According to the road safety charity Brake, a person is killed on public roads in the UK around once every seventeen minutes. To minimise your likelihood of being part of this statistic, and to protect both yourself and any passengers you might be transporting, it’s worth taking a few key precautions. Let’s take a look at a few of the more effective ones.
The Three E's of Road Safety
Road safety principles can be distilled into three simple categories, each of them starting with the letter ‘E’.
There’s engineering, which relates to the design of the roads themselves, and the vehicles that drive on them. Through the right design, a junction, highway, or suburb can be made safer.
Next comes enforcement, which relates to the rules of the road, and the way that standards for driver behaviour are upheld. Put simply, this means the number of traffic police on the road, and their powers to issue penalties to those who violate the law. Solicitors specialising in road traffic collisions might also play a role here.
Finally there’s education. Drivers should know exactly what’s expected of them, and what techniques to use in given situations.
Essential Collision Prevention Techniques
So, what practical advice is there for those who’d like to drive more safely on public roads?
To begin with, you’ll need to be able to stop at any given point without colliding with the vehicle in front of you. This means limiting your speed, and keeping a safe distance. Technological aids, like assisted braking, might also be helpful.
You will also need to be able to let other road users know what you intend to do next. Make sure that your indicator lights are working, and that you are signalling clearly.
The vehicle will also need to be kept in good condition if you’re going to retain control over it. This means keeping an eye on your tyre pressure and tread depth. This will not only reduce your stopping distance, but it will also help you to save money on fuel.
Finally, it’s worth noting that many accidents on public roads today are caused, in whole or in part, by driver distraction. Limit your use of smartphones, and try to avoid picking up any passengers that might distract you at busy junctions.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
We’ve already mentioned how automatic braking can make a crucial difference when you need to perform an emergency stop. But we should also consider the benefits of other technologies. Lane departure warnings and blind-spot detection, for example, might make a crucial difference when you’re doing a lot of driving on motorways.
In Conclusion
Road safety can usually be improved by reducing speed, proactively maintaining your vehicle, and getting into the habit of driving defensively. A good driver takes personal responsibility for these things – and enjoys improved safety as a result.
