

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  September 25, 2006: Road Blitz Bags Drunk Drivers

     Members from the Casuarina police station conducted an operation targeting drink drivers, speeding, unregistered vehicles and failure to obey traffic lights.

     Sixteen people were apprehended for drink driving, 23 were issued traffic infringement notices, five summonsed for driving offences, four vehicles were defected and one person was issued a first notice for "hooning".

     Fifteen drivers were booked in relation to speeding offences.

     Officer in charge of the Casuarina police station, Sen-Sgt Tim Moseley, said the offences showed it was clear the road safety message was not getting through to some Territory road users.

 Full story, from Northern Territory News    [SSC}

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  September 24, 2006:  Road deaths Could Rise to Level of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

      DEATH is likely to come knocking in one of three forms if you are between the ages of five and 29 years - motor vehicle injuries, child cluster diseases and HIV/AIDS.

     According to a joint World Health Organisation (WHO)/World Bank report, these are the leading causes of deaths worldwide based on 2002 statistics.

     The report says road traffic injuries is the second leading cause of death in the five-14 age group behind childhood cluster diseases....

Full story, from Jamaica Gleaner     {SMc]

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  September 24, 2006: Jamaican Ticketing System Needs Makeover – Road Safety Head

     After months of keeping the matter close to the chest, road safety advocate Paula Fletcher can hold it no longer.

    Mrs. Fletcher, the executive director of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), a state agency, disclosed recently that the $50 million ticketing system implemented two years ago with a view to prosecuting delinquent motorists, has failed.

     "With a ticketing system, you must have your database working.

     "If you don't have information on who has been issued a ticket and how many tickets that person has, you can't have the penalties being enforced," Mrs. Fletcher argued during an Editors' Forum held at The Gleaner Company's central Kingston office on Thursday.

     Mrs. Fletcher added that people have taken the government to court for recourse because the system fails to work.

 Full story, from Jamaica Gleaner News    [SSC]

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  September 24, 2006: Safety Fears Over Ads On Streetlights

     Road safety experts and motorists have admitted worries over an increase in "roadside clutter" after a Scottish council invited firms to bid for a contract to sell advertising on streetlights.

     Renfrewshire Council hopes to make thousands of pounds a year by selling advertising on its lampposts and has invited advertising firms to bid for a contract to sell the ads, with a share of the profits to go to the local authority.

     Just last month, the Scottish Executive's own transport quango, Transport Scotland, issued sweeping new guidelines aimed at scrapping superfluous road signs and cutting the rest literally down to size in order to make them less intrusive and less confusing for drivers.

 Full story, from The Scotsman http://news.scotsman.com     [SSC]

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  September 24, 2006: Road Safety Scheme Backing Hope

     Organisers of a road safety scheme for young people who will soon be able to get behind the wheel of a car are hoping to find a backer.

     The Wise Drive-Drive for Life programme is now in its eighth year and is run by Durham Police and the Durham Agency Against Crime (DAAC).

     Hundreds of 16-year-olds take part in workshops, are shown crash footage and wear goggles to simulate drink driving.

Full story, from BBC News     [SSC]

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  September 24, 2006:  P-Platers Stupidity

     MORE than half the P-plate drivers killed in NSW road accidents this year were speeding at more than 100km/h at the time.

     Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) data shows 14 of the 26 P-plate drivers killed died in accidents that involved speeds above the legal limit for provisional drivers.

     Highway patrol officers on the front line have confirmed that P-platers rank among the worst offenders when it comes to breaking road rules....

Full story, fromDaily Telegraph     [SMc]

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  September 24, 2006:  Young Killer Driver Reignites Safety Debate

     The debate over the punishment of dangerous drivers who kill will flare up again this week when a young male motorist who had never held a driving licence is sentenced over the death of his girlfriend.

     Andrew Lloyd Bennett, 20, failed to call an ambulance after his teenage girlfriend was thrown through the windscreen and seriously injured when his Subaru Impreza collided with a row of trees. It is almost certain he will be jailed....

     The case comes amid mounting calls for harsher penalties against dangerous drivers. Campaigners are demanding that the driving age be raised to 18, with a one-year minimum training period. Men aged 17 to 20 account for three per cent of drivers but make up a third of convictions for dangerous driving....

Full story, from The Observer     [SMc]

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  September 23, 2006:  Road Accident Kills 13 near Islamabad, Pakistan

     At least 13 people were killed and some 40 others were injured in road accident near the capital Islamabad on Saturday, a relief agency and police said.

     The accident took place when two passenger buses collided at Rawat, a small town at the edge of Islamabad, the Edhi Foundation said.

     According to police a speeding bus, heading to North West Frontier Province, first hit a Suzuki pick-up and later collided with a bus coming from the opposite direction at around 4.30 a.m.

     Seven persons, including a woman and two children, died on the spot while six later died in hospitals.

     The injured were rushed to government hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

     Both the buses and a van were completely destroyed, witnesses said.

     Bodies and injured were pulled out after cutting the bodies of vehicles.

     Locals joined the police to shift the injured to hospitals.

[Source: Islamic Republic News Agency]    [SMc]

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EUROPE  September 23, 2006:  Road Safety NGO: EU Must Do More to Reduce Road Accidents

     In an interview with EurActiv.com, European Transport Safety Council Executive Director Jörg Beckmann urges more political leadership to enforce existing road-safety measures, especially across borders, and to introduce "crucial" new technologies, in order to reduce the number of accidents on European roads....

Full interview, from EurActiv.com     [SMc]

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  September 21, 2006:  Russian Police Chief Calls Road Accident Rate Critical

     The road accident rate in Russia has reached a critical point, Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev stated at a conference on traffic safety issues in the Northwestern Federal District on Thursday.

     "Some 100 people are killed in car crashes daily, including three to four children," the minister said, "the latest flagrant case is the accident in the Krasnodar territory, when 52 vehicles collided in a fog; 25 of them burnt down, causing fatalities," Nurgaliyev said....

     The situation with the incidence of children's becoming victims of road accidents is alarming, he went on to say. "The province reported 210 road accidents involving minors under 16 years of age in the first eight months of this year, in which eight children died and another 218 were injured," Nurgaliyev said.

     One of the prime causes behind car accidents involving children is their poor knowledge of traffic regulations. "Federal education programs allocate two hours a year, and that only in the 8th form, to study road safety issues," the minister said.

Full story, from ITAR-TASS    [SMc]

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  *  September 21, 2006:  Serbia Prepares Draconian Traffic Law to Curb Road Deaths

     After a black series of road accidents that has seen fatalities mounting on a daily basis in Belgrade, speeding as been firmly established as the leading cause of death on Serbian roads. The authorities now hope to reverse the trend of reckless driving with a new draconian law, aimed at reducing fatalities, injuries and damage. But at the moment, horrible scenes are a daily spectacle on the roads....

