Safe Speed Forums

Perhaps their first accident, tragically, involved a fatality but I'd wager they'd previously encountered situations which might have acted as 'learning experiences' had they recognised them as such, i.e. that there may have been a safety transgression on their part.

However, I think you've hilighted the fact that the circumstances that conspire to result in a crash can happen to anyone at any time. That's why I think we need a holistic and far reaching programme of education that encourages drivers to think more about their own driving, to recognise infringments of safety margins on their part and how to avoid them in future.

And for the 5-15% that need attention, educate and punish if necessary.

I agree. It's society that gets 10,000 learning opportunities.

And I do think we should reckon on many of those learning opportunities actually working and reducing the real number of fatals - maybe 100 fold or even 1,000 fold. If we didn't learn to drive through experience we'd be mowing folk down left, right and centre.

We can estimate the experience of the average driver involved in a fatal as follows, assuming all drivers have equal risks...

The average fatal involved driver has one near miss or accident per year (just like everyone else) and half way through his driving career has a fatal. This chap is about 1 in 500 drivers.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Yes, they get 10,000 learning opportunities, but what they're taught is that there have been x number of accidents, therefore we need more scameras.
So those 10,000 opportunities are totally wasted, and society learns nothing.

Regards
Peter

Well - have had lots of different experiences ranging from being sworn at, gobbed on and threatened with knives etc And all because they were doing something illegal and dangerous - and when this occurs - we forget about the acid lecture and get out the handcuffs!

No-one likes criticism - and for some reason - the slightest criticism of someone's driving provokes unreasonable behaviour. Perhaps it is because subconsciously we all know that a mistake can have tragic consequences and it is a defence mechanism. Jails are full of innocents - aren't they!

Suspect this person's attitude was sparked by fact that deep down she knew you were right! You see this all the time - those making the rude gestures are the ones who drive like complete numpties! And when you tick them off about this - it is the naughty child syndrome sassing back at the "authority figure!"

You mention the problem of education: one of reasons why each member of this family group - on whichever forum they are posting (and you run across them a lot ) advocate the periodic graded assessment - with prizes such as lower insurance for high grade and booby prize of full re-test for numpties and staggering high insurance premiums! To our mind - this sort of path would get the constant message of safe and courteous driving and choosing a safe speed across.

This is re-inforced with those adverts (and Sicko, the Mad Cats et al have already sounded off on these elsewhere on here and elsewhere!). I remember well "Amber Gambler", and my Dad is particularly fond of the sarcastic "Wooden Top" ones for numpty behaviour. apparently - those did indeed show the mistakes people make on regular basis.

The Weaver Bird - as I recall it by the way - was:

"The Weaver Bird has little brain
He weaves about from lane to lane
Causing chaos for those behind
He has nothing but feathers in his mind"


Then there was a sarcastic "Last time he read the Highway Code was the day he took his test"!

Going back some years and hae not looked at the web site to refresh mymemory - but think it went something like that!

If these were re-introduced and screened on every commercial break as they used to - this could help promote change in attitudes towards safe and considerate driving. And let us not forget those aimed at pedestrains and cyclists either!

But numpties are everywhere:

Couple of nights ago - was driving along M1 after day in London - came across workman rinning across the carriageway. He did not look - and could have been run over. There were NO signs on gantries, no warnings of possibility of workman on carriageway, and neither advisory nor mandatory speed limits on any signs. It was lucky for him that motorway was quiet and that I drive according to hazards I see in front of me and adjust my driving accordingly.

I was "off duty" - but did call in to the local force and advise them of this - and stopped on hard shoulder to deliver strong ticking off to workman - to ensure he did not repeat this dangerous activity!

Before I went on my jollies (spent lovely week in Italy), was in unmarked car, turning right into a road - correct road position and indicators etc - and chap drove up behind me, and instead of waiting - overtook, cuttiong the corner and causing oncoming traffic to swerve. I decided to go after him and collar him - Like Rigpig's woman numpty, he was highly abusive and it was only when he saw my ID that he closed mouth and went silent!

In each case - matter of luck that accident did not occur - and these could be classed as "near misses"

Can only hope that both numpties learned someting from encounter with me - and that is about all one can hope for with any training.