It's that time of year again, which means that Road Safety Week is back, to provide us with reminders and motivation to stay safe on the roads. As you may remember from last year's blog post, 2015's theme focused on reducing the number of people using the roads, in an attempt to cut the number of driving-related fatalities.
This year, Brake (the charity who organise the RSW), are encouraging people to focus on six elements of their 2016 pledge:
Slow, Sober, Secure, Silent, Sharp & Sustainable
You can make and share this pledge online, whether you're a business, an organisation or an individual; it's even open to non-drivers. All you have to to, is follow the six rules set out on the Break website, in order to protect yourself, as well as the people around you. Here's a bit more about each rule:
Slow - For drivers this means staying under the speed limits, and slowing down in bad weather, as well as for brows and bends. It also means adjusting your speed to protect pedestrians, in areas with schools, shops and homes. For everyone, this means speaking out for reducing speed, and helping drivers to understand the dangers posed by excess speed.
Sober - For drivers, this means never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, while for everyone else, it means planning ahead to ensure that this never happens.
Secure - This means ensuring that everyone is belted up when driving, including small children, who should be in the correct restraint. Everyone else should to the same as a passenger themselves, and when accompanying family and friends.
Silent - This means never taking/making calls, or reading/typing whilst driving, and ensuring that you never chat on the phone to someone else who's driving.
Sharp - This means staying focused on safe driving, and taking regular breaks when needed. Drivers should also never drive when tired, stressed or when using medication that could impact their ability. Drivers should also wear any required glasses/contacts, and get their eyes tested every 2 years. We should all look out for friends and family whilst driving, and advise them if we don't think they're up to it.
Sustainable - This reiterates last year's point about aiming to drive less, or not at all, using cycles, public transport or walking as much as possible.
Need some additional motivation? Here are some of the facts that led to this year's theme choice:
- Breaking the speed limit or travelling too fast for the conditions contributes to one in four fatal crashes in Great Britain.
- In 2013, one in ten drivers killed in a crash had alcohol in their system, despite being under the legal limit, while one in seven road deaths are caused by a drink driver.
- Seatbelts reduce the chances of dying in a crash by 50%, while 21% of those who do die, were not wearing a seatbelt.
- When using a mobile or similar, you are three times more likely to crash.
- Poor vision cause and estimated 2,900 casualties, and cost £33 million per year.
- There are an estimated 29,000 pollution-related deaths in the UK every year, with 5,000 down to road transport.
The advice is simple: Stick to the legal guidelines, along with the advice given by safety signs, and take responsibility for your own actions whilst driving. If you're a non-driver, look out for those who are, and encourage them to follow these rules at all times.