     At the moment, the fines are laughably low for many - the absolutely highest is equivalent of 400 dollars. But the new traffic law, which is due to be enacted by the end of the year, would dramatically increase the fines as a deterrent.

     Along with the draconian fines, the western-style points system and measures against traffic hooliganism, it would in some cases even allow the permanent confiscation of a vehicle from an offender.

Full story, from The Raw Story    [SMc]

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  September 21, 2006:  Cats’ Eyes Bid to Cut Road Deaths

     SOLAR-powered light-emitting diodes fitted in new cats' eyes are expected to reduce the risk of accidents at a notorious double bend on the A338 between Fordingbridge and the Wiltshire border.

     Research carried out on Aftusia's LED road study at the Transport Research Laboratory at Wokingham, Berkshire, showed that in simulated night-time driving conditions motorists were able to see the new cats' eyes well before they could see traditional models....

Full story, from Dorset Echo     [SMc]

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  September 21, 2006:  Dubai:  Bad Road Manners 'Main Cause of Traffic Jams'
     Dubai Roads and Transport Authority blamed drivers for causing traffic congestion in the city.
     "It is about behaviour on the road and drivers are the one to be blamed for most of the traffic jams and accidents leading to injuries and deaths," said Engineer Maitha Obaid Bin Udai, Chief Executive Officer of the Traffic and Roads Agency at the Dubai Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA).
     Maitha said road safety issue includes three elements: drivers, engineering and vehicles. "Our top priority is to focus on driver education on road safety. Lack of patience, speeding and bad driving habits are the main causes for congestion and accidents," she said....
Safety conference to be held on November 6
     With an aim to reduce traffic accidents and raise traffic safety, the RTA has announced it will host an International Road Safety Conference on November 6r.
     The RTA has joined hands with the Ministry of Education and various other departments to spread the road safety message. The conference will be organised by Smart Vision Company. The main objective of the conference is to provide a platform for the discussion of road safety and best practices.

Full story, from Gulfnews     [SW]

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  September 21, 2006:  Cameroon: National Road Safety Campaign Launched
     The campus of the University of Yaounde II, Soa, was the venue of the official launching of the national road safety campaign dubbed "Music and Communication against road accidents" last Tuesday. The campaign, launched by AS Production, under the patronage of the Ministry of Transport will run till August 2007....
     ....Particpants learnt six simple techniques which are always neglected and which if respected will ensure road safety in the country. These include: the need for the drivers to look further than a few metres ahead of them, the need to keep a distance from vehicles ahead of them, the need to keep watchful eyes in movement, the need to provide enough parking distance, constantly putting on security belts, and making use of other alarm gagets....

Read the article, from AllAfrica     [SW]

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  September 21, 2006:  Plans Invited for Road Safety Programme in India
     With Rs. 6 crore being allotted for the Road Safety Fund for 2006-2007, proposals have been invited from Superintendents and the Commissioners of Police for allocation.
     Under the programme, minor road engineering works will be taken up, equipment bought and safety awareness created. Though the amount is meagre, given the number of accidents and the need for remedial measures, a senior police official says the fund helps to improve road junctions, purchase breathalysers to check drunken driving and radar guns to monitor over-speeding.

Full story, from The Hindu     [SW]

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  September 21, 2006:  Keep Driving Like your Life Depends on It
     Through mid-September, fatal traffic accidents in Wisconsin had dropped 13 percent. That number might not mean much until you put it into real lives. Accidents have killed 75 fewer people this year compared to a year ago.

     That's 75 fewer times that law officers had to contact relatives and give them the dreaded news; 75 fewer times that families had to bury loved ones too soon; 75 fewer times that the lives of those left behind were turned to chaos.
     "That is a big number," said Daniel Lonsdorf, director of the state Bureau of Transportation Safety. "We had the safest August since World War II in terms of body count."
Full article, from Gazettextra     [SW]

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  and    September 20, 2006:  Study Says Restrictions Help Young Drivers

     A study released by the American Automobile Association (AAA) has shown that areas with restrictions on young drivers had lower amounts of serious collisions.

     "This is the first study of its kind ever," said Rick Preston, spokesman for the Alberta Motor Association (AMA).

     The study said that jurisdictions that had restrictions on 16-year-old drivers had 20 per cent less crashes that were fatal or resulted in serious injuries.

     "That sort of steers you in the face," Preston said....

Full story, from Redwater Tribune     [SMc]

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  September 19, 2006:  Belgian Road Safety Below EU Average
    There were 112 traffic fatalities per 1 million residents in Belgium in 2004, earning the nation an equal 10th ranking with Slovakia in the 25-member EU....
     ....This compared to high-ranking nations the Netherlands and Sweden, where 43 and 53 deaths per 1 million residents were recorded respectively...The biggest increase was noted in Lithuania (a rise of 167 percent), followed by Latvia (142 percent) and Portugal (135).
Full story, from Expatica     [SW]

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  September 19, 2006:  Skateboarders the Same as Pedestrians
     The Alberta Court of Appeal, in a decision released today, said a lower court ruling defining pedestrian as including skateboarders was correct.
     The three-member court agreed with a Queen’s Bench decision which overturned a traffic commissioner’s finding skateboarders weren’t protected in crosswalks.
     The case involved an Edmonton driver who was charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk after striking a skateboarder.
     A traffic commissioner threw the case out, saying a skateboarder was not a pedestrian under the Traffic Safety Act.

Full story, from The Calgary Sun     [SW]

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  September 19, 2006:  Young Drivers 'Must Learn Longer'

     Young people should spend a year learning to drive before being allowed to take their driving test, the UK insurance industry has recommended.

     The Association of British Insurers (ABI) claims this would stop 1,000 serious injuries and deaths among young drivers each year.

     The ABI's call is supported by a group of other road safety organisations.

     They say passenger numbers and night time driving should also be restricted for new drivers.

     "Every day, four people are killed or seriously injured in crashes involving young drivers," said Stephen Haddrill, the ABI's director general.

     "The trend is getting worse not better. We urge the Government to adopt these proposals to improve safety on our roads and reduce this tragic loss of life."

     The safety plan is supported by the ABI, RAC Foundation, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety and three road safety organisations - Brake, Roadsafe and Make Roads Safe....

Full story, from BBC News     [SMc]

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  September 18, 2006:  Six Road Deaths as Drink Drivers Targeted

     SIX people died on Victorian roads at the weekend, prompting calls for renewed vigilance from motorists — and tougher policing.

     The deaths, in six separate accidents, brought Victoria's 2006 road toll to 220, 23 fewer than at this time last year. And police are bracing for more casualties in September and October, statistically bad months for road trauma....

     The TAC's [Transport Accident Commission] new campaign will focus on drink drivers who use back roads to escape detection.

     Mr Ashby [Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) ] said police in unmarked cars, on motorcycles and officers on horseback would be used. "We know that people go to the back streets … we know that the word goes out if people know a booze bus is down the road," he said.

