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The main purpose of this web page is to let drivers, legislators, road safety experts, police officers, parents of young drivers, etc., have an easily accessible insight into what is happening in their own countries and elsewhere, and thereby possibly do something to help save some of the many wasted lives on roads everywhere. Page edited by Eddie Wren
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Feedback and comments are particularly welcome concerning our news pages. Please do let us know if you find this global overview of road safety issues to be helpful to you or simply tell us what you like and what you don't like. Click here to contact us.
News that the increase in the annual Victorian road toll has been slight is no cause for celebration. Every road death is unnecessary. The road toll for 2004 was the second lowest on record, up slightly on the previous year. Victoria has the lowest road death rate in Australia on a per-capita basis. But the trends suggest there is no room for complacency. Double the number of cyclists were killed last year. There was a 20 per cent jump in pedestrian deaths and the number of women killed increased by almost one-third. The question remains whether initiatives already in place aimed at reducing the toll are sufficient or whether even harsher measures are justified. The Transport Accident Commission has clearly decided that there is still more to be done in terms of altering driver behaviour, especially among the young. The Victorian Government is actively considering a two-stage P-plate system similar to that used in other states. Under such arrangements, first-year drivers will have more restrictions placed upon them. Among the measures being considered are curfews and further limits on vehicle power.... There is much work yet to be done on improving roads and vehicle safety. Above all, it will almost always be about attitudes of those behind the wheel. Full story, from The Age ___________________________
SINGAPORE : The Traffic Police mounted a six-hour traffic blitz on New Year's Eve between 11pm and 5 am. From road blocks set up along five different roads in several parts of the island, 176 motorists were caught, [including] 139 for speeding and 11 motorists [who] were stopped for driving under the influence of alcohol. The Traffic Police says it has noted that more people have been injured or killed on the roads on the first three days of the New Year [holiday]. It has appealed to motorists to be patient and cautious while driving during this period. [Source: Channel News Asia] ___________________________
BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Vermont saw 97 people die in traffic accidents in 2004 -- that's the highest number since 1998.... The jump follows healthy declines in traffic fatalities, from 92 in 2001 to 78 in 2002 and 69 in 2003.
Newly released data shows nearly 6% of Vermont drivers are under license suspension for drunken or reckless driving. The Department of Motor Vehicles says 26,000 drivers are under criminal suspension, half of them for drunken driving. More than 6,000 Vermont drivers have at least three drunk driving convictions; 260 have at least five DWI convictions. Police say motorists need to know the danger from drunken drivers is even worse than the numbers indicate. "There's a lot of people out there that drive impaired for maybe even years without being caught," explains Vt. State Police Trooper Daniel Kerin. "We're just fortunate that maybe they made it home without getting into a crash, or hurting themselves or hurting someone else." The data shows about 10% of Vermont's 580,000 licensed drivers are currently under suspension, half of them are under civil suspension for ignoring tickets. [Source (for both Vt. articles): WCAX - Channel 3 News]
DSA Comments: Six percent of drivers suspended for drunken or reckless driving seems like a high number to us, and it would be interesting to know the proportions for all states, given that around 17,000 people are killed in alcohol-related road crashes each year in America, and 42,000 are killed overall. We certainly agree with Trooper Kerin and his colleagues about the level of risk in relation not only to the six percent but also to those who evade arrest. A common figure in America is that around one third of the fatal, alcohol-related crashes in the USA involve a repeat-offending drunk driver, so clearly the lethal risks from the first-time-caught is approximately double that from repeat-offenders. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
[over the lunacy of fitting video screens that a driver can watch while driving -- DSA] INGLEWOOD — Federal regulators fined West Coast Customs of Inglewood $16,000 as part of a crackdown on auto customization shops that remove safety gear from vehicles, it was reported today. The famed shop -- affiliated with the MTV car makeover show "Pimp My Ride" -- was fined yesterday for removing airbags to install video screens in steering wheels, according to the New York Times. Rae Tyson of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the fines are the first of what is expected to be a larger crackdown on car customizers who are disabling safety equipment. While the agency does not have jurisdiction over installing video monitors in trucks and cars after they are manufactured, it does have jurisdiction over tampering with safety gear such as air bags, according to the newspaper. "It's not only a bad idea to disable the air bag, it's against the law," Tyson said. "Air bags are there for a purpose, to protect you. If you have a DVD player there instead of an air bag, it's not going to protect you in a crash." An updated California law that took effect last January bans most video functions in the front seat, including DVD players, [but] with the exception of technology such as navigation systems. "We know that all kinds of distractions can be a problem. But it would be hard to think of something more distracting than watching a video while you're driving," said Anne McCartt, a vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "It's a really worrisome trend.".... Full story, from ABC7 ___________________________
Kentucky's death toll is creeping back toward a number that no one really wants — 1,000 deaths a year on the state's roadways. As of yesterday morning, there had been 954 highway fatalities this year, a number that will probably go up as delayed reports from some police departments come in. The death toll is up from 931 last year and is the highest level since the 1970s, when the number topped 1,000 some years, according to information from the Kentucky State Police. There are a number of factors in the rise in highway deaths, including more drivers on the road; bad behavior such as aggressive, out-of-control or impaired driving; speeding; failing to use safety belts; and driving while distracted by cell phones or other things, said state police Capt. Lisa Rudzinski, commander of the Governor's Highway Safety Program.... Full story, from the Lexington Herald-Leader ___________________________
The Arrive Alive campaign estimates that about 1,200 people have been killed on the country's roads since the start of the holiday season. The death toll is nearly the same as last year. In December 2003, almost 1,200 people were killed on the country's roads. The Department of Transport has so far refused to release any preliminary figures of festive season road fatalities.... Full story, from The Star ___________________________
While it’s well-known that drinking and driving don’t mix, new research sheds light on another reason drunk drivers are likely to be dangerous on the road. A particular type of depth perception, called motion parallax, is disrupted by ethanol intoxication. The full press release, from North Dakota State University, is available here. ___________________________
Also see the DSA web page on the subject of police vehicle conspicuity, here. ___________________________
Central Florida has shattered the record for the number of traffic fatalities in a single year, and with New Year's Eve looming, that number is expected to climb. Through Tuesday, 718 people have died this year on roads in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia counties, according to records released this week by the Florida Highway Patrol. The previous record was set in 2002, with 694 traffic deaths in the region. The number of fatalities is up 17 percent from 2003, when 615 perished on Central Florida roads. "These numbers are definitely alarming," said Maj. Ernesto Duarte, an FHP spokesman in Tallahassee.... Full story, from the Orlando Sentinel ___________________________
Nationally, between 1992 and 2000, fatal crashes at traffic signals increased 19 percent, outpacing the rise in all other fatal crashes. According to the Federal Highway Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, each year red-light running causes as many as 218,000 crashes that result in over 800 deaths and 180,000 injuries....
What exactly constitutes red-light running? According to Tallahassee CTW President Janys Barnidge: "If the car crosses the stop bar after the light is red, that car has run through a red light." On duty, she sees drivers in right-turn lanes who fail to stop on red before turning quickly; drivers who turn despite NO TURN ON RED signs... and drivers in left-turn lanes who "must figure that even though the light turns red, if they are following other cars in a line, there is nothing anyone can do but wait and let them go through the intersection...." Some cities use cameras to catch red-light runners in the act. Baltimore, for example, has red-light cameras at nearly 50 intersections and reports on its Web site that crash rates have fallen dramatically as a result. Tallahasseeans see the cameras perched over our intersections and wonder why we don't do the same.... [But] even if the law allowed it, those cameras at our intersections couldn't do the job. They don't store information. They're there only to help traffic engineers time the signals, reduce congestion and respond to traffic incidents. And there doesn't appear to be any interest in red-light cameras among local traffic engineers or police.... Full, worrying story, from the Tallahassee Democrat ___________________________
Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps was sentenced to 18 months' probation Wednesday after pleading guilty to drunk driving at Salisbury, Md. Judge Lloyd O. Whitehead granted Phelps probation before judgment, meaning his record will be expunged if he follows the terms of probation. Phelps pleaded guilty to driving while impaired, and prosecutors dropped charges of driving under the influence, underage drinking and failure to stop at a stop sign. "I recognize the seriousness of this mistake," Phelps told the judge. "I've learned from this mistake and will continue learning from this mistake for the rest of my life." The 19-year-old Phelps was fined $250, must attend a meeting sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and must give speeches to students at three schools by June 1, advising them about making choices and warning them about the dangers of alcohol.... Full story, from the LA Times (subscription needed) ___________________________
At the dawn of 2005, Uganda Police should be commended for rigorously enforcing the use of seatbelts on our roads. Seatbelts reduce the risk of death for a front seat car occupant by about 50 per cent and the percentage is higher for back seat occupants. But the image on Ugandan roads is still very gloomy. In the last 10 years the rate of accidents on roads have gone up by 96 per cent while deaths due to accidents have increased by 55 per cent. This year alone, every month between 120 and 150 deaths occurred countrywide and up to 5,010 people had serious injuries.... We can all save useful lives by making road safety our resolution for 2005. Full story, from The New Vision ___________________________
LAGOS -- A total of four persons have been killed and four others injured in a traffic accident in Nigeria's southern state of Enugu.... An eyewitness was quoted as saying the accident occurred on Tuesday when a BMW sedan collided with a Mercedes at Amaechi Junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. The eyewitness said the driver of the BMW, carrying a family of four and heading toward Enugu, capital of Enugu State, lost control and hit the Mercedes traveling from the opposite direction, killing the [Mercedes] driver and injuring three others. Three of the occupants of the BMW -- including the owner's wife, son and a house help -- died on the spot, while the driver was rushed unconscious to a nearby hospital. Nengite Olale, divisional police officer in charge of the local police station called Awkunanaw, described the incident as a result of overtaking and overspeeding.... Poor conditions of roads and vehicles, speeding, overloading and reckless driving are blamed to be the main causes of road accidents in the most populous African nation with a population of over 130 million. Official statistics show that Nigeria is one of the countries hardest hit by road accidents, with over 7,000 people killed and some 26,000 others injured annually. Full story, from Xinhuanet ___________________________
[But] Instead of the usual hefty fine, local motorists found to be committing minor offences in Krasnoyarsk over the holiday period can expect to receive nothing more than a leaflet on road safety.... Full story, from BBC News ___________________________
Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, those who are convicted of drinking and driving offences; impaired driving, operating a motor vehicle with over 80 milligrams of alcohol [equivalent to a BAC of 0.08 per cent -- DSA] or refusing a breathalyzer test, must take certain steps in order to get their driver’s licences reinstated after the period of suspension ends. When the period of suspension ends (which is a minimum of one year for a first offence and three years for a subsequent one), drivers can only drive if they have an interlock device installed in their vehicles.... The law regarding how to obtain a licence reinstatement is way too hard. It results, not in deterrence or added safety to the public but in having too many people simply ignore the law. And the steps that need to be taken are simply too expensive.... Full story, from the Canada Free Press
DSA Comments: Despite us being generally in favour of significant punishments for all varieties of dangerous driving -- of which drunk driving is an outstanding example -- Arthur Weinreb does make a very good point in this piece. One method of dealing with the problem he highlights is to apply the Norwegian approach of linking the level of fines to the guilty person's monthly income. (In Norway, it is that actual amount; the fine for drunk driving is precisely one month's income. Hence, in June 2004, it made international news that a highly paid Norwegian executive had been fined the equivalent of $71,000 U.S. -- one month's salary.) It is a solution that would not be without problems but at least it could be used to largely eliminate legitimate concerns such as those voiced by Mr. Weinreb. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
