Road Safety

Roads and vehicles are a part of everyday life for all of us. Either as a driver, a passenger, or as a pedestrian, we all must obey road safety everyday.

Children are especially at risk around vehicles and roads due to their size and ability.

When walking to a park for a picnic, on the way, explain the observations and choices you make to get there safety. Talk about the importance of wearing a seat belt, point out the rules when driving and always demonstrate responsible and safe behaviors when around vehicles and roads.

Adults need to make sure that when cars are around their children, they should:

• Watch out and keep their children out of danger
• Talk to the children about road safety so they understand
• Hold a child’s hand when crossing the road
• No running across the road
• Stop, look, listen, think and look again
• Use zebra crossings
• Concentrate on the road
• Make sure that you are in full view of the driver. E.g. NOT standing behind a truck.

What are the main causes of traffic accidents?

Speeding

Many accidents happen simply because the driver speeding. The slower you’re going, the less distance it will for you to stop. By going slowly, you will also be able to observe your surroundings more easily and notice emerging dangers such as cyclists, pedestrians, children playing and other vehicles. Sticking to the speed limit is one way to reduce your chance of an accident. In poor conditions you should be twice as careful about your speed.

Speeding is dangerous, rarely saves time, and exposes drivers and passengers in a vehicle, and other road users to danger.  By speeding a motorist uses more fuel, creates more pollution, creates driver stress and in the event of a crash, increases damage to vehicle.  Drivers should check their speed on long stretches of road and when coming into a town, main street or side street.

Tiredness

Tiredness is also a contributor to traffic accidents. Recent studies show that while many drivers would never consider drinking under the influence of alcohol, they are prepared to drive while tired. What they don’t realize is that their ability can be damaged by tiredness to an equal or even greater degree by alcohol.

Drink driving

Drink driving is when you drive while under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol seriously harms your ability to react quickly, make good judgments, and drive as well as you might normally.

Driving while over the influence of alcohol limit is illegal, and you will be fined, gain demerit points, and potentially even lose your license if you’re caught. It also puts you, your passengers, other people on the roads and pedestrians at risk – of injury or even death.

Human, Vehicle and Environment

Human: The impact of humans in an accident is speeding, fatigue, drink driving and not wearing seatbelts.

Vehicle: The impact of vehicles during an accident is that the breaks on the car don’t work properly.

Environment: The impact of humans in an accident is that the roads are too wet and the car takes longer to break and animals going across the road. E.g. kangaroo’s and wallabies.

10 Hints to Increase Your Safety

1. Ensure that your bike is well maintained, the tires are regularly checked and the seat is adjusted to the correct size.
2. When going in a vehicle, enter from the kerb and put a seatbelt on.
3. Make sure that when crossing the road, you need to hold an adult hand, and stop, look, listen, think and look left and right again.
4. While walking on roads, obey traffic signs.
5. Check your cars brakes at least once a year.
6.  When crossing the road, look for traffic lights and zebra crossings, cross with friends so it is more visible for the driver to see and wait until there is NO traffic.
7. When skating, keep to the pathway or footpath.
8. Wear a helmet when you’re riding your bike, be cautious when your riding on the road and use bike lanes if there is one.
9. When waiting for a bus, stand on the footpath, let the bus driver stop and open the door before stepping towards it.
10. Never run across the road.