Full story, from The Age     [SMc]

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  September 18, 2006:  New Jersey Governor Unveils $74 Million Pedestrian Safety Initiative

     New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the creation of a five-year, $74 million initiative to improve pedestrian safety throughout New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will implement a three-pronged strategy to encourage motorists to safely share the road with pedestrians through engineering, education and enforcement...
     The initiative addresses pedestrian awareness, driver behavior and roadway conditions that amplify accident risk. The fund will be used for intersection and sidewalk safety improvement projects, traffic mitigation measures, education and enforcement efforts and planning and technical guidance. This initiative is funded from existing money in the Transportation Trust Fund...

Full article, from All American Patriots     [SW]

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  September 16, 2006:  Tesla Electric Car a Hit with Consumers

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  September 14, 2006: Watch Out For Walkers – Drivers Carry Bulk Of Responsibility For Safety Of Pedestrians

     Vehicles must stop at marked pedestrian crossings in order to allow pedestrians to completely cross the road. On multi-lane streets, drivers in the left lane must be especially watchful.
     Also, pedestrians need to use marked crosswalks when crossing rather than crossing in unmarked areas.
     The driver's responsibility is greater than that of the pedestrian, because a motor vehicle with its greater weight and speed is much more destructive.
      Pedestrians sometimes do thoughtless or foolish things, but most pedestrians who are killed or injured are usually people who are unfamiliar with automobiles or those who are not as alert as the average person.

Full story, from Leavenworth Lamp     [SSC]

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  September 14, 2006: India: Maharastha’s Highways Have Become Graveyards

     About 10,000 people die annually on Maharashtra’s highways. That’s a Latur earthquake every year in terms of the sheer number of deaths. And nobody seems to be shaken.
     For the last five years, Maharashtra has consistently ranked first, second or third among states in highway fatalities. Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh give it some competition, but other states fall far behind.
     Last year the state recorded 10,354 deaths and in the six months till June this year, 5,922 people have already lost their lives on its killer highways, according to data with the Maharashtra highway police and the Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways.

Full story, from DNA Mumbia    [SSC]

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  September 14, 2006: School Road Safety Given Positive Boost

     Auckland City demonstrated its dedication to improving road safety yesterday when the Transport and Urban Linkages Committee endorsed a number of fresh initiatives, particularly focused on safety at schools. The committee backed a new process for prioritising 40km/h speed zones for schools with highest risk of road-related crashes.

     A speed zone trial at St Josephs School in Onehunga started in May this year has already shown a significant reduction in motorists’ speeds during busy times before and after school.

     Based on the success of school travel plans in high priority schools, the committee supported extending travel plans to enable more schools to participate in the programme. School travel plans are part of Auckland City’s overarching strategy to create more travel choices and make it safer and fun for students to walk or cycle, or catch the train or bus to school.

Full story, from Scoop, Independent News    [SSC]

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  September 14, 2006: Repeat Drunken Driving Slowed

     Eleven months after Melanie's Law began targeting repeat drunk drivers, the statute appears to be having a dramatic impact, cutting in half the number of multiple repeat offenders arrested and increasing the number of people taking breathalyzer tests, based on statistics released yesterday by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

     Since the bill became law last October, the number of repeat drunk drivers arrested with four convictions or more has dropped in half compared with the previous year, going from 445 to 231, even as State Police say enforcement levels increased in the last year.

      Melanie's Law, signed by Governor Mitt Romney on Oct. 28, 2005, is named in honor of 13-year-old Melanie Powell , who was killed by a drunk driver in 2003.

 Full story, from Boston.com     [SSC]

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  September 14, 2006: Motorcycle Airbags Part Of Safety Trend

     As cyclist injuries and deaths increase, motorcycle makers are installing more safety features — making greater use of antilock brakes and adding air bags while stressing safe-rider education and use of helmets.

     Some people wonder how effective air bags will be, how much of a market exists, and how much they would save cycle owners on insurance.

     Honda Motor Co. added air bags in June to its fully loaded Gold Wing, an 860-pound touring bike designed for distance driving in comfort and made near this central Ohio city.

     Yamaha Motor Corp., with U.S. headquarters in Cypress, Calif., is developing an air bag system and is using a scooter with air bags for research in Japan, according to the company's Web site.

 Full story, from Yahoo! News     [SSC]

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  September 13, 2006: Road Safety An Issue for Castlegar Development

     A proposal to construct 43 social and affordable housing units at Bothar an Choiste, Castlegar, will remain on the Galway City Council's meeting agenda, following a detailed discussion on Monday night.
     The site of the proposed development is located to the north of and adjoining the Cluain Riocard estate. It is proposed to construct 22 social housing units, 15 affordable housing units, and six voluntary housing units.

     Councillor Michael Crowe, Fianna Fᩬ, said he could not support the scheme as it stood due to the condition of Bothar an Choiste road and the lack of road safety measures. He said there were accidents in the area daily. The other residential development in the area had to be accessed off the Western Distributor Road.

 Full story, from Galway Independent     [SSC]

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  September 13, 2006: Council’s Guide To Road Safety

     A new guide that contains road safety information for all road users is currently being being distibuted.

     Herefordshire Council, with the support of many local organisations and businesses, has launched a second edition of the Road Safety Guide for the county.

     The guide includes information relevant to drivers, passengers, horse riders and pedestrians, by explaining how to use the different types of pedestrian crossings - for example - and the benefits of encouraging children to walk or cycle to school.

 Full story, from Worcester News     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006: As Auto Safety Agency Turns 40, Challenges Remain

     Today is the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, which created the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to save lives on the highway. It was a definitive moment in American history, ending decades of dithering over conferences and studies while deaths on the highway rapidly increased. At that time, almost 50,000 people were killed annually in highway crashes and the death rate was more than 5.5 per million vehicle miles of travel.

     For years, the auto industry blamed this carnage on driver behavior (“the life you save may be your own”), even though it was aware that poor vehicle design was a prime culprit and far easier to remedy than any attempt to influence tens of millions of drivers. When a new federal regulatory agency was proposed by President Johnson, the industry argued that such regulation was a matter for state law. But when auto industry executives testified in Iowa that same year about possible state regulation, they asserted, with typical cross-town hypocrisy, that only the federal government could be the regulator of manufacturing and interstate commerce. 