Saab is helping drivers stay focused on the road by developing a safety system that monitors eye and head movements, and sounds a warning buzzer if the driver's attention strays long enough to risk causing an accident. At 55mph a car travels 81 feet in just one second - so the consequences of attention lapses, no matter how innocent or brief, can be extremely serious. ___________________________
The California Highway Patrol reports there were 25 fatalities on the state's highways and freeways during the holiday weekend. Of those deaths, 13 were not wearing safety belts. From Friday at 6 p.m. until midnight on Sunday, the CHP made 653 arrests statewide for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 1999, the most recent year when Christmas fell on a weekend, 34 people died on California highways 715 were arrested for DUI.... Law enforcement agencies throughout the state are in the midst of a two-week campaign to nab DUI and speeding offenders. "Operation Holiday Wish List" is employing everything from "Drive Safely" messages on freeway signs to checking alcohol retailers for sales to minors as a means of reducing the number of traffic crashes and fatalities.... Full story, from News10 ___________________________
On New Year's Day, a new set of rules of the road will go into effect, changing everything from the way Californians light the road to the punishment they receive for driving under the influence, said a California Highway Patrol spokesman. Officer Mike Wright said that there are two important new laws for vehicle safety: one that requires a license to ride motorized scooters, and the other that requires headlights to be on whenever windshield wipers are in continuous use. "Too many people are not turning on their headlamps in adverse weather," said Wright. He said the new scooter-license law would affect the greatest number of people, as many children received scooters for Christmas. "Last year it was the helmet; this year it's the license," Wright noted of the safety laws that govern scooter driving. He said children not old enough to get the standard class C license will not be allowed to ride the scooters on roads, but they can use the vehicles on their own property. Wright praised a local lawmaker for authoring laws affecting convicted drunken drivers. Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, proposed a series of DUI laws after the deaths last year of two young children in Danville, allegedly killed by a driver previously convicted of DUI. Under the new legislation, a DUI conviction would stay on a driver's record for 10 years instead of seven, said Wright, and the courts, not the Department of Motor Vehicles, would have discretion over when these convicted offenders would get their licenses back. "Torlakson is big on DUI and we love him for it," said Wright.... Full story, from NBC11 ___________________________
Chandigarh traffic police, in a volte face, [will] now be seen exhibiting their educational skills instead of enforcing traffic rules and regulations upon the city residents in the coming year. The traffic police has decided to involve students from various schools and colleges in an interactive sessions to spread awareness regarding traffic rules. SP (Traffic) AS Dhillon said, ‘‘Our plans for 2005 revolves around imparting education and spreading awareness regarding traffic rules. The first phase of the plan would be implemented during the Road Safety Week.’’ Dhillon said, ‘‘We have succeeded as far as the enforcement part is concerned. But there has been a grouse that the police has not been emhasising on spreading awareness regarding traffic rules.’’ The first phase of the plan would include meetings with school principals. Sensitising the children about the traffic rules would top the priority list, Dhillon said adding that interactive games regarding traffic signs, rules are also under the anvil.... Full story, from Express India ___________________________
Bogota - Two buses packed with vacationers crashed head-on, on a highway in southeastern Colombia, killing at least 20 people and injuring some 30 others, police said. A spokesperson for Colombia's highway police said the accident occurred late on Monday on a main road linking Santander de Quilichao and Villarica, about 220km southeast of the capital, Bogota.... Police feared the death-toll could rise as more bodies are pulled from the wreckage. Road accidents are common in Colombia, and are often caused by poor roads and disregard for traffic rules. [Source: News 24] ___________________________
....since stricter traffic policing measures began on December 22, with 1,000 officers monitoring Attica roads until January 9, some 40 specialist drunk-driving units have conducted an average of 1,400 breathalyzer tests in Athens each day. About 40 drivers test positive daily, police said. No increase in accidents around the capital, which is common during the festive period, had not been noted, officers [said]. A senior traffic officer told Kathimerini that thanks mainly to the increased police presence, there had been few crashes and no fatalities on highways as Athenians left the city for the countryside in the days before Christmas. National roads linking Athens with Patras and Thessaloniki, as well as the highway from Thessaloniki to the Turkish border are being policed 24 hours a day over the holidays with 126 squad cars, 33 motorbikes and helicopters all monitoring traffic. Full story, from Kathimerini ___________________________
The comparatively low number of road casualties over the Christmas weekend this year was a boost to Greece’s traffic police, which saw its efforts at more systematic monitoring bear fruit. For their part, drivers seemed to be responding positively to the stricter measures, as only a few were caught driving under the influence of alcohol. The emergency measures will be kept in force until January 9 in the hope of averting the heavy casualties suffered in previous years.... The declining [casualty] figure was treated as a positive sign. Moreover, the combination of systematic controls and information campaigns targeting drivers inspires hope that the number of fatal road accidents will drop further. Comparing the number of accident deaths to war casualties is a cliche, but it nevertheless corresponds to a grim reality. Greece’s high death toll from road accidents is unacceptable by the standards of any developed country, and any government decision to increase funds for countermeasures is justified. Without a doubt, this year the traffic police were better organized. More police officers were out on the roads and their monitoring of dangerous areas in the road network was tighter. Notably, officers chose to be an overt presence rather than play the usual hide-and-seek game with the aim of punishing drivers for speed-limit violations, usually at points that are not treacherous. It remains to be seen whether these stricter controls will continue after the holidays and whether drivers will respond to the new measures by showing a more responsible attitude. A smart, long-term campaign is needed to act as a reminder of the hazards lurking in small violations. In addition, authorities must update traffic signs and regulations, and put stronger emphasis on prevention. Should such a combination be properly enforced, it will also help bolster drivers’ self-control; and there is no better recipe for reducing road deaths. Full story, from Kathimerini
DSA Comments: Wise words indeed from the staff at Kathimerini, and we are also heartened by the fact that Greek police officers not only chose to be conspicuous, but also that it has so swiftly been recognized as beneficial. It is a technique -- including highly conspicuous police vehicles -- that is used to good effect in many if not all of the safest countries. [DSA page on police vehicles and conspicuity, here.] Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
WASHINGTON -- The best public relations effort in the world apparently [can't save many victims] from drunken drivers. Now, federal investigators want to figure out why. They're examining why drunken driving persists in the face of aggressive anti-drunken driving campaigns. "It's really complex," said Marilyn Sabin, assistant director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. "It's really a tough question, and I wish I had the answer." Urged on by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and worried lawmakers, the Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General is beginning an ambitious nationwide study of drunken driving and efforts to curtail it. Investigators admit that, so far, they're perplexed. "Despite the combined efforts of federal and state safety officials, 2003 was the sixth consecutive year with no discernible progress in reducing alcohol-related crashes and fatalities," the Office of Inspector General noted in a memo announcing the study. Nationwide, 17,013 people died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes last year. This amounted to 40 percent of all traffic-related deaths, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The study will consider the "scope, direction, resources and expenditures" of existing state and federal anti-drunken driving programs. Investigators will compare drunken driving problems in states with different law enforcement policies, and count up all the federal resources currently being allocated. "We're encouraged by it," Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Washington-based Governors Highway Safety Association, said of the study. "We want to see what they have to say.".... Full story, from the Detroit News [The original Department of Transportation memorandum, dated December 14, may be viewed here.]
DSA Comments: We are not sure who created the above reference to America's current methods as being "the best public relations effort in the world" but we would go so far as to suggest that from the viewpoint of public perception the U.S. actually applies a rather low key public relations effort, rather than the "best" one. Our primary raison d'ętre, at Drive and Stay Alive, Inc., is to encourage all countries to look outside their own national boundaries in order to see what techniques are being used and what successes are being achieved in road safety issues elsewhere, so -- with no disrespect to anyone concerned -- we would urge the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General to do precisely that, on this occasion. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
Washington, DC (UPI) -- A U.S. traffic safety group says teenage drivers are often incapable of driving sport utility vehicles safely, the Washington Post reported Tuesday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 49 people aged 15 to 20 died in SUV and pickup truck accidents in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia last year. The group says SUVs have a higher center of gravity and are harder to control in an emergency, which makes inexperienced drivers more likely than others to end up as statistics. "Because there's a good likelihood that a teen driver could be involved in a crash, parents would be well advised to select a vehicle that has the best safety record," said Rae Tyson of the NHTSA. Recent safety improvements to SUVs, a federal study found, are less likely to protect teenage drivers, [who] often drive older-model SUVs.... Rollovers accounted for 3 percent of U.S. crashes in 2002 but nearly 33 percent of driving deaths, according to the traffic safety administration.... In January 2003, NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, a former emergency room physician, raised a furor among automakers when he told an industry gathering in Detroit that he wouldn't buy his child "a two-star rollover [rated] vehicle if it was the last one on earth." Runge, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment last week. [Sources: UPI and MSNBC]
DSA Comments: Well said, Dr. Runge. Nor would I! Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released a report that examines repeated experiences of cell phone use during simulated driving. According to the report, the harmful effects of conversing on the phone are very real initially, but may not be as severe with continued practice at the dual task, especially for young or middle-age drivers. Read the report abstract, plus DSA comments, here. ___________________________
Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya has praised a dramatic rise in seat belt use during an awareness raising visit to Costa Rica. The Colombian racing star was in Costa Rica at the invitation of the Automobile Club of Costa Rica to help raise awareness about the importance of always wearing a seat belt. At a press conference in San José attended by Montoya and the Transport Minister of Costa Rica, Randal Quiros, the results of the second national seat belt wearing survey were announced. The survey, conducted in August 2004, was organised to evaluate the effects of a combination of compulsory seat belt legislation, police enforcement and a nationwide awareness campaign backed by the FIA Foundation. The survey results show a sharp increase in seat belt wearing rates from the first survey held in July 2003, prior to the start of the campaign. Full story, from the FIA Foundation ___________________________
ROME -- Twenty-nine lethal accidents and thirty-three victims. These are the figures of road accidents in Italy during the long Christmas Holidays (December 24, 25 and 26) which were reported by Traffic Police and Carabinieri. Accidents are on the rise (last week end, lethal accidents amounted to 24 with 24 victims) and this is partly due to the bad weather which is sweeping through our country and is held responsible for 16 accidents and 20 deaths. It is difficult to make a complete comparison with the same week ends in previous years because this week end, this year, coincided with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing day, while in the past these holidays were not included in the week end at issue.... [Source: AGI] ___________________________
Marcelline Burns has never been pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving. But if she ever is stopped, she'll know the drill. The California woman helped develop the standardized field sobriety tests that police officers use to determine whether drunken-driving suspects have had one too many. It's unlikely that Burns herself will ever have to be put through the tests. She refuses to drive after even one drink. Years of research have taught her that just because someone's blood-alcohol content is below the 0.08 legal limit, that doesn't mean it's safe to get behind the wheel. "You're not OK at 0.05. You're not OK at 0.06,'' said Burns, who lives in Oxnard, Calif., about an hour north of Los Angeles. "Alcohol is a depressant. It slows your brain. It begins to do that as soon as it gets to your brain. "I'm not suggesting that every time somebody has a beer, they're going to go out and get in a crash. But if there were an emergency situation, that one beer could be the difference between a crash and not crashing.'' Burns, a research psychologist who co-founded the Southern California Research Institute in Los Angeles and worked there for 30 years until her retirement in 2003, was honored recently in Washington as one of 12 "unsung heroes" in the war against drunken driving. The National Commission Against Drunk Driving presented Burns with its humanitarian award for her research on the impairing effects that alcohol and other drugs have on human performance and behavior.... Full story, from Knox Studio, at Scripps ___________________________
