MANY will be familiar with a frightening video that was a short Road Safety Video, in the scene of a girl lying in a lifeless, slumbering tree, and reads “If you hit me at 40, I’ve got an eighty percent chance of dying. If you hit me at 30, I’ve got an eighty percent chance of surviving”.
Every 22 minutes, a person is seriously injured or killed in UK roads, which equates to 25,000 deaths per year.
Around the world, nearly 1.2 million people die each year and 50 million suffer permanent disabilities every year due to accidents on the roads.
It is the most significant cause of death in those aged between five and 29. However, it doesn’t need to be this way.
The World Health Organisation
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a sweeping plan to reduce these numbers by half in 2030. Thankfully there are numerous aspects of driving that drivers are able to tackle in achieving this goal.
The dangers of drinking and driving are widely discussed, and since 1979, the number of RTAs with alcohol in the mix has dropped dramatically.
Yet however, according to the non-profit charity Brake according to the Brake charity in UK over 200 people per year die from a crash caused by drinking. If you are at the maximum UK blood alcohol limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml blood, you’re 6 times more likely be involved in an fatal RTA than if there was no alcohol in your vehicle.
The government’s “Think” campaign now advises “if you’re driving, it’s better to have none for the road”.
The body is able to eliminate alcohol around 1 unit/hour and if you’ve been drinking heavily the night before and you’re still over the limit by the next morning.
Driving as a factor that increases the risk of car accidents
The recognition of drug-related driving as a factor that increases the risk of car accidents has increased over the past few years, resulting in the goal of eliminating any crash that is caused by the use by recreational substances, the effects of which can be amplified if consumed by drinking alcohol.
However, prescription drugs such as powerful painkillers antihistamines or sedatives could also affect reaction times.
Research of Mobile on Road Safety
Research has shown that reaction times when using a mobile phone are 30 percent slower than when you are who are drinking and that it could take as long as 30 seconds for the driver’s focus at the wheel to re-establish after completing a phone call.
Being fatigued while driving is a factor in 30 to 40 percent of road traffic crashes and the phrase “Driving Tired Kills” is prominently visible on a variety of motorway signs.
Before embarking on a trip, it is crucial to be adequately refreshed. Travel between midnight and 6 am are the most likely to be a cause of injury since our bodies are less focused at these times. A break of at least 15 minutes each two hours is a must as an integral part of your journey but coffee, a nap, increasing your radio volume or keeping the windows open are only temporary that are is not a substitute for proper sleep.
Another issue that is not as well-known is driving while emotional. Driving a motorized vehicle is a complex set of interactions between a drivers, the vehicle they are driving and the other motorists.
Final Words
Being in a state of anxiety is similar to being in “fight or flight” mode. The increase in stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol stop the person from focusing on the myriad of needs that can make that the distinction between a secure travel experience and one that can end in catastrophe. Don’t drive if you are stressed. Give yourself time to relax or find a different method for transportation and Road safety.