Full story, from Common Dreams Newswire     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006: Teach Road Safety From An Early Age
     Children and teenagers are being urged not to play near busy roads after a young boy was killed in tragic road accident on a Peterborough Parkway.
     The seven-year-old boy was hit by a car as he ran across the Paston Parkway – a road where cars reach high speeds and drivers don't expect to see pedestrians.
     Today, casualty reduction officer with Peterborough police Mick McCready said: "What happened at the weekend was an absolute tragedy. It shows that roads are extremely dangerous.”
Full story, from Peterborough Today     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006:  Kids ‘Bear’ Safety In Mind
     Safety can be a difficult thing to bear in mind.
     That's why the teachers and PTA of the four Mt. Pleasant area elementary schools brought a bear to school to remind the younger children of the dangers out on the streets.
     The State Farm Insurance sponsored "Safety Bear," a full-sized and fuzzy teddy bear, appeared to the kindergarten-aged children at the four schools and taught the students there how to safely cross the street along with helpers.
     "I think it's important because there are so many kids that are crossing the street by themselves," said Chris Kempker, chairperson of the PTA's transportation and safety committee. "We need to tell them that sometimes cars can't see them and that it is their responsibility, as well, to make sure the car can see them.”
Full story, from MPM News.Net     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006:  Ford To Make Stability Control Standard
     Ford Motor Co. will make rollover-reducing technology a standard feature on all new vehicles by the end of 2009, the company said Tuesday in advance of new government rules on the safety technology.
     Ford said it was accelerating its plans to standardize the stability control systems, which have become more widely available on sport utility vehicles, vans and pickups as studies have found they can reduce vehicle rollovers and deaths.
     "We believe our electronic stability control systems are further improving vehicles safety by helping prevent many accidents from occurring in the first place," said Sue Cischke, Ford's vice president for environment and safety engineering.
Full story, from Yahoo! News     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006: Former NHTSA Chief Calls For New Side Impact Rules

     The AIADA newsletter reported that former National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief Jeffrey Runge is calling on the federal government to complete unfinished proposals to improve vehicle safety.

     In an interview with The Detroit News last week, Runge urged NHTSA to complete a long-delayed rule to improve vehicle roof strength, and to finalize side impact standards that could save 1,000 lives annually.

     Automakers have agreed to voluntarily install side air bags in all vehicles by Sept. 1, 2009. But NHTSA is considering a proposal that would require automakers to significantly upgrade their side protection systems.

 Full story, from The Auto Channel    [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006: Oregon Cracks Down On Tailgaters With New Technology

     Tailgating is a leading factor in highway crashes. But busting drivers for following too close has been hard.  As the governor’s point person on highway safety in Oregon, tailgaters are Steven Vitolo’s pet peeve.

     With Vitolo's help, law enforcement officers will use a new chip, inserted into the same type of laser gun that clocks people who speed, to nab tailgaters.
     "And essentially the technology allows law enforcement to take a reading off the front bumper of the first vehicle and a reading off the front bumper of the second vehicle.~ And it will tell law enforcement not only how many feet there are between vehicles, but also what the distance is from one vehicle to another in time," Vitolo explained.
     Making it harder for tailgaters to contest a ticket. Oregon is the first northwest state to use the technology.

 Full story, from Oregon Public Newsroom     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006: Motorcycle Crash Stats Jump Worries NTSB

     Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's near-fatal crash on a motorcycle this year reflected a troubling trend: More bikers are getting killed on the road.

     Roethlisberger's June 12 accident was one of three within two days that the National Transportation Safety Board looked into. The accidents, which killed seven people, were the first the safety board ever investigated.

     "This trend is very troubling," said NTSB member Debbie Hersman, who chaired a two-day forum on motorcycle safety that began Tuesday. "The number of fatalities is outpacing the increase in ridership."

Full story, from Yahoo! News     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006: Fiat Ireland Advances Safety With New Initiative

     Fiat Auto Ireland has introduced a road safety initiative by which it will pay for an advanced driving course for the buyer of every new Fiat car.
     The programme is undertaken with Irish Advanced Motorists (IAM) and consists of a modular course consisting of two half-day on-road training sessions followed by the IAM Test.
     Those who pass the test are recommended as members of the IAM and may be eligible for discounts of up to 30% on their insurance premium.
     The Fiat/IAM programme runs from September 1.

 Source, from Sligo Weekender     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006: Thanks To A Top Virginia Tech Researcher Pregnant Drivers, Football Players Safer

     Biomechanics innovations ranging from a computer model of a pregnant driver to a head injury monitoring system for the Hokie football team have earned Virginia Tech researcher Stefan Duma a place among the world's top young technology developers.
     Duma, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and founding director of the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics, was named by Technology Review to the 2006 "TR35" roster of the top 35 innovators under the age of 35.
    One of his unique contributions to the field of injury biomechanics is the world's first computer model of a pregnant driver. The inspiration for the model came in 2001 when was his wife, Christine, was pregnant with the couple's first child.
     "If a pregnant driver is in a car accident, there are a number of increased injury risks," Duma said. "The risk is primarily fetal mortality." A study by Duma's research group estimated that about 1,500 fetuses in the second and third trimesters are killed each year in automotive accidents.
     Using Christine as the human model, Duma developed a computer model simulating a uterus and fetus at the seven-and-a-half month stage. The model is being used by automakers to test new restraint designs for pregnant drivers and also can be used to study injuries to pregnant women and fetuses in cases of domestic violence and falls.

 Full story, from Medical News Today     [SSC]

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  September 12, 2006: Many Mothers Ignorant Of New Child Seat Laws 

     Just days before a new law governing car safety seats is to come into effect, a survey has shown that one in three mothers is unaware of the guidelines requiring all children under 12 to use the seats.

     From Monday, any youngster up to 12 or shorter than 4ft 5ins (135 centimetres) will have to use a child seat or booster, even if they have already spent several years in adult seats.

     Breaking the new law will lead to a £30 on-the-spot fine for the driver, or a maximum fine of £500 if convicted in court.

     The poll, commissioned for the Vauxhall Meriva car, also found that, of those mothers who had heard of the new regulations, nearly half did not fully understand them.

Full story, from Telegraph News     [SSC]

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  September 11, 2006:  India:  Eight Killed, 23 Injured in Punjab Road Accident

     Eight passengers were killed and 23 injured after a Punjab Roadways bus was hit by a truck on the Pathankot-Gurdaspur road on Monday. The condition of four of the injured was stated to be serious.

     The bus was on its way from Pathankot to Amritsar when it was hit near Jhakoladi village in the district by a truck coming from Gurdaspur at around 5.15 am, police said

     Seven persons died on the spot while a girl succumbed to her injuries on the way to hospital, they said. They said 23 people were injured and rushed to Pathankot civil hospital....

[Source: PunjabNewsline.com]     [SMc]

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  September 11, 2006:  GHANA:  8,907 Road Accidents Recorded in Western, Central Regions

     The Central and Western Regional Coordinator of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr. Thomas Bismark Boakye has disclosed that a total of 8,907 roads accidents were recorded in the two Regions between the period of January and June this year.

     Out of the total number, 833 victims lost their lives whilst 453 victims sustained various degrees of injuries.

     Mr. Boakye made the disclosure when he was presenting a paper on the topic "Strategies for Developing a Safe Motoring Culture in Ghana" at a day's public forum organised by the Western Regional branch of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) for motorists within the Sekondi-Takoradi and it environs over the weekend at Takoradi.

     The NRSC Coordinator noted that one major cause of accidents on the roads could be attributed to human error and as a result drivers were obliged to exercise restraint whenever they were behind the steering wheels.