[The following is an interesting excerpt from the Mercury News, showing the approximate price an errant driver can expect to pay if caught drinking and driving -- DSA]
Toss in an average of 14 missed work days, and the total averages to more than $8,000 in fines and lost wages. Full Q&A page, from the San Jose Mercury News, CA. ___________________________
Detroit — Many car shoppers count cup-holders, check legroom and carefully consider color. Top auto experts, however, say there are two important must-have safety features on their own shopping lists: side air bags specifically designed to protect a person's head, and electronic stability control, which helps drivers regain control of a swerving vehicle by automatically applying brake pressure. Recent studies have suggested that these two features are the most effective of a wide range of new safety technologies available on cars and trucks. “I wouldn't buy a car without either of them,” said Susan Ferguson, the senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a leading safety research group supported by the insurance industry.... The two safety features are standard on a number of expensive vehicles but are offered only as options on some other vehicles. As options, they each cost several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending upon how they are packaged or arranged in the systems.... Full story, from The Day ___________________________
NEW ZEALAND: ....Six-year-old South Auckland twins Amanda and Cindy Su and their five-year-old sister Sarah died on Christmas Day after their family van crashed over a five-metre bank on State Highway 3 about 2km south of the Awakino Tunnel in North Taranaki. The Nissan Serena van landed upside-down in the swollen Awakino River but four other members of the Pukekohe family -- the girls' mother, 11 and 13-year-old sisters and another relative -- managed to free themselves and reach the riverbank.... From 'Death of elderly man takes Christmas road toll to five', in the New Zealand Herald; December 27, 2004. ___________________________
HARARE -- At least 37 people have been killed and 63 others injured in 97 separate road accidents in Zimbabwe inthe Christmas week from Monday to Sunday, police said. The death toll in the past week was less than the number recorded during the same period last year, when 42 people were killed. During the same period police also issued 3,621 tickets, but only a few people were arrested for drunken driving. Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka attributed [the deaths] to negligence, speeding, misjudgment and inattention.... [Commenting on the reduction in deaths, the superintendent said] "We also attribute this to the sensitization program that the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Council conducted through awareness campaigns which played a pivotal role in minimizing carnage as compared to last year." Full story, from Xinhuanet ___________________________
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The amount of alcohol it takes to prompt a drunken-driving charge on military bases in South Korea could be halved, according to a policy change U.S. Forces Korea is considering. The change — if endorsed by USFK Commander Gen. Leon LaPorte — would be stricter than drunken-driving standards in the States. The standard instead would mirror Korean law, according to the provost marshal’s office. “It’s very restrictive,” said Lt. Col. Chad McRee, USFK’s chief of operations for the Joint Provost Marshal, during an interview in his office last week. “And that’s a good thing.” Currently, a blood-alcohol count of .10 percent — one part alcohol for every 1,000 parts of blood — is the threshold for drunken driving on U.S. military bases in South Korea. The proposal would change that to .053 percent, McRee said.... The drunken driving standard under discussion would fall well below U.S.-based thresholds. Measures to strengthen drunken driving standards are gaining ground in the States. To avoid losing federal highway money, all 50 states have passed a blood-alcohol threshold of .08 percent, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, lower than some states’ previously allowed levels. In South Korea, McRee said the proposal is part of efforts to ensure safety and readiness for service members. Full story, from Stars and Stripes ___________________________
According to the Korea Insurance Development Institute on Sunday, out of 725,796 car accidents on which insurance claims were made during the 2003 fiscal year -- from April 1, 2003 until March 31, 2004 -- 24,036 accidents (3.3 percent) resulted from drunk driving.... The percentage of accidents involving serious offences such as hit and runs and driving without a license was highest in North Gyeongsang province with 21.1 percent, followed by Jeju and Gangwon provinces with 20.9 and 20.2 percent, respectively. Full story, from Chosun ___________________________
MIAMI - The fleet of roadside helpers on Florida's Turnpike known as the Road Rangers has picked up a corporate sponsor and a new name. For $850,000 over two years, State Farm Insurance is now sponsoring the group of trucks that provide free assistance to motorists. On Monday, the 14-truck team - expanded from seven vehicles - showed off their new red-and-white paint job and new name, the State Farm Safety Patrol. State Farm spokesman Chris Neal said the trucks help prevent secondary accidents, and that translates into fewer claims. Secondary accidents occur when motorists are distracted or backed up by a previous accident. "If we can just prevent even a few accidents, a few claims that we normally would've had, it will easily pay for itself,'' Neal said. The money from State Farm will allow for more toll collections to go toward widening and improving roads, said Chad Huff, public information manager for the turnpike. Drivers take first-aid training and can help with flat tires, directing traffic away from disabled vehicles, offering gas to drivers who have run out, recharging batteries and making basic repairs.
DSA Comments: At least a sensible name has been chosen for these people, unlike in Britain where their counterparts are unwisely and misleadingly known as traffic officers. ___________________________
A total of 298 motorists were caught for various traffic offences in a six-hour Christmas Day blitz on Saturday evening. Among them, 215 motorists were caught for speeding, 21 for drink driving, three for driving without a valid driving licence, and 35 for making illegal modifications to their vehicles.... Traffic Police said there was a need to raise road safety awareness, especially during the festive season. It said fatal accidents due to speed-related factors fell by seven cases to 44 cases for the first nine months of this year, compared to the same period last year.... Full story, from Channel News Asia ___________________________
QUEENSLAND'S worst drivers of the year have been exposed by police desperate to stop holiday road carnage. The state's most brazen speeding motorist was clocked at a shocking 226km/h (141mph) in a 100km/h (62mph) zone... Almost 1800 drivers were caught speeding on Friday, alone. The drunkest driver was eight times the legal limit. [The Queensland limit is 0.05% BAC -- DSA] Another driver was caught using a mobile phone and a laptop. Police are disgusted with the irresponsible driving. "It is just criminal," said state traffic support section Superintendent Ian McIntosh. State Police Minister Paul Lucas urged motorists to drive carefully to avoid a repeat of last year's holiday-period carnage of 42 deaths – the worst in seven years.... It's not just drink-driving and speeding that are angering police. More than 12,000 motorists across the state have been fined a total of more than $2.7 million this year for using mobile phones while driving.... One man tried to hide his phone in a takeaway food bag that he threw out of the car. He denied having the phone when pulled up by police at South Brisbane and told them they could search his car. [But] when the takeaway bag started ringing, police found the phone, answered it and the caller asked for the man who had denied it was his phone. Supt McIntosh said many mobile phone-users were dobbed in by other motorists. "It's becoming socially unacceptable to drive around and talk on the phone," he said. Even without a mobile phone, some drivers still manage to astound police with their irresponsibility. One man was caught using an electric shaver while driving a courier van. There were also many instances of motorists using both hands to eat while steering with their knees, and others applying makeup and brushing their hair. Last year's 42 holiday road deaths included 13 in crashes where alcohol was a factor. Another 637 people were taken to hospital. Full story, from News.com
DSA Comments: Road safety practitioners and politicians alike are often guilty of focusing too exclusively on the number of people killed, and yet we should all take serious note that -- in this report, for example -- for every person so tragically killed a further 15 ended up in hospital. And that figure is equally disturbing. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
Victoria's road toll last night stood at 341 for the year so far, or 14 more than at the same time last year. A motorcyclist in St Albans West, a pedestrian in Bendigo, and a driver in Essendon all died in accidents [on Christmas Day]. They were the fifth, sixth and seventh deaths on Victoria's roads since the annual national holiday statistical period began last Thursday morning [December 23]. Full story, from The Age ___________________________
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Most Missourians, it seems, are still in the dark about the state's new law requiring them to turn on their headlights when using their windshield wipers. The law took effect Aug. 28, but the penalty for failure to comply - a $10 fine - didn't kick in until Dec. 1. As of Friday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol hadn't written any tickets. Police in the state's largest cities -- including St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield - and in the state capital of Jefferson City have not been enforcing the law. "I don't think we're going to see a lot of them written," said Capt. Chris Ricks, a patrol spokesman. "It's more of an informative thing for us, a way to tell people that if you have your wipers on, you need to have your headlights on, too." Some authorities didn't even know about the law - like Kansas City Police Capt. Jim Pruetting, commander of the department's traffic enforcement unit. Pruetting, a member of the state's Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Advisory Council, told The Kansas City Star the topic never came up during monthly safety meetings in Jefferson City. The bill passed after six years of work by its sponsor, Sen. Jon Dolan, R-Lake St. Louis. "If it's bad enough to have your wipers on, you ought to have your headlights on, too," said Dolan's aide, Trent Watson. "Most people do it anyway, but if we can get [more] and save lives, then that's good." One drawback is that unless cities pass ordinances to conform with the new state law, violations must be prosecuted at the state level. "I think the safety community is, by and large, favorably disposed toward this," said Mike Right, vice president for public affairs with AAA Missouri. "But it needs some better publicity, no question about it." But at least one motorists' group calls the law intrusive and unproven. "We don't think we need to formalize this in statute and set up yet one more reason to pull people over and hand them tickets," said James Baxter, president of the Waunakee, Wis.-based National Motorists Association. "We don't believe there has been any serious evidence that this kind of law has any impact on highway safety."... Full story, from AP, via Kansas City.com
DSA Comments: Our congratulations to Sen. Dolan for his persistence in bringing about this important law. We also hope that judging by the police comments, above, the internal communications between Missouri law enforcement agencies improves to the point where all of them are immediately aware of new legislation. And finally, we reserve utter disdain for the comments of James Baxter and the NMA. Such typically soapbox melodramatics from the NMA underlines the fact that they have little if any knowledge of even road safety basics. Perhaps they should look to Scandinavian countries that have had laws since the 1970's making the use of headlights compulsory at all times, and compare their crash and casualty rates to those in the USA, and then pontificate about the efficacy of such legislation. [State and multi-national fatality-rate tables here.] While they are at it, the NMA might also wish to compare the legal BAC levels in the aforesaid countries, and the stringency of enforcement for such. The NMA were, after all, an organization that disputed the reduction of the BAC limit to 0.08% in the relevant U.S. states, as recently as this year, despite the fact that those American states that still had a 0.10% limit in early 2004 had either the equal highest or -- at best -- the second highest BAC limit among over eighty countries in the world. [Multi-national BAC tables here.] Obviously the NMA has every right to exist and do its thing but whenever it pretends to be furthering the cause of road safety we have inevitably found its proclamations to be biased, baseless, and on occasion downright dangerous. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Prosecutors in Jefferson County getting better results in drunken-driving cases by posting a third straight year of winning convictions in 85 percent of the DUI cases. The improvements have come after the county attorney's office was criticized in the past for being lax on seeking drunken-driving convictions. As recently as early 2001, the DUI conviction rate dipped below 40 percent in some months as prosecutors juggled such cases with other responsibilities. With prosecutors unable to do their own research and no support staff to ensure that police officers showed up for court, the office saw a high number of dismissals and charges amended to such lesser offenses. The DUI conviction rate was 70 percent in 1999, 67 percent in 2000 and 64 percent in 2001. "People were getting off scot-free," said Sara McKinney, a member of Louisville's Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter. She said her group lobbied for changes, arguing that human life was "being lost because of inattention to a problem." Jefferson County Attorney Irv Maze brought changes in September 2001 by creating a DUI team within the office. The team, which includes five prosecutors, focuses exclusively on DUI cases. They've improved communication and established new procedures to ensure that officers and Breathalyzer experts show up in court. The office also hired a victims' advocate to act as a liaison between DUI victims and prosecutors.... Full story, from AP, via Kentucky.com
