Road safety is an important issue for many drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike. The number of cycling accidents has increased by 55% in the past 10 years. The rising cost of oil is causing more people to switch to bicycles as their main mode of transport or simply as one of their preferred methods of commuting to work. This rising trend, however, can be at the expense of road safety. Road cycling is an increasingly popular sport, but with more people taking to their bikes, there has been a corresponding increase in accidents involving cyclists on roads.
Unfortunately, these numbers will rise even further as petrol prices continue to rise, making some commuters think that they are saving money by riding bikes rather than using motorized transport. However, drivers need to be aware that if they fail to look out for cyclists when turning corners or pulling out of junctions then they could cause an accident leading to serious injuries or death. Road safety needs motorists and cyclists alike to remain alert and vigilant on the road so that there are no unnecessary accidents that can result in either physical harm or damage of property.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident you should follow this link to find out if you’re entitled to compensation. The increase of drivers on the roads has also led to an increased number of road incidents involving motorists, scooters and other smaller vehicles due to both driver and vehicle inexperience. Drivers need to be aware that even though they may think they know the roads like the back of their hands there are still dangers lurking for them around every corner.
This is especially important for cyclists who share the roads with drivers. There have been several cases where cyclists have been killed or severely injured because drivers did not see them coming or failed to give way at junctions, resulting in collisions between cyclists and drivers’ vehicles which often lead to devastating consequences for all involved – the driver, the cyclist and anyone else crossing the road at that time.
Many drivers are also not aware of how to drive safely around cyclists because they are unsure of the highway code rules regarding cycling. It is essential for drivers to understand that they must give way to cyclists on roundabouts as well as junctions, just as they would for other motorized vehicles or cars.
Often drivers either fail to indicate when exiting a junction or do so after their maneuver causing them to accidentally cut off cyclists who have right of way under current legislation because all road users have equal rights no matter what mode of transport they are using. ‘Give Space – Be Safe’ is a campaign run by Road Safety GB which works towards making motorists more aware of cyclists on the roads and advising drivers of the dangers to cyclists and other road users should they not give space when driving or cycling.
The campaign also works with children and young people to ensure that they understand how to cycle safely on the roads as well as using other road safety initiatives such as cross-code football matches, education in schools and local communities aimed at increasing knowledge about road safety as well as helping younger generations become more aware of who has right of way on shared routes. The same concept is used by the MEP (multi-modal enforcement program) for those traveling by car, bike or pedestrian; all share equal rights, but this can be easily forgotten.
Road safety has always been a significant issue for the world. According to research conducted by the World Health Organization, around 1. 24 million people are killed in road accidents every year, making it the eighth leading cause of death worldwide. This is one person every 15 seconds! The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Road safety issues are not limited to high income countries – low and middle income countries account for more than 80% of road traffic fatalities globally.
Road safety has never been more important or relevant with roads transporting more people at higher speeds, over longer distances than ever before. When it comes to ensuring road safety, proper planning can go a long way towards minimizing risk on our roads. With all drivers having the potential to cause an accident if they are not responsible, it is important that drivers ensure their vehicle is roadworthy and that they have all of the correct documentation.
It goes without saying that speed limits should be adhered to at all times, seat belts need to be worn by both driver and passengers, whether inside or outside the car, headlights should always be used during the day time – especially in foggy conditions – and there are certain rules which must be followed when overtaking another vehicle. It also pays for drivers to familiarize themselves with the local roads before taking a journey so they are equipped with enough knowledge about what hazards may lie ahead.
It has been statistically shown that during the past five years, the number of fatalities and injuries associated with road accidents are steadily increasing. Fatalities due to road incidents have now reached a grand total of 181 (1999), significantly greater than its total, five years ago, in 1995, which was 105. Since 1995, road deaths have increased by an average of 14 people per year.
This type of carnage impedes the positive growth of our country and needs to be stopped. I think the most important factor that needs to be looked at in our goal to sustainable development is social responsibility. On the other hand, road accidents are mainly caused by drivers. The rate of fatalities that resulted from road incidents is increasing even though speed limits for some major highways in our country have been reduced to 80 kilometres per hour (km/h).
Thus, it’s evident that drivers need to be more responsible and abide by rules and regulations on the roads. I believe that there are some things we can do as citizens to help improve road safety. For example, the driving age needs to be increased to eighteen years old; this age was raised last year but it didn’t work because many young people took their driving lessons at night schools or private institutions where they did not learn properly.
Furthermore, drivers must attend awareness classes before receiving their licences to ensure that they know the road rules and regulations. We need to help drivers be aware of their responsibility on the roads for their own safety and that of other drivers, pedestrians and passengers. Once these considerations have been made people will hopefully be more aware when it comes to street crossings because many times I see people crossing without waiting for a break in traffic or zebra crossing.
In conclusion, road fatalities should decrease drastically so we can keep up with our positive growth as a country. To do this, drivers must take personal responsibility by abiding by speed limits and being responsible while driving so incidents such as these don’t happen again. As citizens we should not just sit back idly while all these deaths are taking place but rather get involved with organisations that are already working towards saving lives on our roads.