 Full story, from All Africa     [SSC]

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  September 11, 2006:  Night Curfew for Young Drivers Could Slash Deaths

     IMPOSING night curfews on young drivers and limiting the number of passengers they can carry, could help to cut road deaths, experts in Cumbria claim.

     Cumbria Road Safety Partnership (CRSP) said inexperience is one of the main reasons for the high number of fatalities involving young people.

     Twenty-seven people aged between 16 and 25 have died on the county’s roads so far this year.

     The claims come as concern over deaths involving young drivers mounts....

Full story, from News & Star    [SMc]

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  September 11, 2006:  ADHD Raises Teens' Accident Risk

     Teenage drivers afflicted with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder face an even greater risk of car accidents, already the leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States, according to a new study at the University of Virginia Health System.

     Driving collisions account for 15 teenage deaths every day in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Coupled with the estimated 5 percent to 8 percent of American teens with ADHD, the danger increases, and experts at the university are stressing the importance of proper treatment for the condition.

     "Those with ADHD, who have inattentive or impulsive tendencies, can be between two and eight times more likely to be involved in a collision," said Daniel Cox, professor of psychiatric medicine at the University of Virginia and the lead researcher of the study recently published in the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal.

     Adolescent drivers with ADHD were also found to be four times more likely to be at fault in a collision and more than three times more likely to incur injuries as a result. Teen driving fatalities saw significant increases with the presence of teenager passengers and were most likely to happen in the evenings, on weekends and during the summer months....

Full story, from United Press International    [SMc]

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  September 11, 2006: MADD Objects To National Drunk Driving Slogan

     The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a new slogan that's supposed to discourage drivers from driving drunk.
     But groups across the country, including some Alaskans, say it conveys the wrong message.
     Mothers Against Drunk Driving President Pete Eagan is among those objecting to the slogan, "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." Eagan says the slogan suggests drinking and driving is OK, as long as you don't exceed the legal limit for blood-alcohol content.”

 Full story, from Web Center 11    [SSC]

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  September 11, 2006: US To Require Car Stability Control

     Federal officials this week are expected to propose requiring that all vehicles have stability-control systems to reduce the risk of rollovers and other crashes.

     More than 10,000 lives could be saved each year when the systems, which use brakes and engine power to keep a car from veering out of the driver's control, are on all vehicles, says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That would make it the most life-saving safety device since the seat belt.

     When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's proposed rule becomes final, it would likely be at least three years before stability control would be on all new vehicles. It is available on more than half of new vehicles sold but can cost up to $900 as a stand-alone option.

 Full story, from Detroit Free Press     [SSC]

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  September 11, 2006: TEXAS: More Drivers Get the Message: Buckling Up Saves Lives

     Drivers across Texas and here in El Paso are apparently getting the message: Buckling up saves lives.

     "I think it is time that everybody makes it a routine and part of their daily driving and daily habits," said Leslie Otis, of West El Paso.

     The Texas Department of Transportation reports that a record 90.44 percent of Texas drivers are buckling up - that's up from 89.9 percent from last year.

     The increase translates into an estimated 1,200 fewer fatalities and more than 28,000 injuries prevented in car crashes statewide during the past five years.

 Full story, from KFOXTV     [SSC]

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  September 11, 2006: New Strategy Puts The Brakes On Speeding

     Speeding drivers exceeding the legal limit by 30km/h are to have their driver's licences suspended when the 2006 National Road Safety Strategy kicks in. And new drivers are set to undergo an 18-month probation period before they are issued with their licences.
     The strategy is in compliance with the Addis Ababa Transport Summit decisions by African transport ministers. The Department of Transport has announced that several measures will be implemented under this strategy.
     Arrive Alive director Ntau Letebele said that they would also establish a Road Traffic Management Corporation to implement the strategy countrywide.

 Full story, from IOL     [SSC]

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  September 10, 2006:  Wash. Licensing Law Helps Lower Teen-Driving Collisions

     Collisions involving 16-year-old drivers have dropped 45 percent following a new state law that places passenger and driving-time restrictions on the youths.

     There were 967 accidents involving teenage drivers in the two and a half years following the July 1, 2001, law, according to statistics from the state Department of Transportation. By comparison, teenage driving collisions numbered 1,746 between Jan. 1, 2000, and June 30, 2001.

     "The research shows that the most dangerous time for 16-year-old licensed drivers is during the first six months," said Phil Salzberg, research director for the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission. "So, when they get their intermediate license, you want them to drive in less risky situations, i.e., not at night and not with a carload of teenage passengers."...

Full story, from Seattle Post Intelligencer     [SMc]

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  September 10, 2006: Do Your Kids Know Vince & Larry?

     Vince and Larry are crash test dummies. When they ride in cars without safety belts and do other silly things, the safety engineers can put them back together again. We can laugh at Vince and Larry because they're dummies.
     But getting injured while walking, bicycling or traveling in a vehicle is no laughing matter. That's why our friends at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created Vince and Larry's Safety City.
     Safety City is a fun website for children of all ages. Using kid-friendly graphics and interactive content, Safety City helps young people understand the dangers that are easily avoided when traveling to school or playing in the neighborhood.

 Full story, from LAFD     [SSC]

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  September 10, 2006: Children’s Safety Taking Back Seat To Convenience

     Despite recent laws designed to make child safety seats easier to use in cars and light trucks, a vast majority of parents still install them incorrectly.

     That's the conclusion of experts such as Sean McGrath, a Crystal Lake, Ill., police officer and certified child seat inspector and instructor, who says as many as 90 percent of child seats are improperly used.

     This chronic problem was supposed to be solved four years ago, when a universal mounting system for vehicles and child seats took effect. Called LATCH, for lower anchors and tethers for children, Richardson says its effects are limited by the number of seats available and vehicles they have to fit. For example, more than 100 child seats are on the market, and all don't work the same in every vehicle.

 Full story, from Boston.com     [SSC]

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  September 9, 2006:  13 Dead and 10 Injured in Southern Egypt Road Accident

     A four-vehicle collision in southern Egypt Saturday killed 13 Egyptians and injured 10 others, police said.

      A truck and a minibus crashed on a single-lane highway, a police official said speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press. Two additional speeding trucks then barreled into the first two vehicles.

      The accident occurred close to the southern city of Assuit.

      The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, the official added.

      Accidents occur frequently on Egyptian roads, which are often poorly maintained and where traffic regulations are not stringently applied.

[Source: International Herald Tribune]     [SMc]

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  September 8, 2006:  RoSPA Says Fleets Must be Ready for Manslaughter Law

     RoSPA is to brief fleet bosses on the new corporate manslaughter law, which will cover road deaths caused by an organisation's lack of care as well as fatalities in the workplace.

     The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, in conjunction with TRL, will stage the seminar Road Deaths and Corporate Manslaughter - Fleet Impact at Loughborough University, Leicestershire, on October 18.