DSA Comments: Our congratulations to Mr. Maze for effecting such a radical and beneficial change, and also to the Louisville chapter of MADD for being a major catalyst in such. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
A speeding bus packed with passengers plunged into a deep ravine in eastern Pakistan early today, killing at least 18 people and injuring 39, police and hospital sources said. The accident occurred near Jehlum, a small city about 60 miles south-east of Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, said Umar Irk, city police chief. Pakistan’s private Geo television reported that the driver lost control of the bus as it went around a sharp corner on the main highway. Full story, from IOL ___________________________
BANGKOK – Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today warned motorists not to drive while they are drunk, or when they are in drowsiness during the upcoming New Year holidays. Speaking during his weekly radio address this morning, Mr. Thaksin said motorcyclists should also wear helmets, while car passengers should fasten safety belts during travelling as most people would go out for recreation or visit their relatives during the New Year festival. He also urged policemen to take extraordinary alert on supervising traffic on major roads or highways despite the installation of innovative cameras to catch on motorists driving over the speed limit.... Full story, from MCOT ___________________________
Vehicular accidents have taken 1,169 lives in the past six years and the death toll is rising, according to statistics from the Police Mobile Unit.... And such is the nation's driving culture that no amount of new laws, increased police patrols or more and wider roads will stop the carnage. "Better driving skills and responsible driving behaviour would make an enormous difference in reducing the number of road casualties," Nazamul Hosein, Assistant Police Commissioner Mobile, said in an interview last week. "The emphasis should be and must be on how safely we use the existing roads." Just "two seconds of madness" is what it takes for death to occur.... Full, lengthy story, from the Trinidad & Tobago Express ___________________________
DHAKA: Two separate road accidents killed at least 25 people and injured 15 others, mostly day labourers, in northern Bangladesh, police said Friday. A speeding truck packed with hitchhikers and bags of cement crashed into a roadside canal as the driver lost control due to dense fog in the early hours on Friday in Tangail district, 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of capital Dhaka, police said. All of the 22 day-labourers riding on the back of the truck were killed while five others including the driver were hospitalized. Poor villagers and day laborers often hitch cheap rides on trucks in Bangladesh, an impoverished nation of 140 million.... Nearly 4,000 people are killed every year in road accidents in this South Asian nation. The accidents are blamed mostly on badly maintained roads, faulty vehicles, inexperienced drivers and disregard for traffic rules. Full story, from The Star ___________________________
The Selebi-Phikwe road safety awareness campaign is in full swing ahead of the festive season. The district road safety committee's educational campaign, which started on December 21 and ends on January 4 is meant to reduce carnage on the roads.... The campaign, which has now become traditional for every holiday, [is being] held under the theme "Road Safety is no accident". It also involves other stakeholders like Botswana Telecommunications Corporation, Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA), Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) and MedRescue. The officer in charge of the Department of Road Transport and Safety in Selebi-Phikwe, Justice Tshupelo, said drivers would be supplied with road safety pamphlets at an information centre in Serule. It will also serve as a refreshing place where drivers would be stopped and given water.... Meanwhile, Traffic Commanding officer, Superintendent Bonolo Ookame appealed to motorists to seriously consider road safety tips. Full story, from Botswana Daily News ___________________________
Public Citizen submitted comments in mid-October to a proposed rule issued by NHTSA that would update the agency's side impact crash standard. Overall, the proposed rule would require critical improvements in side impact protection.... ___________________________
Public Citizen submitted comments in mid-October regarding the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's proposed rulemaking addressing TPMS. NHTSA's issuance of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) rather than a final rule, however, is only one more example [of] agency delay on this critical issue.... ___________________________
Traffic chaos on [a road linking two of] the UK’s busiest motorways eased today after hundreds of cars and lorries had been left stuck for up to 24 hours. An accident, involving an HGV [i.e. a heavy truck] and two other lorries [large trucks] on the A74 between Carlisle and Gretna, at 4am yesterday, brought the road to a halt. A spokeswoman for Cumbria Police said... “We have opened one lane of the southbound by using rolling roadblocks to let traffic through 30 minutes at a time while we continue cleaning up the area.”... The fatal crash... claimed the lives of the driver and a passenger in one of the vehicles.
It is believed the lorry travelling south overturned in high winds and
crossed the carriageway, colliding with two other vehicles. Cumbria Police earlier said the recovery operation was restricted because the A74 only has two lanes and no hard shoulder, so gaining access is difficult.... [Source: 'Traffic Chaos Eases at Motorway Crash Scene', from The Scotsman] ___________________________
Rome, Italy -- 1600 road police patrols... will watch over Italy's Christmas holidays. On the occasion of the usual increase in traffic on the roads... the road police forces have organised the maximum possible increase in surveillance so as to guarantee... quick responses in emergencies. There will be an average of 1600 patrols per day on the roads, to prevent accidents and the most dangerous traffic violations. The traffic police have planned the vast scale use of special machinery to check speed limits and fight drink driving (more than 800 hectolitres). There will be intensified checks on driving and rest times for professional drivers, as well as the observance of the ban on the circulation of commercial vehicles. The traffic police will concentrate particularly on the use of mobile phones without earpiece or microphone, a cause of dangerous distraction whilst driving, as well as the use of seat belts and helmets for people on two wheels. In around 150 motorway service areas - those mainly used by car drivers - there will be a police presence via traffic police mobile offices, to prevent criminal episodes and to help drivers in their journey, also with personnel in mufti [i.e. plain clothes] with the job of observing people and vehicles. Thanks to the coordination between State Police Air Unit and Traffic Police there will be at a regional level, plans for helicopter and aircraft surveillance at the most important spots to follow the flow of traffic, supply real time information about congestion and allow the immediate use of ground services for a quick restoration of circulation. [Source: Agenzia Giornalistica Italiano -- AGI] ___________________________
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SYDNEY -- With the NSW road toll tracking to be the lowest in three years, NRMA Motoring & Services in urging all families to avoid the four major killers on our roads – speed, alcohol, fatigue and not wearing a seat belt. NRMA Motoring & Services Acting CEO, Mr Peter Steele, said although 514 deaths on our roads so far this year is still too high, it is an improvement on the last three years and motorists can do their part to finish the year tragedy-free.... “One-in-three fatal crashes in NSW involve speeding. One-in-five either drink driving, fatigue or not wearing a seat belt. That is why we want all motorists to avoid the four major killers on our roads this Christmas. Mr Steele said that Christmas is a wonderful time of year for most families and nothing could be worse than ruining the festive season with the heartbreak caused by a road crash that could have been avoided.... [Source: NRMA] ___________________________
As thousands of city dwellers are due to start setting off for holiday destinations in the countryside, the government yesterday announced an increased police presence along national highways in a bid to boost road safety over the festive period. Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis said there will be 24-hour policing of the national roads linking Athens with Patras and Thessaloniki, as well as the highway from Thessaloniki to the Turkish border. Some 19 traffic police departments will be involved in the operation, which will be mainly focused on accident black spots such as the Maliakos Gulf stretch of the Athens-Thessaloniki highway, where seven teenage students were killed in a school bus crash on September 27. The traffic police will provide 126 squad cars and 33 motorbikes, and helicopters will also be used. The scheme comes into effect today and will be in place until January 9. Meanwhile, trucks are to be banned from national highways on Fridays, Sundays and public holidays according to measures announced by Transport Minister Michalis Liapis yesterday. During the winter, vehicles weighing above 1.5 tons will not be allowed onto highways from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Fridays and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. The scheme will be extended by one hour on each day during the summer and will be applied on the eve of public holidays as well. [Source: Kathimerini] ___________________________
As the new year edges nearer, the Iowa Department of Transportation reports that traffic fatalities in Iowa remain on pace to be the lowest in nearly 60 years. The last time annual motor vehicle fatal crash rates in Iowa were less than 400 was in 1945, with 366 that year. Following World War II, crash rates began to rise sharply, reaching a peak of 912 fatalities in 1970. After several decades of traffic safety improvements, new safety legislation, targeted safety enforcement and improved emergency medical services, Iowa is on target to possibly fall below the 400 mark again. "The numbers are very encouraging at this point," said IDOT Director Mark Wandro in a statement. "There are several variables that can influence the final numbers, including winter weather, so we will be watching the data very closely." Through Dec. 20, there have been 358 fatalities reported by either official agencies or the media. This compares to 432 fatalities reported for the same period last year or 74 fewer deaths. The five-year average fatality rate for the month of December is 39.... But even as fatality rates have decreased, new risk factors still confront Iowa drivers. The IDOT recognizes the following as some of the challenges still facing the safety of Iowa's roadway system: -- Rapidly growing traffic volumes, particularly heavy truck volumes; -- Increased truck sizes; -- Increased congestion on high-speed rural roadways; -- The changes in roadway use - urban/rural and residential/commercial; -- The many different mixes of vehicle types; -- Higher centers of gravity for vans, pick-ups, and sport utility vehicles; -- New headlamps and aerodynamic vehicle designs (e.g., sloped front ends); -- An aging driver population; -- The reduced compliance with traffic regulations; -- Higher traffic speeds; -- Aggressive and distracted driving behavior; -- The need to better accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists; -- An increased number of motorcyclists. The IDOT reminds people to celebrate the holidays responsibly and to check weather conditions before traveling. "A little common sense would go a long way to keep drivers safe," said Wandro.... "Remember the three S's - Speed control, Space between you and the vehicle ahead and Seat belts." Full story, from the Daily Nonpareil
DSA Comments: It is always wonderful news to hear of a significant fall in crash casualties so we can only hope that nothing dreadful happens in the next few days (or thereafter, for that matter). In 2003, however, Iowa had a per capita rate of 15 deaths per 100,000 population, which might not sound high but it is 2˝ times worse than the rate in the leading developed nation and slightly more than double the death rate in the leading American state (Massachusetts). Based on the estimated 2003 population of Iowa -- 2,944,062 -- the number of deaths so far this year suggests a probable per capita rate of around 12.5 for the year, a reduction of about 16 percent in the number and rate of deaths, which would be excellent. At Drive and Stay Alive, we would certainly add many items to the list of risk factors, above, but they would apply equally to all American states, not just Iowa. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
New powers to help tackle the dangers of drug driving can be used from today announced David Jamieson, Road Safety Minister. A new Code of Practice means that drivers will be compelled to undertake roadside impairment tests if the police suspect they are driving under the influence of drugs. The Code details the way trained police officers must conduct the tests to help judge whether someone may be unfit to drive. Refusal to participate is an offence in the same way as failure to provide a breath test [i.e. where alcohol is suspected]. Full story here, including DSA comments regarding 'field sobriety testing' (by comparison with the USA), the burden of proof, and punishments. Related Story
....even more motorists are getting behind the wheel when high on drugs than anyone previously expected. ___________________________
{On Britain's roads] at least ten people will die and up to 400 will be injured in drink drive crashes during Christmas week if current trends continue, according to the RAC Foundation for Motoring. ___________________________
