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DEADLY MATES: RUNNING ON EMPTY AND OUT OF IDEAS
The 'Deadly Mates' campaign launched in Wales indicates that British road safety is running on empty and out of ideas says the Safe Speed road safety campaign. If it was a one off we would have laughed at its weakness and ineptitude - but that matter is serious and all too typical of road safety in this camera infested country.
The advice offered to young drivers doesn't tell them the things that they really need to know. Safe Speed has provided a short list of key advice:
Safe Speed's advice to young drivers:
A DRIVING LICENCE IS JUST THE FIRST RUNG ON THE DRIVING LADDER
Handling a car is easy; many young drivers become quite skilled at it quite quickly. But those skills aren't the skills that keep you safe. Reading the road, recognising and anticipating danger, and developing good judgement are the skills you really need and they literally take years to develop.
GOOD DRIVING IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS; THERE'S NO SHAME IN BEING INEXPERIENCED
Good driving is far harder than it looks - never make the mistake of assuming that it's easy, and remember that there's no shame in being inexperienced. Every good driver was inexperienced once.
LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES.
Near misses and incidents are far more frequent than crashes - but are caused by the exact same driver errors. If you learn from your near misses and incidents you learn to avoid crashes. Near misses and crashes are therefore a key learning opportunity. Incidents include:
- anything that involves being surprised by another road
user
- emergency braking
- swerving
- anything that involves being surprised by the road
- any loss of control
YOU NEED TO AVOID DRIVING TOO FAST - BUT THE SPEED LIMIT DOES NOT TELL YOU WHAT TOO FAST IS.
One of the essential driver skills is to adjust your speed to suit the conditions. This is a skill that continues to develop long after you have passed your test.
You must always be able to stop comfortably, on your own side of the road, within the distance that you know to be clear.
When you are young and inexperienced you will get it wrong quite frequently and it makes sense to err on the side of caution.
Slowing down on a completely clear road doesn't help anyone, but slowing down when danger threatens keeps everyone safe.
Slow down in response to hazards. Learn when to hold back and when to go.
DRIVING IS A SERIOUS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
When you drive you are responsible for your safety, for the safety of those around you and for the safety of your passengers.
Take this responsibility seriously - it is literally a matter of life and death.
DRIVING WELL IS EXTREMELY REWARDING
Gradually learn to 'master' the road and the traffic as well as your car. With ten years of experience driving can be extremely rewarding. Developing your skills can be extremely rewarding.
KEY SKILLS:
- managing distraction
- observation
- anticipation
- hazard recognition
- speed control to suit the conditions
- good judgement
The late Paul Smith, of SafeSpeed.org.uk, said: "After 15 years of speed cameras, British road safety is running on empty and out of ideas. The advice young drivers are getting is grossly inadequate and they are being badly let down. We're not warning them what to expect or teaching them how to learn from their mistakes."
"The advice on the 'Deadly Mates' web site is well intentioned but falls a million miles short of the mark. It's no surprise to us at the Safe Speed road safety campaign that crashes involving young drivers are increasing when young driver numbers are falling. Official messages set the wrong safety targets and ignore the key information that young drivers need to stay safe."
"Things are so bad that I expect the way is open for a crash involved young driver to sue the authorities for failing in their duty to provide adequate training and advice."
Deadly Mates web site: http://www.deadlymates.co.uk
BBC News web site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7135541.stm
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