The annual statistical report for 2008 by the European Road Safety Observatory, compiled by SafetyNet, gives a detailed insight into road accident data in the 19 EU member states (EU-15 and EU-20 without Germany) but the report fails to give the particulars about the occurrence of these accidents. On the other hand, the UK Department of Transport maintains an extensive database for all accidents. Therefore, I have pulled out the following data concerning traffic accidents.

From the below table injudicious action is sub-divided into contributory factors: disobeying traffic lights; give way/stop sign; double line; disobeying pedestrian crossing; direction of travel; vehicle travelling along pavement; cycle entering road; exceeding speed limit; travelling too fast for condition; following too close.

Eleven per cent of all road fatalities are due to exceeding speed limits. While travelling too fast and following too close equate for a further 15 per cent. So, the conclusion that excessive speed is the cause of one third of all fatal or serious road traffic accidents is fallacious. Therefore, what are the plans for the remaining 74 per cent of the causes to road accidents?

Furthermore, the fatalities or serious accidents in the UK and the EU occur thus: motorways - 3.6 per cent; urban - 53 per cent and rural - 44 per cent. The speed limits are: motorways - 112 km/h; urban - 50 km/h and rural - 80 km/h. Most of the accidents take place at 50 km/h and in populated locations. So, 50 km/h is less safe than 80 or 120 km/h!

Regarding fume emissions and speed, Environmental Protection UK indicates that: at speed of about 80 km/h emissions will be lowest, rising dramatically above 112 km/h.

The policy of the Department of Transport (UK) for the deployment of speed camera is: "The law does not require drivers to be warned about the presence of safety cameras. However, the government wants drivers to know both the speed limit on any given stretch of road and also that camera enforcement is taking place". So, in the absence of such guidelines, we have to believe that protection of income is more important than safety!

For the record, the above is not to absolve reckless or dangerous driving; one death is already one too many. On the other hand, it is a gross injustice that the authorities increase revenue (€5.07 million) under the guise of safer roads. Therefore, it is high time for the authorities to shift from rhetoric to substance by delivering an efficient road infrastructure controlled by intelligent traffic management!

Other sites: www.erso.eu; www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm and www.environmental-protection.org.uk.

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