When Will They Ever Learn?

How long are the people of this country going to stand for the number of deaths that occur on its roads? It is the equivalent of 8 fully laden jumbo jets (3,100 people) dropping out of the sky every year with all the attendant carnage and destruction.

Racing?

Speed is the main cause of road deaths, so why are motorists so united in their abhorrence of speed limits and cameras (which incidentally save an estimated 100 lives and 770 serious injuries per year)?

In town, what is the point of racing between two sets of red traffic lights using precious fuel, belching out vast amounts of pollution, only to sit waiting for another Silverstone-type starting grid when the next set of lights changes to green?

TRAFFIC HOLD UPS

So why are we intent on driving too close to the car in front on motorways? Is it that we are always in such a hurry? Recent university research has shown what many road safety observers have known for years - that being too close to the car in front, when we are doing 70-75mph, causes massive hold ups. The first car brakes gently, the second panics and slams his brakes on, then the third, fourth and so on.

The M1 carries 1,000,000 vehicles a week and up to up to 2,200 vehicles per hour. Any slight slowing down or stopping can produce a body of standing traffic in minutes, many miles long, which can take hours to disperse. All for the sake of travelling too close.

The cost to the economy (time lost) and to the environment (fumes from "fuming" drivers) is horrendous.

"But it doesn't apply to me because I know what I'm doing!!!"

"My journey's important!!"

When will they ever learn? Indeed, who can teach them?

Julian McGowan ADI

Julian has been involved in Fleet Driver Training and SAFED Van Training for a number of years.  He is based in South Yorkshire.