     Charles Davis, RoSPA Head of Driver and Fleet Solutions, said: "Companies that pay scant regard to managing health and safety are on notice. The corporate manslaughter law will mean that, where safety failure has been particularly bad, corporations can be successfully prosecuted following work-related deaths due to their recklessness....

Full story, from Transport News Network     [SMc]

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  September 8, 2006:  Teen Videos Emphasize Driving Dangers in Hawaii

     Teens listen to teens. So when the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition wanted to create a message for them, they enlisted the help of students at Kahuku and Kaimuki high schools.

     The results are two 30-second public service announcements about dangers associated with automobiles, underscoring that motor vehicle crashes are among the top causes of death among teenagers.

     "Each time a teen driver adds a passenger to the car, their chance of getting into a car crash goes up 100 percent," said Su Yates, director of the Keiki Coalition. The problem is they get distracted, Yates said, adding that the statistic comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration....

[Source: Honolulu Advertiser]     [SMc]

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  September 8, 2006:  Nigeria: Natives Die in Nigeria’s Road Accident

     Nigeria lost twenty people to an accident in central Nigeria. The natives lost their lives when a bus rammed into a truck on a road in central Nigeria on Thursday. According to authorities in Nigeria, the accident was caused by over speeding.

     According to local media in Nigeria, the accident occurred on Nigeria’s Lokoja-Abuja road on Thursday morning. A one-year-old Nigerian child is no more after the accident.

     An official attached to Nigeria’s road safety division placed the blame of the accident on the bus driver who was driving at breakneck speed when he rammed into the truck.

     This is not the first time such accidents occur in Nigeria. Over the weekend, sixteen Nigerian natives joined the land of the dead after losing their lives to an accident in southwestern Nigeria.

[Source: SomaliNet]    [SMc]

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  September 7, 2006:  'Goat-Free Roads Made Me Speed'

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  September 7, 2006:  12 Die in Minibus Traffic Accident

     Twelve people died and five others were injured early yesterday after the minibus they were traveling in was hit by a larger bus close to the northeastern town of Barlad, in Vaslui County.

     Ten people died immediately and two others died later, including an eight-year-old boy who died at the Barlad regional hospital, the hospital's director Viorel Petcu said.

     The accident happened at about 4:40 a.m. on National Route 12A, at the exit from Barlad. The minibus, driven by a 25-year-old man from Bacau, reportedly did not give way to a bus which was traveling according to traffic regulations at the entry on European Road 581....

     Police has begun an investigation to establish the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary inquiries found several irregularities, including the fact that the minibus in which the victims were traveling was overcrowded.

     The minibus was designed with seats for eight passengers and the driver's seat. However, the seats had been removed to make room for more people and the passengers were sitting on the vehicle's floor, police said....

Full story, from Bucharest Daily News     [SMc]

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  September 7, 2006:  Campaign to Stop Young Driver Deaths Gets Green Flag Backing

     A campaign highlighting the dangers posed by young drivers and the risks they face in their first years of motoring is to receive the backing of motoring assistance service, Green Flag.

     The company confirmed its continued backing for the campaign for the sixth consecutive year. Road Safety Week, an annual event which runs between November 6-12, 2006, has become an important date in the diary for schools, businesses and community groups who run hundreds of road safety initiatives across the UK during the week.

     National road safety charity Brake, which co-ordinates Road Safety Week, is aiming to raise awareness about the horrifying number of road crashes that involve young drivers and their passengers, while offering essential, practical advice to young people about staying safe on roads....

Full story, from Response Source     [SMc]

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  September 7, 2006: Shoe Shock Used In Road Campaign

     The Department of Transport launched its Lost Souls campaign in Douglas with 54 shoes - representing each road death on the island since 2000.

     The government says it hopes the shocking image will encourage drivers to improve their skills and awareness.

     It wants people to sign up to refresher courses, or advanced driving lessons, to make the roads safer.

 Full story, from BBC News     [SSC]

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  September 7, 2006: Alaska Lawmakers Honored For Road-Safety Laws

     Four Alaska legislators were recognized with National Transportation Safety Board's State Safety Leadership awards for their efforts in creating safer Alaska roadways.

     Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage/Eagle River, Sen. Ralph Seekins, R-Fairbanks, Rep. Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, and Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch, R-Juneau, were recognized with the awards, an Aug. 28 press release from the Senate Majority said.

     According to the release, Bunde sponsored Alaska's new primary seat belt law that requires all drivers and passengers traveling on Alaska's highways to wear a seat belt. Seekins helped craft and secure passage of the seat belt law through the Legislature.

     The release said McGuire played a key role in the seat belt law as chair of the House Judiciary Committee, while Weyhrauch sponsored passage of legislation implementing a Graduated Drivers License Program.

 Full story, from Alaska Star     [SSC]

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  September 6, 2006: 505 Held In Arizona’s Weekly DUI Dragnet

     Police task forces across the state arrested 505 people suspected of drunken driving over the Labor Day weekend, according to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
     More than half of the weekend's arrests were made by the 13 Valley law-enforcement agencies that contributed officers to DUI task forces in the East Valley and West Valley.

     Officers statewide made 722 DUI arrests since task force efforts started Aug. 16.

 Full story, from AZ Central     [SSC]

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  September 6, 2006: NRSC Intensifies Education On Road Safety in Ghana

     The National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) has organised series of road safety campaigns within Kumasi metropolis and other districts in Ashanti Region to educate drivers and pedestrians on road safety measures.
     Lorry stations covered in the metropolis included New Tafo, Race course, Roman hill, Asafo, Kyirapatre, Old Tafo, Suame, Anloga, Ayigya and Ayigya Zongo.
     The districts were Sekyere East, Amansie East and Afigya- Sekyere. The campaign from July to August this year, centred on drivers and their mates, station masters and vehicle owners of the various transport unions at the lorry parks and on the road.
Full story, from Ghana Web    [SSC]

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  September 6, 2006: Oman: Muscat Road Safety Meet Moots Multi-Disciplinary Action Plan
     Casualties from road accidents are a public health concern and need to be given the highest priority in the national developmental agenda, senior government officials and heads of international organisations have said.
     A multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral national plan of action should be formulated soon to tackle the crisis on the road, they noted, adding that a ministerial conference on road safety should be held within two years with the specific aim of producing a road safety charter.
     The officials were speaking as part of the key recommendations they had passed following a high-profile conference on road safety, which concluded at the Traffic Safety Institute in Seeb yesterday.

Full story, from Times of Oman     [SSC]

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  September 6, 2006: NRSC in Ghana Intensifies Education On Road Safety

     The National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) has organised series of road safety campaigns within Kumasi metropolis and other districts in Ashanti Region to educate drivers and pedestrians on road safety measures.
     The campaign ran from July to August this year and centered on drivers and their passengers, station masters and vehicle owners of the various transport unions at the lorry parks and on the road.
     Mr Oware-Boateng said the programme would continue throughout the year and called on all stakeholders to continue to co-operate with the Committee to reduce carnage on the roads.

