Friday, December 9, 2011
Getting onto the motorway
When I was taking my driving lessons I found ‘A’ roads frightening enough to tackle with my instructor next to me, so I can well imagine that there is some merit in the new scheme coming into effect next year.
Apparently, road safety minister Mike Penning has stated that soon learner drivers will be allowed to go onto motorways as long as they have a qualified instructor with them. The aim of this initiative is to familiarise learners with the 70mph (perhaps eventually 80mph) speed limit and the motorway layouts, so that their risk of suffering an accident on these roads once they pass their practical test is reduced.
The head of road safety at the AA stated, “This is good news. It will end the ludicrous situation where people can live near a network of motorways and pass their test without ever having been on one.”
I have to say I agree. The first time I went onto the motorway I had to take my dad with me for support and almost missed my exit because I suddenly forgot how to change lanes through fear of the high speed I was traveling at.
Exactly when this scheme will begin hasn’t been reported, but I have a feeling learner drivers will really appreciate the experience. I know I would have.
Photo © Firing up the quattro… via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: 70mph, AA, accident, driving lessons, learner drivers, motorway, road, road safety, speed
Friday, June 17, 2011
Belt up!
Some young drivers might be shocked to hear that as many as one in every 20 drivers in the UK does not wear a seatbelt behind the wheel.
The research, undertaken in an AA Streetwatch Survey using data collected in April and May of this year, also reported that one in every ten cars approaching junctions seemed to be travelling too fast and almost one quarter of vehicles observed had broken brake-lights. You might be concerned that these motorists are on the roads with you, but there’s apparently even more to be worried about.
Some drivers, despite the large amount of adverts and general warnings against it, were seen using hand-held mobile phones, and one third of motorists didn’t bother indicating at junctions or roundabouts.
Despite the very real risk of serious injury or death, and fines for people caught driving without belts on, the president of the AA stated, "In previous surveys that we've done, excuses came up - atrocious things like, 'Well, actually I might crease my shirt or my blouse; I'm only going down the road.’”
As the UK road safety minister said, "Those excuses just aren't good enough because even if you're pulling out of your driveway you can hit a van, hit another vehicle, and the consequences without wearing a seatbelt are actually quite dire.
"My message to [the drivers who don’t wear seatbelts] is simple - seatbelts save lives and not wearing one just isn't worth the risk"
Image by Criterion via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: AA, junctions, motorists, road safety, roundabouts, seatbelt, young driver
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
What do kids know about road safety anymore?
Do you know your Green Cross Code? I asked my little sister about it the other day (she’s 12) and she said she didn’t know what it was.
Yet, I remember being taught it at primary school (the same school as her – I was a pupil six years earlier) and was even part of a Green Cross Road quiz team which made it to the regional round of a national road safety competition.
The reason it came into my mind was because, as a young driver who’s constantly on the look out for road hazards, I recently came across a group of kids who just ran into the road without looking and I was forced to slam on my brakes so I wouldn’t hit them.
Luckily, I was driving well under the speed limit and, as I watched them running along the pavement a few metres ahead of me, I had a sneaky suspicion that they weren’t going to “stop, look and listen” before attempting to cross the road.
I was right!
As I screeched to a halt and let out a massive “phew” because no car accident had occurred and my young driver car insurance would not be compromised, I thought to myself, “Just what are they teaching the kids in schools these days?”
Then I realised I sounded like my mum and decided to drive on peacefully, vowing to always look and listen out for all road users.
And for anyone who’s interested you can find out about the Green Cross Code by clicking here.
Yet, I remember being taught it at primary school (the same school as her – I was a pupil six years earlier) and was even part of a Green Cross Road quiz team which made it to the regional round of a national road safety competition.
The reason it came into my mind was because, as a young driver who’s constantly on the look out for road hazards, I recently came across a group of kids who just ran into the road without looking and I was forced to slam on my brakes so I wouldn’t hit them.Luckily, I was driving well under the speed limit and, as I watched them running along the pavement a few metres ahead of me, I had a sneaky suspicion that they weren’t going to “stop, look and listen” before attempting to cross the road.
I was right!
As I screeched to a halt and let out a massive “phew” because no car accident had occurred and my young driver car insurance would not be compromised, I thought to myself, “Just what are they teaching the kids in schools these days?”
Then I realised I sounded like my mum and decided to drive on peacefully, vowing to always look and listen out for all road users.
And for anyone who’s interested you can find out about the Green Cross Code by clicking here.
Image © fiskfisk via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car accident, Green Cross Code, road safety, young driver car insurance