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...Florida averaged 455 reported collisions between vehicles and all types of animals in 2002 and 2003, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. A spokeswoman said the department hasn't yet broken out the number of deer involved in those crashes, [although these have] resulted in nine human deaths during the two years.... [By comparison, in Georgia] dramatic increases in the human population have led to increased problems with the state's 1.2 million deer. Georgia's Department of Motor Vehicle Safety reports that deer collisions with vehicles numbered 9,609 in 2002, the most recent year for which data is available. Pennsylvania counted 2,532 reported deer-vehicle collisions in 2001, the most recent year for data. But thousands more go unreported, and the numbers seem to be rising, said Steve Chizmar, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. "Our game commission estimates 70,000 deer are struck on our highways every year," he said. "We remove 35,000 deer carcasses a year from our roadways. Many others probably go back into the woods and die."... Full story ("Florida Deer Population Problems Moderate") from The Ledger ___________________________
"Drink-driving not only carries stiff penalties when you are caught, it also endangers yourself and your loved ones; it also puts other road users at risk when you drink and drive."... Full story, from Channel News Asia ___________________________
Officials of the South West Delegation of Transport are determined to reduce the number of road accidents during this festive end-of-year season. In order to accomplish the road safety campaign, an unlimited number of alcohol testing devise have been shared out to transport officials of the six Divisions to track down drunk drivers who are at the root of many road accidents.... Amid smiles of reduced accident rate by about 40 per cent in the province, the authorities insisted that the alcotex exercise be taken to the motor parks and all strategic areas for even safer roads.... Alcohol checks are only part of the safety drive as drivers are also punished for excessive speed, poor state of vehicles and overloading.... Full story, from the Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé), via allAfrica ___________________________
GABORONE - Botswana Police Services recorded nine deaths last week, three of which were murder incidents while the rest were fatalities for the 311 road accidents recorded.... Since the beginning of the year, road accidents have claimed 481 lives. This compares to 501 deaths recorded during the same period last year. Out of the 1 961 cases of traffic violations dealt with last week, 798 motorists were arrested for over-speeding while 13 of the over 199 motorists who were subjected to a breathalyser alcohol test have been charged for driving under the influence of alcohol.... Full story, from the Botswana Government News Service ___________________________
The Director of Traffic Police, Senior Assistant Commissioner, Bakae Karata has appealed to motorists to respect road regulations during the festive season, in order to avoid accidents. Karata said the police would mount roadblocks on the main roads during the festive season. He disclosed that they would also patrol the roads in vehicles and on foot to curb the high rate of accidents. He added that the highway patrols would mount random roadblocks to monitor over speeding motorists and check road worthiness of vehicles and the condition of drivers.... Karata explained that at these roadblocks they will distribute pamphlets with road safety messages to motorists. He said they would also encourage motorists to take a break after every 200 km. According to him, intelligence reports show that fatigue was one of the main cause of accidents. The roadblocks, he said, have proved to be useful in reducing the number of accidents. “You can’t pass a road block when you are driving under the influence of liquor or when you don’t have a driver’s licence,” he said. The traffic chief said the roadblocks are not aimed at “harassing” motorists as people think, but rather to address road safety. He expressed concern that people are not heeding the road safety messages.... Full story, with statistics, from Mmegi ___________________________
LIMA, Peru (AP) — A driver lost control of a bus in a heavy rainstorm in Peru's mountains and the vehicle plunged 165 feet into a river, killing 49 people on board and injuring 15, police said.... The accident occurred Sunday in the Andean jungle, 215 miles northeast of the capital. The bus was headed from Lima to the jungle town of Pucallpa... when it crashed, police said. There were no foreign passengers on board.... Bus crashes are common in Peru, where drivers frequently speed and pass vehicles along blind mountain curves.... A recent study commissioned by Peru's Transportation Ministry showed that between January and July of this year, 208 people were killed in rural bus crashes, compared to 170 deaths during the same time period in 2003. Full story, from Nola, New Orleans ___________________________
Christmas is only four days away and many of us will be doing extensive travelling in order to visit family members and friends who live in other parishes. If you will be driving very long distances to your destination, the following advice will ensure that your holiday is not spoilt by unwanted and easily avoidable road accidents.... Full story from the Teenage section of the Jamaica Observer ___________________________
VIENNA (Reuters) -- Slovakia's economics minister could be barred from driving in neighboring Austria after Austrian police fined him for speeding on a motorway, police said on Monday. The car driven by Pavol Rusko was clocked by police going 220 kph (136 mph), well over the 130-kph (80 mph) limit near the central Austrian city of Linz at midnight on Friday.... The minister was given an on-the-spot fine of 700 euros ($935) and could end up paying a heavier penalty as well as possibly being banned from driving in Austria by a traffic court, [a police] spokesman said. [Source: Reuters 'Oddly Enough' News]
DSA Comments: The Reuters 'Oddly Enough' category says it all. The Austrian police are too good to allow this level of idiocy, from anyone. Seventy per cent over an already generous speed limit is a bit excessive by any measure! Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
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A woman who blocked a police car rushing to answer a 999 emergency call by hogging the outside lane of a motorway for several miles was fined Ł200 (U.S. $386) and had six penalty points endorsed on her driver's licence.
The confused mother-of-two drove for several miles without
pulling in while frustrated police officers were stuck behind her. She continued to drive at around 70mph which held up the police car for several minutes, and her action delayed their efforts to answer the emergency call. Because there was traffic on the inside lane of the M90 the officers were eventually forced to use the hard shoulder to get past her.... Full story, from the Evening Times ___________________________
BRUSSELS - The Belgian Institute for Road Safety, known by its French acronym IBSR, has launched a new public awareness campaign on road safety. The initiative, announced on Flemish television over the weekend by Belgian federal mobility minister Renaat Landuyt, invites individuals concerned about road safety to express their views via a website. Every year more than 1 million people are killed on Belgian roads, while about 8,000 are seriously injured. The ISBR argues that every injury and death is one too many, and the purpose of the campaign is to coordinate as many initiatives as possible aimed at making Belgium's roads safer. Website: www.jesuispour.be [Source: Expatica Belgium] ___________________________
DUBAI — Traffic police yesterday intervened to stop malpractices by some driving schools in Dubai, abusing their privileges to make more money from driving licence applicants. Police also urged driving examiners not to make applicants’ attempts to get the licence impossible by giving importance to trivial matters rather than stressing safety aspects in motor driving.... The decision by the department followed complaints that applicants were being subjected to ‘blackmail’ by instructors of some driving schools. The complaints were brought to the notice of the authorities by examiners.... Full story, from the Khaleej Times ___________________________
SASKATOON -- A woman accused of drunkenly plowing into three cars lined up at a stop sign, killing six people and injuring nine others, is expected to enter a plea today.... Norma Jean Mooswa, 35, was charged after her car rammed into the back of a Toyota Echo waiting at a stop sign at Cochin, Sask., on Canada Day, killing two people in the Toyota and four passengers in her own vehicle. Mooswa is charged with six counts of criminal negligence causing death, six counts of impaired driving causing death, four counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm, four counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and one count of driving while disqualified. The maximum sentence for impaired driving causing death is life in prison.... Full story, from the Edmonton Sun, at Canoe.com ___________________________
It's a message too many drunks ignore. The results can be deadly. Drinking and driving is one of the largest single causes of fatal collisions. During the 20-year period between 1983 and 2002, there were 6,664 deaths on Washington [State] roadways that involved a drinking driver, according to statistics from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.... Tougher laws and stronger enforcement are having a positive impact. In 2002, there were 262 traffic deaths in the state involving a drinking driver -- a drop of 58 percent from the high in 1980. Total traffic deaths in 2002 were 658 -- a reduction of 33 percent from 1980.... Full story, from The Olympian ___________________________
According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety, two-lane rural highways tend to be the most dangerous in the state. Included in the list of most dangerous roads are county roads and rural two-lane state and U.S. highways, said Martha Earnhardt, a public safety spokesperson. Although more crashes tend to occur in urban areas, you're more likely to be killed when you head out into the country, Earnhardt indicated. In 2004 thus far, there has been an increase in rural traffic deaths from last year. As of Thursday, 751 people had been killed in rural highway crashes in Alabama. That's up from 663 deaths for the same period in 2003. This year there have been 99 rural traffic deaths on Interstates, compared to 142 deaths on U.S. highways, 196 on state highways and, finally, 314 on county roads, Earnhardt said.... Full story, from the Clanton Advertiser ___________________________
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Continental continued its technology leadership position today with a presentation -- showcasing the company's roadmap for total safety that will integrate active and passive safety equipment -- at a news conference held at the Washington Auto Show. The company announced that two leading automakers have commissioned Continental to undertake advanced design work on integrating various elements of its comprehensive safety solution, the Active Passive Integration Approach concept.... ___________________________
ARLINGTON, VA -- The Mazda 3 is the best performer and the Kia Spectra is the worst, in a recent series of frontal offset crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Mazda 3 earned a good rating and the added designation of "best pick" for frontal crash protection. The Hyundai Elantra also earned a good overall rating, but only after three tests revealed two design problems that led to recalls. The Suzuki Forenza and Saturn ION are rated acceptable, and the Kia Spectra earned the lowest rating of poor.... ___________________________
[Drivers in the Australian state of Victoria] have been labelled deadly disgraces over their lethal attitude to red lights.
Related story:
[A] diversionary attack is under way against Houston Mayor Bill White's proposal to use cameras to crack down on motorists who run red lights. As I noted in a previous column, I think the cameras are a good idea, and so do a lot of other people. I received e-mails, however, from others who didn't think much of what I thought.... [But] besides having — I suspect — heavier-than-normal right feet, the opponents I heard from also shared a tendency to divert attention from the primary issue, which is traffic safety. Rationalize your opposition all you want, folks, but running red lights is dangerous and sometimes fatal. And snapping photos of violators' cars and mailing them $75 civil citations, as the mayor's plan proposes for particularly dangerous intersections, is reasonable.... As I pointed out previously, there are more than twice as many traffic fatalities as murder victims in Texas in a given year. And almost three times as many people are killed or injured in traffic accidents than are victims of murder and other violent crimes. Some 3,739 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in Texas in 2001, the most recent year for which the Texas Department of Public Safety has complete data. Some 220 of the fatal accidents were caused by people running red lights or stop signs.... Full op-ed story, from Clay Robinson at the Houston Chronicle ___________________________
WASHINGTON -- A massive jury verdict against DaimlerChrysler and some new studies have placed a spotlight on a little-debated safety issue -- how well seats protect occupants when a vehicle is struck from behind. A Nashville jury ruled last month that the design of a front seat in a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan that collapsed was partly responsible for the death of 8-month-old Joshua Flax [in the seat behind].... But the issue is not simply a matter of making stronger seats, automakers say. Chrysler said the seat involved in the Nashville trial is three times stronger than the minimum level required under U.S. regulations. And the company says overly stiff seats would only lead to more neck and spine injuries.... Full story, from the Detroit News
DSA Comments: The comment above, that "stiff seats would only lead to more neck and spine injuries", is contradicted by facts gleaned from recent, international seat safety tests. To read the brief summary of those tests, click here, and to read the full report click here. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
As holiday seasons go, this one is particularly risky for travel. Christmas and New Year's Day are on weekends this year. According to federal transportation officials, people will be more likely to travel. They'll also be more likely to party. Forgive us for passing on a grim prediction for a joyous season: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expecting 136 deaths a day from Dec. 24 through Dec. 26 and from Dec. 31 through Jan. 2. Approximately 45 percent of the fatal accidents will involve drivers who are legally drunk. There is a concerted effort among states to get their safety message out. There will be sobriety checkpoints and lots of reminders as the weekends draw closer. These efforts undoubtedly will save some lives. But they don't change the fact that it is possible to predict, with chilling accuracy, that more than 800 people will die on highways during a six-day period. If you are driving this holiday season, give yourself plenty of time to get where you're going. Obey all traffic laws. Watch out for the other guy. And please don't drink.