Full story, from Ghana Web    [SSC]

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  September 6, 2006: Ireland: Food For Thought (But Not While Driving)
     New research claims that eating while driving can be as potentially risky as using a hand held mobile phone at the wheel.

     At first glance, this seems odd. Granted, many drivers are at least aware of the problems associated with mobile phones while driving, even if they continue to ignore them. But surely a natural, everyday act such as eating an apple doesn’t need to be potentially risky – or does it?

     It is probably using the brain to do something else as well as driving that causes the difficulty: tipping the bottle, trying to see around it and not spilling the contents is a complex set of judgements adding to the driver’s workload.

     The Institute of Advanced Motorists advice is to avoid drinking or eating while you are driving as both are needless distractions. On a long journey, it is good to take a break after two hours and you can use that rest to have a drink. The Gardai also advises against distractions such as eating or drinking.

Full story, from Kilkenny Advisor    [SSC]

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  September 5, 2006: Malaysian Government To Improve Road Safety At ‘Black Spots’

     The government Tuesday assured that it would give serious attention to improving safety features at road stretches deemed "black spots" throughout the country to reduce accidents.
     Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said he understood that the Works Ministry was given a huge allocation to improve road safety features at these spots.
     "This is an engineering effort in addition to the educational and enforcement efforts by us to reduce road accidents," he said in the Dewan Rakyat here when replying to Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh (BN-Gopeng) on the total allocation for road safety and road safety campaigns.
     Chan said the increase in the number of vehicles of about one million a year posed a big challenge to the ministry in reducing road accidents in the country.

 Full story, from Bernama    [SSC]

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  September 5, 2006: Safety Still First Lesson

     Kids trotting or shuffling back to school today should watch over their shoulders to avoid being hit by both cars and thieves, police warn.

     Busier sidewalks and streets mean a greater potential for accidents when classes resume, Toronto Police Traffic Service acting Staff Sgt. Scott Collins said last night.

     Youngsters and teens distracted by headphones blaring music that drowns out surrounding noise are especially at risk of stepping off a curb into oncoming traffic.

     "Don't be running all over the place," Collins warned, after citing a list of suggestions for the force's Back to School Campaign, which begins today.

     He urged students to plan routes and avoid unfamiliar streets, "stay alert to your surroundings and try to be predictable by walking down sidewalks," use crosswalks and "whatever you do, don't cross in mid-block."
Full story, from The Toronto Sun    [SSC]

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  September 5, 2006: Uganda: Road Safety Campaign Launched
     HIMA Cement Ltd on Friday launched a road safety campaign aimed at reducing accidents.

     The Plant Manager, Mr Edward Simakoloyi, said the main objective of the campaign was to create more awareness about road safety among the company staff, truck drivers and other stakeholders.

     "We expect to achieve zero fatality accidents on our roads within the two years the project is going to run," he said.

     He called upon drivers and the entire public to support the campaign.

 Full story, from All Africa      [SSC]

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  September 5, 2006:  Safety Stickers Required On New Cars In 2007

     Stickers displaying crash ratings must be on vehicles in U.S. showrooms next year, a requirement that could prompt voluntary changes by automakers if they fail to meet consumer expectations, government officials and safety advocates said on Thursday.

     The safety displays must be on all vehicles, except pickups, no later than September 1, 2007, which will cover the 2008 model year. They must be prominently displayed and convey the government's five-star ratings that includes data on front and side crash protection and rollover risk.

     The government already requires window stickers for fuel economy, cost and vehicle features.

 Full story, from Yahoo! News    [SSC]

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  September 5, 2006:  Six People Killed in a Traffic Accident West of Sand Springs

     The names of four of the six people killed in a Sand Springs traffic accident Monday have been identified.

     The crash happened at around 10 PM Monday, west of Sand Springs on US Highway 412.

     The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a Buick heading east on 412 crossed the median and hit a Honda traveling in the opposite direction.

     Two people in the Buick were killed. All four passengers in the Honda also died. They are all from Enid, and are identified as 20 year old Isaac King, 18 year old Stephen Dillon, 19 year old Sarah Foster and 20 year old Aaron Davis.

     There was a third vehicle involved in the crash. That driver suffered a leg injury. He was treated and released from a Tulsa hospital. Another survivor is also in the hospital.

     The OHP is not saying whether alcohol was a factor in the accident and says the crash is still under investigation.

[Source: KOTV]     [SMc]

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  September 5, 2006:  Death Toll Rises to 11 in Azerbaijani Road Accident

     The death toll in the deadly road accident in Mugan settlement of Azerbaijani region of Hajigabul rose to 11. The region police colonel Elchin Gubadov told APA’s provincial bureau. Only four of the killed have been identified.

     The Prosecutor’s Office of Republic official Mammad Jabarrov and other officials left for Hajigabul.

A microbus marked Mercedes collided with a truck KamAZ on Hajigabul-Ganja main road killing the driver and eight passengers in the Mercedes on the site. The casualties are being identified now. The injured are Ujar resident Aliyev Asef, Yevlkah resident Aasgarov Nazim, Mikhiyev Khayyam, Ujar resident Mammadova Gulnar, Baku resident Rihi Nigar, Baku resident Ruhi Tamilla and three-year old child were taken to resuscitation in Ali Bayramli. Some of the injured were hospitalized in Hajigabul.

Assistant head physician Fatma Ismayilova told the APAthe injured in Hajigabul hospital are in stable condition. Two of the injured in Ali Bayramli hospital are in critical condition.

[Source: Azeri Press Agency]     [SMc]

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  September 5, 2006:  In Bahrain, an Accident Every 2.5 Minutes..!

     AN average of one traffic accident is reported every 2.5 minutes, according to statistics released by the General Directorate of Traffic yesterday.

     General director Shaikh Khalifa bin Hassan Al Khalifa said most happen during rush hours in the morning, afternoon and the evening.

     The directorate released figures showing that there were 35 fatal accidents for the first six months of this year, down from 42 during the same period last year.

     There were also 234 accidents resulting in serious injuries, down from 258, and 27,856 resulting in minor injuries or damages, up from 26,148 last year.

     There were 145,836 traffic offences during the first six months of this year, more than double the 68,519 recorded during the same period last year.

     Shaikh Khalifa said that the lower death toll was the result of increased patrols and the efforts of the ministry's traffic awareness directorate. "We constantly have traffic awareness campaigns and others (campaigns) on the ground to punish offenders."

[Source: Gulf Daily News]     [SMc]

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  September 5, 2006: Breakthrough on Road Safety in Ireland?
     A further 17 road deaths were reported during the month of August, a devastating experience for the families and friends of the victims but the figure raised hope that perhaps the country's drivers are becoming more responsible. The statistic meant that fewer people died on our roads than in any month since the start of the century.
     The official view on the August experience is that it is encouraging, but that it is too early to express confidently that we have turned the corner. It is hoped that the change is attributable to the recent introduction of random breath testing of drivers.

