Calls from a UK road safety charity, BRAKE, have been prompted after a report concluded that the average driver broke the speed limit over 18,000 times in their life.
BRAKE’s warning to watch our speed comes as the summer holidays see more children playing outside in the streets – and therefore a hike in the number of child-related car accidents.
BRAKE is asking motorists to be aware of their speed now more than ever, in an attempt to reduce the number of children injured as a result of car crashes. Speeding poses the greatest risk in built-up residential areas, which are usually set to a 30mph or even 20mph limit. The charity wants to see motorists sticking to, or even driving at less than, the advertised limit.
This announcement follows hot on the heels of another road safety charity, the IAM, asking for young drivers to be given further driving instruction. A recent study showed that in 50% of crashes involving under-20s, ‘driver or rider error’ was the main cause. This figure drops to 42% for those in their 20s, as drivers gain more experience.
A further problem is the number of distractions facing a driver in any given circumstance. Radio, friends chatting, phone calls or text messages, even kisses from partners, are all distractions that young drivers frequently experience. These, combined with a lack of experience, lead to mistakes being made.
The IAM is now calling for a scheme similar to one being run in Austria, and which has seen a reduction of 30% in the number of young male driver fatalities, to be rolled out here in the UK. It would involve making an advanced driving or Pass Plus course compulsory, as well as including driving ‘checks’ in the first 12 to 18 months of driving.
More driving news items are available in our Driving Blog. Please visit our main driving test website for information, advice and tips on all maters driving tests related.