This pertinent, editorial opinion piece and excellent advice come to you from the South Bend Tribune, Indiana ___________________________
...About 120 people are killed and more than 6,000 injured each year [in the USA alone] by vehicles that back over them, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most victims are very young or very old.... Safety advocates want NHTSA to study the issue more closely and consider a requirement that automakers include devices to warn drivers when something comes into their path as they back up [i.e. 'reverse'].... Backup aids aren't always marketed as safety devices, so they can be difficult for consumers to spot in brochures.... Several companies sell cameras, which can be installed for about $1,000, and sensors, about $400 or less.... NHTSA, which sets vehicle standards, is a long way from mandating cameras or sensors. Full and important story, from Dee-Ann Durbin, at the Houston Chronicle. ___________________________
The British Medical Association has urged the Government to lower the drink-drive limit as part of new road safety legislation. There is no provision to reduce the limit in the Road Safety Bill which is currently going through Parliament. But, with the Bill due to have its second reading in the House of Commons next month, the BMA, which has been campaigning for a lower limit since 1990, today urged the Government to "use this opportunity to save lives". The BMA reckons that about 50 drink-drive-related deaths would be prevented in the UK every year if the limit was reduced from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood [equivalent to 0.08% BAC] to 50mg [0.05% BAC], which is the limit in [the majority] of other European countries. Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA’s head of science and ethics, said today: "It’s too late to change the law for this Christmas but let’s make future seasons of goodwill safer for everyone. "The introduction of the current limit, backed up by police enforcement and TV and media education campaigns, led to a dramatic fall in the number of deaths on the road. But over the past few years deaths and serious injuries from drink-driving have increased. We need a new impetus to reduce the toll of death and injury." Don Mackechnie, chairman of the BMA’s accident and emergency committee, added: "Every Christmas and New Year some people just ignore the message that drinking and driving do not mix. "It is heart-breaking to witness, first hand, families shattered because of drink-driving.".... ___________________________
The following is merely a brief extract and includes only those items that we believe may be of widest interest to Drive and Stay Alive readers. We recommend that you visit the TRL Website if you require more details. -- PPR017 -- Safety on hard shoulders on dual two-lane and three-lane motorways, by I Summersgill, J V Kennedy, J M Sharples and M J Frew -- LF2094 -- Mobile phone use by drivers (2002-2004) (This leaflet supersedes LF2093) -- CT102.2 -- Rollover accident studies update (2001-2004) ___________________________
[The danger of still being intoxicated the morning after 'having a few drinks'] One in ten people caught drink-driving in the Lothians [Scotland] are picked up the morning after a night out. Here, an Edinburgh sales representative reveals the high price he paid after being stopped 'the morning after the night before': If anyone had asked me how my life was going when I got up that morning, I would have said it was pretty good.... After grabbing a quick shower, I jumped into the car with [my girlfriend], planning to drop her off on the way. When I saw the police car behind me I didn’t think anything of it. When it put its sirens on and I pulled over I still wasn’t bothered. I was used to being stopped in police checks for tyre pressure or whatever their latest road safety campaign was, because I drove so much. I think they said I had not put my indicator on or something really inconspicuous. When they got the breathalyser out I still thought it was just routine. I didn’t give it a second thought. But then they handed it back to me and said: "You’ve failed." A thousand and one emotions went through me -- fear, shock, embarrassment, a whole load of things.... I was still in a state of shock when the police made me leave the company car by the side of the road and took me to the police station....
Anyone who has not yet grasped that alcohol can linger in the bloodstream even after a long night's sleep should read this full article, here, from The Scotsman. ___________________________
LIPPSTADT, Germany -- Hella is introducing a new version of “Light Driver” – a popular Internet-based automotive game that has recorded more than 50,000 downloads from 70 different countries over the past year. The game features a virtual “night drive” during which players can experience various types of driving conditions using halogen, xenon and bend-lighting systems. Hella’s new Light Driver 2.0 has improved graphics, a bonus level and doubles the chances of winning prizes for all game participants. The game can be downloaded from the Internet at www.lightdriver.com
The aim of the game is to collect as many points as possible within 90
seconds by “driving” safely. The driver sets off into the night with
halogen light. As the game progresses, players move up to “xenon
lighting” at 3,000 points and reach “bend lighting” at 6,000
points. The improved lighting systems allow the player to recognize
obstacles earlier and more easily. Skillful “drivers” also earn
bonus points and time bonuses.
There has been a lot written and said about the carnage on our roads,
motorists travelling at excessive speeds, the controversies around speed
trapping, driving under the influence and related issues. Motorists ignore the law with impunity, knowing that the likelihood of getting caught is very small. I travel the main routes of KZN extensively. Mostly, I am only aware of traffic police when I see them operating speed traps. Occasionally I see them checking heavies at Midway, near Estcourt, and Town Hill outside Pietermaritzburg. I hardly ever see them checking for inebriated drivers. I almost never see them patrolling the road or enforcing the keep-left rule, or doing anything about drivers using a handheld cellphone while driving, or not wearing seat belts or.... [sic] It is time our political representatives voted enough funding and saw to it that we had sufficient trained traffic police personnel, adequately resourced and able to enforce legislation without fear or favour. Read the rest of this well-reasoned letter here (by Morton du Preez), from The Mercury ___________________________
Tires 6 years old or more are a danger, regardless of mileage, actions allege Auto accidents allegedly caused by tire-tread separations are sparking lawsuits across the country, with plaintiffs charging that tire manufacturers are selling tires without warning consumers of the potential risk when the tires get older.... The lawsuits allege that tires older than 6 years -- even if never used -- could cause fatal accidents due to the degradation of the chemical adhesive that bonds tire treads to tires.... Manufacturers are aware of the potential dangers of old tires, alleged Danko, citing European tire manufacturers' recommendation that tires older than 6 years be replaced, regardless of the condition of the tire treads. Read the full, important article here, from Law.com ___________________________
Utah is one of only 11 states that have enacted all seven "optimal" drunken driving laws supported by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. But the state's failure to enact a primary seat-belt law or to require booster seats for children ages 4 to 8 or to require motorcyclists to wear helmets dropped the state's overall highway safety rating to middle of the pack. None of the 50 states has enacted all 14 laws considered by the organization to be essential for improving highway safety. Thirteen states were credited with making significant progress, and seven were criticized for doing little. Utah was in neither group. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which is a national alliance of consumers, health-care providers and insurance companies, said states are getting better overall, but the pace of improvement is slow. In the past year, only one additional state has passed a primary seat-belt law, and only a handful of states worked on graduated drivers' licenses for teenagers, although they "merely tinkered" with the issue, said Judith Lee Stone, president of the organization.... Full story, from the Deseret News ___________________________
ST. PAUL -- Authorities are putting many extra officers on the road to watch for drunk drivers this weekend, the season's biggest weekend for holiday parties and celebrations. More than 70 law enforcement agencies are participating in Operation Nightcap, including the Minnesota State Patrol.... So far this year, 510 traffic deaths have been reported, and 40 percent involved alcohol. About 30,000 people are arrested for drunken driving in Minnesota each year. Full story, from the Associated Press -- In Forum ___________________________
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It's standard for the CHP to put on duty extra officers for the holidays. It's called the "maximum-enforcement period." This past Thanksgiving was no exception. But still, compared to the 47 fatalities in 2003, traffic deaths for the Thanksgiving weekend jumped to 56 this year.... Joining the CHP is Caltrans, which will illuminate all highway signs with safety messages. And Alcohol Beverage Control will increase stings to catch illegal liquor sales to minors.... Full story, from The KCRA Channel ___________________________
RALEIGH, N.C -- One out of four 16-year-old drivers in North Carolina is involved in an accident, but the state has taken several steps to lower that number. On Thursday, a new study was released that singled out North Carolina for keeping teen drivers safe. The study comes from the non profit group, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. North Carolina gets high marks for the Graduated Drivers License law, which requires teens to take baby steps before they hit the highway on their own. The law won't allow teens to drive after 9 p.m. or with more than one teenage passenger. "I think it's been a wonderful thing that North Carolina has implemented," said Reginald Flythe, a driver's education teacher. The law is one reason the study gives North Carolina it's highest rating -- green -- only 12 other states get that.... Since the Graduated Driver's License law has been in place, crashes with 16-year-old drivers are down by a third and deaths are cut in half. But with 32 deadly crashes involving a 16-year-old driver last year laws can't do it all.... Full story, from WRAL ___________________________
The work of Dundee City Council and Tayside Police in promoting road safety initiatives aimed at older people is to be highlighted to the Scottish Executive.... Councillor Fiona Grant, convener of the planning and transportation committee, said there are a number of initiatives of particular relevance to elderly road users in Dundee. “Tayside Police, with financial help from the planning and transportation department, produce Older Adult Driver leaflets relating to how health can affect their driving ability,” she explained. “These were distributed to doctors’ surgeries and health centres throughout Tayside. “Furthermore, Tayside Police have provided road safety advice for the elderly in the magazine ‘Retired and Living in Dundee’, which is freely distributed to retired people.” Mrs Grant said there have also been local performances of the play ‘Urban Rodeo’, a drama promoted by the Scottish Road Safety Campaign and aimed specifically at road users aged over 50. “A partnership approach is taken in improving road safety in Dundee,” she said. “This involves Dundee City Council planning and transportation, education and social work departments, Tayside Police and Tayside Health Board...." Full story, from the Evening Telegraph ___________________________
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Fifty thousand people wounded, 5,000 grievously. More than 3,000 killed in 40,000 accidents in one year stretching from June 2003 to July 2004 [sic]. The gory score of road mishaps in Kerala continues its upward swing. In what an opposition leader described, "a knee-jerk response", on Wednesday, the Kerala Cabinet decided to set up a Road Safety Authority to bring down accidents. According to National Transporation, Planning, and Research (NATPAC) Centre data, nine people die and 141 get hurt every day in the state as against seven and 129 respectively in 1999. "The continuously growing vehicle population and correspondingly shrinking roads are major reasons but they are not all", remarked NATPAC Director T Elangovan. "Drunken driving, violating traffic rules, blazerlight [n.b. the specific meaning of this word is unknown to DSA so if anyone can tell us we would be obliged], overtaking at night and many things contribute to the accident rates", he said. However, he agreed that the lack of road infrastructure, specially flyovers, and traffic circles [i.e. roundabouts] did make the matter worse. He said the situation was poised to improve as a number of schemes for bettering infrastructure had already been taken by the government.... Full story, from The Times of India ___________________________
GLOBAL December 16, 2004: Global Road Safety Partnership International Project GENEVA – Seven of the world’s largest auto and oil companies today announced a collaborative five-year, $10 million project to reduce road traffic fatalities in developing countries. The World Health Organization projects that road traffic incidents will become the third leading cause of injury/disease globally by 2020. Unless steps are taken to improve road traffic safety, fatalities and injuries will likely increase by 65% from 1.2 million deaths and 50 million injuries globally today. The initiative, to be implemented by the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), will focus on such key road safety themes as pedestrian safety and safety belt use, the training of road safety professionals in developing countries, and provision of seed money to support pilot programs to improve road safety in these countries.... ___________________________
WASHINGTON -- Some of the nation's leading teen driving safety experts will host a town hall meeting in Bethesda, Md., to address the issue of teen driving safety. The panelists will discuss the risks teens face as new, inexperienced drivers and will offer resources and guidelines for parents and teens to help keep teens safe behind the wheel. The event will be hosted by AAA, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), DaimlerChrysler, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Safety Council (NSC). The event is free and open to the public. Traffic crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens. The Washington D.C. area has suffered a spate of crashes involving teen drivers, killing 17 people in the area since September. In Montgomery County alone, 10 people have died in eight collisions involving drivers under the age of 21 this year. Venue: Thursday, December 16, at 6 p.m. -- Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School auditorium 4301 East-West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814. [Source: DaimlerChrysler]
Fourteen thousand young drivers in New South Wales and Victoria will undertake a special driver training course after they receive their P-plates, in a trial announced today by the Australian, New South Wales and Victorian Governments. The course will provide novice drivers with an understanding of their own limitations and an insight into how they can reduce the risks they face on the road. It is aimed at reducing the shocking number of young deaths on Australia's roads. In 2003, 17-25 year olds accounted for a quarter of all road deaths, even though they make up only 12 percent of the population. ___________________________
Four British tourists were killed on South Africa's West Coast on Tuesday night when their rental car and a truck were in a collision on the R27 route at Saldanha, about 1,600 km southwest of Johannesburg. Police spokesman Inspector Elliot Sinyangana said on Wednesday that the family of the man, his wife, their daughter and her boyfriend were expected to arrive in South Africa on Wednesday to identify their bodies. They appeared to have misjudged their distance while entering acrossing on the R27 from Saldanha at 6:20 p.m. in a rented Nissan Almera, he said.... South Africa's road-vehicle collision and fatality rates compare poorly with those of most other countries. Every year, about 10,000 people are killed and 150,000 others injured in approximately 500,000 crashes. The Department of Transport said in Pretoria on Wednesday that the number of road deaths so far this December appeared to match last year's levels.... [Source: Xinhuanet] ___________________________
PHILADELPHIA -- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia announces a new child passenger safety Web site as a holiday gift to parents. Just in time for the hectic and often dangerous holiday travel period, http://www.chop.edu/carseat features short videos and comprehensive information to help parents protect children of all ages when they ride in vehicles - from installing child safety seats to reinforcing safe driving habits for teens. The new online resource draws on experience from Partners for Child Passenger Safety, a research partnership of Children's Hospital and State Farm® that is the nation's largest study of children in crashes. Since 1997, more than 300,000 State Farm customers have shared their crash experiences with Children's Hospital researchers who are then able to determine the best ways to protect the nation's children and save children's lives. ___________________________
SACRAMENTO – Two dozen vehicles collided in a series of accidents in dense fog north of Sacramento Wednesday morning, closing the southbound lanes of the Interstate for several hours, California Highway Patrol officials said. The fog had reduced visibility to about 50 feet when the accident occurred around 9 a.m., CHP officials said. The first accident involved 15 vehicles – six big rigs and nine passenger vehicles – and the traffic slowdown spawned four additional accidents that involved a total of nine more vehicles.... "This boils down to vehicles going too fast for the conditions," CHP Officer Jim Bonilla said. "Visibility was about 50 feet, so speed should have been about 25 miles per hour. We had cars going 60 miles per hour out here." Woodland resident Bud Wolf said.... "It was foggy all the way back to Woodland," he said. "There were big signs warning of fog. There was no reason to be driving that fast.".... Full story, from Sign-On San Diego
DSA Comments: Officer Bonilla was undoubtedly right when he said that some vehicles were going too fast for the conditions. To put it bluntly, it would appear that when it comes to bad visibility, of any type, those drivers who go too quickly for the conditions are simply too stupid to grasp the massive risks they are causing for themselves and for others. It also has to be repeated, however, that some casualties could be prevented in fog and other conditions of bad visibility if legislation were passed to legalize the fitting of matched pairs of high-intensity, red rear fog lights. The matched-pair approach is essential because multiple rear lights (of adequate intensity) allow drivers to accurately gauge the distance to the vehicle ahead -- the one with the the high-intensity rear lights. And the high intensity aspect is vital for the reason just given: ordinary rear lights and even brake lights are not as bright as high-intensity, red rear fog lights and therefore cannot be seen as soon. But here in the USA, some states only allow one rear red fog light (so the vital facility to allow the drivers of following vehicles to gauge the distance to the one in front is lost). And where matched pairs are allowed, the power of the lights is lower than is used in other countries, and so the life-saving benefits of "rear red fogs" are once again wasted. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc.