Full story, from Emigrant Online     [SSC]

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  September 3, 2006:  Live Fast ... Die Young

     According to Road Safety Scotland (RSS) director Michael McDonnell, the man behind a slew of hard-hitting Scottish Executive campaigns aimed at new drivers, education has mixed results in curbing the rush to the wheel. Tell young drivers that males between 17 and 20 are almost 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured while driving than their older counterparts and they might shrug. Explain that they are involved in 28% of serious crashes while making up only 10% of the driving population and they might even manage a yawn.

     “Generally speaking, young drivers have no concept of their own mortality,” he says. “Four hundred of the 2000 people who pass their test in Scotland every month will crash in their first year, but new drivers prefer to talk about the 1600 drivers who won’t. In the past we’ve tried asking young guys what would happen if they killed their girlfriends and they say they would eventually get another one. It’s a particularly difficult market to target because their ability to deflect messages is incredible.”

Full story, from Sunday Herald     [SSC]

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  September 3, 2006:  Road Accident Kills 29 in Central Iran

     Twenty-nine people were killed and eight injured on Sunday when a bus collided with a truck on a road in Isfahan province in central Iran, Iranian state television reported.

     The accident happened at around 4:40 am (0110 GMT) on the road between the city of Isfahan and the town of Naeen.

     Iranian roads are among the most dangerous in the world with at least 100,000 people, in a country of 69 million, killed in accidents over the past five years, AFP noted.

     Police say road accidents are expected to claim 31,000 lives in the current Iranian year, which ends next March 21.

[Source: IranMania]     [SMc]

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  September 3, 2006: Crosswalks No Guarantee of Safety For Pedestrians

     An average of four times a week, a pedestrian or bicyclist is hit by a vehicle in Sedgwick County. In all, 1,028 pedestrians and bicyclists were hit between 2001 and 2005, according to The Eagle's analysis of accident reports from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

     More than a quarter of the walkers and cyclists were hit in a place they should have been safe: crosswalks.

     Pedestrian fatalities nationwide rose more than 4 percent to 4,881 in 2005.

     The increase was enough for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to open an investigation. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in late August that it would give states $600 million to find ways to make pedestrians safer.

 Full story, from Wichita Eagle     [SSC]

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  and GLOBAL September 2, 2006: Increasing Helmet Use Promoted As An Effective Method Of Reducing Road Injuries And Deaths

     Each year about 1.2 million people die as a result of road traffic crashes, and millions more are injured or disabled. Most of the deaths are preventable. In many low-income and middle-income countries, users of two-wheelers - particularly motorcyclists - make up more than 50% of those injured or killed on the roads. Head injuries are the main cause of death and disability among motorcycle users, and the costs of head injuries are high because they frequently require specialized medical care or long-term rehabilitation.
     Wearing a helmet is the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle and bicycle crashes. Wearing a helmet has been shown to decrease the risk and severity of injuries among motorcyclists by about 70%, the likelihood of death by almost 40%, and to substantially reduce the costs of health care associated with such crashes.
     The World Health Organization (WHO) is intensifying efforts to support governments, particularly those in low-income and middle-income countries, to increase helmet use through a new publication, Helmets: a road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners.

 Full story, from Medical News Today    [SSC]

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  September 2, 2006: Malaysia:  New RTM Programme To Create Awareness Of Road Safety

     Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin Friday night launched a programme called "Kilometer per jam" (Km/j) or Kilometre per hour to be broadcast by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) to raise greater awareness of road safety in the public.
     The 30-minute programme will show how an accident occurs and the safety measures that can be taken to avert a recurrence. It will also interview experts in related fields such as the police, medical specialists, automotive and mechanical engineers as well as chemists.
     The programme will show a chronology of the events prior to an accident, such as the activities of the victims, and the accident at the actual location with visuals of the accident that had occurred. Zainuddin, when launching the programme live at Angkasapuri, said the series would complement the government's efforts to create greater awareness of road safety in the people. 

Full story, from Bernama     [SSC]

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  September 2, 2006:  Minister Considering Greater Police Powers to Deal with Young Drivers in New Zealand

     Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven says he is considering greater powers for police to deal with young people who drive dangerously.

     The comments come after two teenagers were sentenced to 21 months' jail for dangerous driving in a fatal crash in Dunedin.

     Police say they can only issue tickets to people caught driving in breach of licence conditions, and officers should be able to take their cars to stop them reoffending.

     The Minister says he supports moves in that direction to tackle dangerous driving. He says he is also considering calls for demerit points on a wider range of driving offences, and expects proposals to go to Cabinet in the next few months....

Full story, from Radio New Zealand     [SMc]

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  September 1, 2006:  In-Camera Study on Young Drivers Finds Risky Behavior Drops

     TIFFIN, Iowa Researchers at the University of Iowa are watching 25 young drivers in hopes of helping young people drive more safely.

     According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, preliminary results from a study of in-car cameras watching 25 drivers have reduced risky behavior -- including cell phone use, traffic violations and taking corners too fast -- by more than 76 percent.

     Since March, the 16- and 17-year-old drivers have driven more than 100-thousand miles with cameras near the rearview mirrors. One points in front of the car watching the traffic. The other watches what's going on inside the car.

     The study, which ends in September, is funded by American Family Insurance.

     Since this study focused on rural driving, an urban study will be done this fall in Minneapolis. That study will be funded by Departments of Transportation in Iowa and Minnesota and by General Motors.

[Source: WOI]     [SMc]

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  September 1, 2006:  California Strengthens Teen Driver Laws

     California has strengthened its laws for teenage drivers to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities on state roadways. The American Insurance Association (AIA) has commended Californians for the decision.

     According to AIA, California has one of the strongest graduated driver licensing laws in the nation. A new evaluation of that licensing program by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds a 23 percent overall reduction in per-capita crash involvement rate of 16-year old drivers....

Full story, from Insurance Journal     [SMc]

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  September 1, 2006:  Ireland:  Breath Testing ‘Has Reduced Road Deaths’

     THE introduction of random breath testing six weeks ago is a factor in last month being the safest on Irish roads for more than six years, Transport Minister Martin Cullen believes.

     A spokesperson for the minister said that although the families of 17 people killed in traffic accidents are grieving, it is encouraging that it is the lowest number of deaths for many years.

     Garda figures show that the figure of 17 road deaths last month is fewer than any month in at least six years. The statistics emerged last night as gardaí were being urged to crack down on motorists using mobile phones while driving, which became a penalty points offence at midnight.

     “The significant reduction in road deaths during August reflects the impact that mandatory breath testing, the extension of penalty points and improved driver behaviour are having,” Mr Cullen’s spokesperson said....

Full story, from Irish Examiner     [SMc]