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| How the Lancashire Partnership
for Road Safety aims to slow drivers down |
Television soap programmes attempt to mirror what goes on in society.
Over the past few months, such programmes have tried to address
another concern – the impact of speeding and road safety and
the devastating effects of excessive speed.
Recently, EastEnder’s Martin Fowler was at the forefront of
one of these storylines. The episode that saw the death of Jamie
Mitchell as a result of Martin’s reckless driving undoubtedly
carries with it a strong road safety message. Similarly, Coronation
Street viewers saw Sarah Louise Platt fighting for her life in Intensive
Care after her boyfriend lost control of a stolen car, causing it
to crash at high speed. Nearly 10 million people tuned into Cold
Feet to see new mother Rachel horrifically killed in a car crash.
As more people than ever now use a car on a regular basis, these
storylines are a frighteningly accurate illustration of the real
and ever-present dangers we all face daily.
Research indicates that speed is a major contributory factor in
around a third of all road crashes. Speed is therefore primarily
responsible for at least 1,200 of the deaths and 100,000 injuries
that occur on our roads every year.
Drivers need to be aware that cutting their speed by just a few
miles per hour could save them or other road users from death or
disability. Driving at an appropriate speed gives you time to predict
hazards and prevent dangers from occurring. Driving at 30mph instead
of 35mph gives you vital extra seconds in which to react to dangers.
Human physiology teaches that the faster you go, the less time you
have to react; the longer you take to brake, the more liable you
are to skid; the harder you hit and the more likely you are to hurt
someone.
Last year, over 9,000 people were killed or seriously injured on
Lancashire’s roads. The Lancashire Partnership for Road safety
strives to raise awareness of the consequences of speeding, drink-driving
and the non-wearing of seatbelts in an effort to reduce the number
of casualties on our roads. Speeding is the most common cause of
road crashes. The facts are these:
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| “Human physiology teaches
that the faster you go, the less time you have to react” |
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• 7 out of 10 drivers regularly break the speed limit
• An average car travelling at 35mph will need an extra 21
feet to stop than one at 30mph
• Hit by a car at 40mph, 9 out of 10 pedestrians will be killed
• It’s not the speed that kills, it’s the sudden
stop. On impact, internal organs and the brain are moving forward
at the same speed as before the crash. It follows that organs smashing
against the outer skeleton at excessive speed will inevitably suffer
severe haemorrhaging
Cheryl Brown, Public Relations & Marketing for the Lancashire
Partnership for Road Safety says: “Injury and death is an
everyday occurrence on Lancashire’s roads and causes immense
human suffering. The fact is a driver is twice as likely to kill
someone when driving at 35mph compared to 30mph.
Drivers need to understand that the speed limit is a limit and not
a target. The speed of your vehicle should be determined by the
conditions of the road. Remember, the speed you are travelling at
when something goes wrong can make the difference between a safe
reaction and tragedy.”
We all can think of excuses for speeding: running late; did not
realise the speed limit; the road was clear; only a couple of miles
over the limit. But these are the consequences:
• Points on license or losing license. New drivers lose their
license at 6 points
• Damaging car (expense of repair/increased insurance costs)
• Hurting someone or yourself
• Causing death
• Speeding fine of £60
• Getting done for driving without due care/dangerous driving
To help manage your speed consider the following:
• Plan the route of your journey before setting off
• Make sure you have plenty of time to get to your destination
• Know the speed limits for different roads
• Do not be intimidated to go faster by other drivers
• Regularly check your speedometer to ensure you are keeping
within the speed limits
The consequences of speed-related road crashes affect real people.
The Partnership strives to raise awareness of the consequences of
speeding to prevent the reality of road deaths and injuries within
our communities. Remember – Think! Slow Down.
For more information, contact Lancashire Partnership
for Road Safety on 01772
534531 or
E-Mail: safe2travel@env.lancscc.gov.uk |
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