See the DSA web page about high intensity red rear fog lights. ___________________________
Texas will embark on the largest highway safety project in state history, including thousands of miles of widened rural roads, barriers placed in medians and new left turn lanes, Gov. Rick Perry and transportation officials said today. The $600 million project is expected to save hundreds of lives, Perry said. "It will make our roads safer for drivers, reduce accidents and save lives," Perry said.... The safety project is scheduled for a final vote Thursday, but Wednesday's announcement assured its approval. The plans include: -- Widening nearly 1,600 miles of narrow two-lane roadways to at least 24 feet, concentrating in the state's rural areas. By widening roads, officials hope to reduce head-on collisions and give drivers more room to maneuver if they're forced toward the shoulder; -- Installing 740 miles of concrete [or?] cable safety barriers in the median of divided highways to prevent head-on collisions -- Building left turn lanes at 171 highway intersections to reduce rear-end collisions; -- Building 10 highway overpasses to improve traffic flow. Julie Blasingame, whose 16-year-old daughter Rachel was killed in 2003 when a reckless driver crossed the median on Interstate 635 in Mesquite, said the improvements would have saved her life if they were in place. A wire barrier was later installed on the same stretch of road and has already worked to stop dozens of similar accidents, she said.... The state will issue bonds to cover the cost of the project. Texas voters in 2003 gave the commission authority to issue $3 billion in bonds for highway improvements. Although the bonds will create debt that must be paid off later, Perry said Texans would not support a large increase in the state gasoline tax -- by as much as 50 cents per gallon -- to cover the costs of all the planned highway projects up front. The Texas Transportation Institute's Center for Transportation Safety estimates the safety improvements could save 1,800 lives and prevent 21,000 injuries over the next 20 years. Motor vehicle crashes kill more than 3,500 every year in Texas with and injure more than 340,000, according to transportation officials. This important article comes from the Houston Chronicle
DSA Comments: Nobody can deny that this is truly excellent news in the fight against road deaths in Texas but -- big step though it is -- it is only one step in a major battle. There is one other important but unmentioned benefit from this program, both for Texas and the whole country, and that is the reduction of costs associated with fatal crashes. According to the US DOT and NHTSA the financial cost for fatal crashes comes out at around $1 million per body, so if the above casualty reductions are an accurate prediction then approximately $1,800 million (at current values) will be saved, in addition to other huge savings from the costs associated with injured casualties who survive. On the other side of the coin, the cost of maintaining the new safety facilities over many years needs to be factored in, but all of these financial considerations pale into insignificance when one even briefly considers the reduction in human grief. Our congratulations go to the State of Texas. You are certainly now one of America's pace-setting states. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
Israel's High Court of Justice decided on Tuesday to issue a show-cause order obligating the state to explain within 45 days why there are not enough resource centers to combat road accidents. High Court justices Aharon Barak, Mishael Cheshin and Esther Hayut decided to issue the order in the wake of a debate over a petition filed Monday by the families of road accident victims, a movement promoting fair government and the organization "People in Red." The judges directed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit, the road safety authority and the licensing authority to explain why there are not regular reports made to the Knesset on advancements in the struggle against traffic accidents. They must also explain why there is no research being conducted or no comprehensive information centers dealing with the issue that would facilitate the formulation of a national law to fight road accidents. The licensing authority must also explain why it does not permanently revoke the licenses of dangerous drivers.... Full story, from Haaretz ___________________________
EU transport ministers on 9-10 December 2004 agreed to an ambitious road safety strategy aimed at halving the number of road casualties by 2010. The strategy places particular emphasis on rules enforcement and on sharing best practices at EU, national and local levels. Cross-border enforcement initiatives received particularly strong support from countries like France, whose roads are intensively travelled by European tourists.... It is, however, still unclear how far the details of the conclusions can secure full political backing from the member states, who retain the upper hand over the Commission when it comes to road safety initiatives. Indeed, no schedule or precise programme has been agreed as to possible enforcement measures at EU level.... "I cannot rule out the Commission taking initiatives on enforcement," a spokesperson for Transport Commissioner Barrot nevertheless told EurActiv. "Several ministers are very mobilised" and Mr Barrot wants to "strengthen controls", he said. Barrot is expected to produce an assessment by mid-2005.... Full story, from Euractive
Links
DSA Comments: Irrespective of the degree of agreement between various nations, it has to be added that several countries -- as previously reported in these columns -- have already been actively working on the target of 50% reductions for many months and indeed some are already reporting significant progress. Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc. ___________________________
The State Government is set to hand down restrictions for young drivers, it is believed the Federal Government will trial an aggressive driver training program. All young drivers in New South Wales will enroll in compulsory safe driving classes within 12 months of getting their P-Plates, the scheme will be unveiled by the Federal Minister for Transport John Anderson in Canberra tomorrow. View
the subsequent, December 15 press release here. ___________________________
Humvees, one of the military's most-used vehicles, need to be upgraded with better safety components because troops are getting hurt from slamming into the roof when they travel over rough surfaces, the U.S. Air Force said. "These personnel wear body armor or flak vests and helmets, however they are still being injured," the Air Force's Air Mobility Command wrote in a request for contractors' bids to make the ground vehicles safer.... Despite a 2003 pledge by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that the number of accidents would be cut in half by 2005, noncombat deaths caused by crashes are on the rise. At least 64 soldiers have been killed in Army vehicles such as Humvees and tanks in 2004, according to the Army Safety Center. "Vehicle crashes continue to cause the majority of Army accidental deaths, regardless (of) where a soldier is stationed," Maj. Larry Chinnery, a research analyst with the Safety Center, reported in the Army's safety publication, Countermeasure. The News series showed that many deaths are due to a combination of driver error, lack of enforcement of seat belt and other safety guidelines, and a vehicle fleet lacking in some safety features taken for granted in civilian vehicles. Those factors contributed to 8,200 accidents, 250 deaths and 2,600 injuries over a decade in the Army alone. Most of the accidents happen during routine driving, not during combat, the Safety Center said.... Full, detailed story here, from the Detroit News ___________________________
Forty-eight automotive journalists from the United States and Canada have selected the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, the Chrysler 300/300C and the Ford Mustang as finalists for the North American Car of the Year. The Ford Escape Hybrid, the Ford Freestyle and the Land Rover LR3 were chosen as finalists for the North American Truck of the Year. The finalists were announced today at a news conference during a luncheon meeting of the Detroit Economic Club and officials of the North American International Auto Show.
The winners of the most prestigious awards in North America will be
announced on January 9th at the North American International Auto Show,
which is not otherwise involved in the awards. This year the journalists voted on 17 cars and 12 trucks [of which 9 and 6, respectively, were foreign-built]. [Source: North American Car and Truck of the Year] ___________________________
"THINK! Don't Drink and Drive" and "THINK! Make time for a break" are the key messages that will be highlighted on motorway message signs on England's motorways over the course of the festive period. Ginny Clarke, Chief Highway Engineer said: "The Highways Agency's part in this important campaign is in support of its ongoing commitment to improve road safety. Our advice to travellers over the festive period is to be prepared, check road conditions and the weather forecast before and during your journey. Stop for a break at least every two hours if you are travelling long distance. "Our motorways are among the safest in Europe and with the help of drivers we want to make them even safer." [Source: Highways Agency South East Press Office.] ___________________________
Six police forces from across the south west of Britain have continued their efforts in improving road safety and driver behaviour by targeting commercial vehicles in a national operation codenamed ‘Mermaid’. Nearly 400 vehicles were checked... [and] 123 of the vehicles were found to be defective or the drivers committing offences. Full details here, from the Avon and Somerset Police. ___________________________
Road safety is a "spiritual issue" because it is "a matter of life and death". So said KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Bheki Cele at a road safety prayer day in Empangeni yesterday. He urged the Justice Department to sentence traffic offenders to community service rather than "letting them off the hook" with fines. Full story, from the Pretoria News ___________________________
More customers want side air bags and other advanced features for their protection. Eighteen Honda Elements fill the lot at the Tamaroff Automotive Group in Southfield, but none of them had what one buyer was looking for last week. "They want side airbags and I don't have any with side airbags," said general sales manager Chris Dillaway. Demand for side airbags and other advanced safety features is likely to grow in the years ahead, according to a new study on the most popular automotive technologies. Six of the 10 features that consumers in Harris Interactive Inc.'s AutoTechCast survey said they were most likely to purchase in their next vehicle are related to safety. Enhanced fuel economy scored highest, while comfort and convenience technologies rated lower.... Full story, from the Detroit News ___________________________
High-speed police pursuits are dangerous -- for the public, for police, and for the suspects who choose to flee. Despite the risks, officers sometimes have no choice but to chase a suspect who has committed a violent crime. Most of the time, however, the people who run from the law are not dangerous criminals, but traffic offenders.... According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, conservative estimates by various researchers reveal that police pursuits [in the USA] result in 400 to 500 deaths per year, and the number of pursuits is increasing. Other research indicates that thousands are injured. About 42 percent of those killed or injured in police pursuits are innocent third parties, and one out of every 100 high-speed pursuits results in a fatality. On average between 1994 and 1998, an FBI report found, one police officer in the United States was killed every 11 weeks as the result of high-speed pursuits. Full story, by William P. McManus, from the Star Tribune ___________________________
...The transformation of Iran's most cosmopolitan city is reflected even in its traffic. Now, Tehran is flooded with a new breed of law enforcement: traffic cops and meter men. They represent an attempt to control the capital's chaotic streets, where free-for-all rules account for one of the highest accident rates in the world. Dressed in snappy white broad-brimmed military hats and dark green uniforms with gold emblems on their epaulets, the new traffic police look more like a brigade of generals let loose on Tehran's streets. And sometimes they act like one. Daringly deployed even in the middle of exit and entry ramps to freeways, they don't hesitate to order drivers to pull over for not obeying the dictate displayed on other new billboards, in Farsi and English, throughout the capital: "Fastening the seat belt is mandatory." After 9 p.m., the generals retreat, leaving motorists to follow Tehran's widely accepted rules of the road. To turn left, get in the right lane -- and vice versa. If you've passed your exit on a busy freeway, just back up. And if you need to make an illegal U-turn, wait until oncoming traffic is roaring toward you.... Read the full story: 25 Years Later, a Different Type of Revolution, from the Washington Post ___________________________
The State Opposition has pledged to overhaul Western Australia's road safety strategy by giving police officers the power to confiscate keys from drunk drivers. The coalition is planning a raft of changes, including introducing legislation to create new drug driving offences and allow for roadside drug testing. Opposition leader Colin Barnett says the State Government has done nothing, after making a commitment to introduce similar legislation a year ago. Mr Barnett says car keys should not be returned to drivers over the blood-alcohol limit. "There was one case recently in the Goldfields with a driver then having had his keys returned to him ran off the road and killed himself," he said. "It is not acceptable to return the keys to a person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they are a threat to themselves and they are a threat to other motorists and pedestrians in our community." The police minister Michelle Roberts says the Government has already announced its intention to proceed with drug testing of drivers.... Full story, from ABC News ___________________________
Thirteen people were killed after four automobiles collided with each other on the Zahedan-Khash road on Friday night. According to statistics, one Iranian dies every 24 minutes as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Experts relate the high death toll from road accidents to dilapidated vehicles, reckless driving, insufficient emergency assistance, lack of communication facilities and inadequate emergency centers on roads. [Source: Iran Mania] ___________________________
Amid a boom in car sales, the death toll on China's chaotic roads rose this year, prompting the government to order officials this week to improve safety, state media said Saturday. Road accidents killed 96,870 people from January to November, an increase of 1.5 percent over the same period of 2003, state television and newspapers reported. They said 54 accidents were reported that each claimed more than 10 lives. Such figures are widely believed to represent only a fraction of the true death toll on China's roads, where many drivers are inexperienced and unlicensed and vehicles often are overloaded.... Public Security Ministry officials ordered provincial law enforcement officials during a video conference on Friday to improve road safety, the newspaper said.... China's two-decade-old economic boom has fueled a surge in vehicle sales, putting millions of new drivers on the road. Many use phony licenses or none at all. Chinese media regularly report bus crashes and highway pileups that kill dozens of people. They often are blamed on speeding, overloading, poor maintenance or driver fatigue.... Full story, from The China Post, Taiwan Related Story
Road accidents killed 96,870 people in the first 11 months of this year in China, up 1.5 percent over the same period last year, according to figures from Ministry of Public Security on Saturday. At the same period, 435,740 were also injured in the 470,019 traffic accidents besides the death. Severe accidents saw sharp increase in the January-November period, although the total number of accidents dropped 23.9 percent and the number of injured people downed 4.7 percent, according to the statistics.... Full story, from Xinhuanet] ___________________________
The PSNI is set to mount another two-day operation this weekend to promote road safety in Northern Ireland. Chief Inspector Douglas Hogg... said the operation would target the main causes of serious injury and death. These include careless and dangerous driving, drink and drug driving, excess speed and failure to wear seatbelts. [Source: U TV] ___________________________
A person in Florida sent the following letter to the Herald Tribune: Now that we have our new unmarked Stealth police cruisers on the road, let us hope we don't see stories of single drivers injured or killed after being "pulled over" by someone impersonating an officer. I lived in California for 30 years and there were scores of deaths to single male and female drivers after predators pulled them over. Yes, males have predators too. The predators placed strobelights on their dash and inside the front grill of their cars. These incidents happened day and evening and on both freeways and surface streets. Traffic flow was never a deterrent. Any idiot with intent can rig such a system to his car. The deaths in California drove the California Highway Patrol to discontinue use of unmarked cars for traffic control.... See the rest of the letter here, in the Herald Tribune ___________________________
RIYADH — Road accidents in the Kingdom could go up by 30 percent in the next 10 years unless urgent remedial measures are taken. Addressing a workshop at the Saudi Traffic Show which concluded here on Wednesday, Director of Strategic Studies at the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) Abdul Aziz Al-Ghannam pointed out that in 2001 there were 1,350 cases of deaths caused by road accidents and another 5,400 people sustained serious injuries. “This number is expected to increase by 30 percent in 10 years unless remedial measures are taken by the authorities,” he said.... “Our strategies include organizing public awareness programs, implementation, introducing new road safety equipment and evaluation of the whole operations in cooperation with the traffic authorities,” Ghannam added.... Saudi Arabia reports some half a million casualties from road accidents annually, 12 percent of which are fatal and around 10 percent involve under-age drivers. According to a statement, speeding was the main cause of accidents.... The traffic department has imposed strict penalties for some traffic violations including jail sentences for crossing red signals. According to the chief of the Riyadh Traffic Police, Col. Abdul Rahman Al-Muqbel 40 percent of the road accidents were due to speeding and running red lights. “An average of 130 to 150 accidents occur daily on the Riyadh streets including one or two fatal mishaps,” Muqbel said, adding that there were 479 fatalities in the Riyadh region in 2003.... Full story, from Arab News ___________________________
A three-week city-wide campaign will be rolled out tomorrow to enhance public awareness of road safety with focus on anti-drink driving and anti-drug driving. The campaign, comprising education and strict enforcement, is being rolled out in view of the higher number of traffic accidents and casualties in December in previous years. There were 13,681 accidents in the first 11 months of this year, which saw an increase of 550 cases over the same period last year. Of these, 88 cases involved drink driving and four driving under the influence of drugs.... Two enforcement operations codenamed "FoxFire", which aims at combating non-compliance with traffic laws, and "Eagle Eye IX", which targets pedestrian offences, will also be conducted on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon West. Motorists are reminded not to drive after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. Offenders will be liable to a maximum fine of $25,000, three years' jail and penalised for 10 driving-offence points or suspension from driving. [Source: Hong Kong Government News] ___________________________
PARIS (AFP) -- The introduction of automatic radars in France last year has resulted in an 85 percent drop in accidents on the parts of roads monitored by the devices, the transport ministry's road safety department said Friday. "The fight against speeding has had exceptional results in terms of reducing accidents," the head of the department, Remy Heitz, told journalists. The number of deaths in motorway blackspots had noticeably dropped by 50 percent since the deployment of more than 200 radars in those areas and elsewhere around the country, he said.... But while the once-aggressive behaviour of French drivers has been toned down, foreign drivers continue to speed with impunity.... French officials are pushing for cooperation agreements with other European countries, including Britain, Italy and Switzerland, to ensure foreigners violating French speed limits are also forced to pay up.... Nine out of 10 of all fines sent out are for speeds within 20 kilometres (13 miles) per hour over the set limit.... The French government this week halved the amount imposed for small violations of up to 20 kilometres per hour over the limit outside city and towns to EUR 45 (US $60) from EUR 90.... The 208 radars currently set up had brought in EUR 95 million (USD 126 million), slightly more than the EUR 91million cost of installing the devices, according to the road safety department. Around 1.5 million fines had been mailed since the units were introduced in October 2003.... Full story, from Expatica ___________________________
A car smashes into a tree. The souls of the young passengers leave their bodies apart from one who can’t get out of his seatbelt. He survives. The catchline — 'Heaven Can Wait'. This powerful TV ad made for the Belgians three years ago is being used by the Bermuda Road Safety Council as part of a new hard-hitting campaign that also shows babies in neck braces and dead people’s feet on gurneys on their way to the morgue. Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown launching the campaign yesterday said some people might find the images distasteful but given the fact there’s been six fatalities this year and 2,640 collisions, it’s obvious the softly-softly approach to road safety isn’t working. He said: “Over the course of the past year we have seen some frightening displays of conduct from the motoring public. We have seen private cars in police chases; collisions, which have resulted in vehicle pile-ups; incidents of road rage and a blatant disregard for the rules of our roads… The accident statistics are up by nearly 300 incidents since October last year.” Dr. Brown continued: “The message of the campaign is clear and direct… ‘more and more collisions on our roads are a direct result of careless driving… slow down Bermuda'.”... Full story, from the Bermuda Sun ___________________________
If drivers do not change their mentality, Cyprus has “no future” in road safety, a senior police officer warned yesterday, as yet another victim was added to the island’s road death toll. Ninety-seven people died on the roads during the whole of last year, compared to the 109 so far this year. “This represents a substantial increase from last year, a fact which is especially worrying,” Traffic Police chief Andreas Paphitis said.... Speaking at a seminar on vulnerable road users yesterday, Paphitis said Cyprus remained an EU-25 chart-topper in terms of fatal and serious road accidents, and is still ranked third behind Greece and Portugal. The traffic chief also stressed that education was key to preventing reckless driving in the future. Police have launched a series of seminars for school children on the subject of road safety in a bid to alter the mentality of the future generation of drivers. But he warned that education must start in the home. “Parents are always responsible and have to start teaching their children good road sense from the ages of 8 or 9, not 17. Parents should be ready to put their foot down and come into conflict with their children if necessary. It’s better that way than to cry once their 17-year-old is dead, shortly after passing his or her test.” Police are proposing a number of preventative measures following advice from Greek and French experts last month, including the separation of traffic from pedestrians, the widening of existing footpaths on corners, the repainting of pedestrian crossings before the start of the school year as well as more speed bumps, traffic lights and roundabouts.... Full story, from the Cyprus Mail ___________________________
In the state of Victoria, the road toll has long been considered a male problem, associated with boys, toys and bloody idiots. But the latest figures show a sharp jump in the number of women dying on the state's roads. So far in 2004, [total] road deaths have risen 6 per cent over the same period last year. Male fatalities have fallen marginally, but female road deaths are up 40 per cent. New figures from the Transport Accident Commission show that 108 women died on Victorian roads this year to December 8, compared with 77 in the same period last year. Men still outnumber women (217 to 108), but the gap is narrowing. Some in Victoria Police are concerned that aggressive driving is increasingly common among young women and may be contributing to the toll. "I've noticed that a lot of the aggressive drivers are now females," Michael Talbot, head of the major collision investigation unit, said. "It seems a lot of the speeding drivers -- those who are talking on phones and tailgating others -- are younger women."... As of Wednesday, 325 people had died this year on Victorian roads, up 19 on the same time last year. The 2003 toll, which finished at 333, was the lowest since records began in the early 1950s. On current numbers, 2004 appears likely to be the second-lowest. Professor Ian Johnston, who runs Monash University's accident research centre, said the [road-death] toll had reached a new plateau. In the mid-1980s it sat around 700, then was cut by the introduction of random breath testing.... Full story, from The Age ___________________________
In Australia, Northern Territory police say motorists are still not taking notice of road safety messages after 11 people were taken into custody last night for drink-driving. Police today unveiled a confronting display showing wrecked cars and a tombstone in the hope it will remind motorists to take care. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Through the Night with Hella’s “Light Driver 2.0”.jpg)
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