Here in Ireland, it's National Road Safety week and I thought that it was a good topic to mention here in forums. Every year people are killed or injured on the roads, be they drivers, pedestrians, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists. We all know of someone I'm sure that has been in an accident of some description. I personally was knocked down when I was eleven by a van, in a car crash when I was fourteen, hit by a speeding bicycle (I kid you not) at 15 and got into a fender bender at 27. When I sit behind the wheel of my car, I am conscious of many things ... that someone out there driving might be tired, might be drunk, might be angry, might be in a rush, might be on their mobile and I know that as such, I have to be alert. I know that I have to drive safely because I want to get home at the end of each day. This is the first year since 2005 that there has been an increase in fatalities on Irish roads. So far this year alone there has been 141 people killed. An increase of 18 on last year. We can't lay blame on other drivers we need to be aware ourselves, take care ourselves on the road. Make sure our vehicles are in good working order, make sure we leave home in plenty of time to get to our destination, stay calm no matter that the woman in the car before you is putting her makeup on and the light has changed from red to green; do not get enraged when someone doesn't indicate but pulls out before you and the multitude of other reasons that people use as excuses to speed or drive dangerously. I marvel constantly at how inept people are at entering and exiting roundabouts and am amazed that there aren't more accidents here as a result. Slowing down when entering built up areas is a necessity, you never know when a child or grown up might simply step out before you. Reaction time needs always to be swift, so being tired or distracted is not good. Teaching children the rules of the road and road safety in general can only be beneficial to them and yet, I still see children running out to catch a ball or not looking left and right when crossing. All are dangers and yet, it is us the driver who needs to be constantly observant and ready to respond. Fatality figures for last year in some countries ... Australia -- 1,291 Brazil -- 37,694 France -- 3,645 India --- 142,485 Japan --- 4,914 Israel --- 298 Mexico --- 16,612 United Kingdom -- 1,754 United States of America --- 33,808 [size=Big]Buckle up, put your phones down, SLOW DOWN and drive safely!![/size] Am not sure who the author of this prayer is but I thought if very fitting. ‘Lord, I am about to take to the road, grant me a sober head; A safe speed, and a sure destination. Guard me from those who Indicate left and then turn right. Give me patience when the traffic Is slow and I’m in a hurry. Alert me to those who use the mirror for Vanity instead of vision. Protect me from those with bad brakes and Bald tyres. Save me from those who beat time with feet and hands To their radios. Deliver me at dusk from cars without lights. Train Me to keep one eye on the road and the other on the mirrors. Make Me set out early so I won’t become the ‘late’ me. Keep me cool when Someone blares a horn at me. Warn me of Sunday drivers, every day Of the week. Direct me to obey, speed, stop and yield signs. Amen Stay safe out there. information sources: HERE HERE
In my state 800 ppl died from traffic accidents... y friend was killed in a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago.. and my uncle was killed by a 18 wheeler. Me i have yet to get in or been in a car accident
But I refuse to slow down my driving then ill just die from boredom.. I like living on the edge and driving fast and wreckless but also safe wit it
@Birdman - if you click on the second link I gave, you'll see statistics for other countries. @Demonic - sadly there are many deaths, and yet the young refuse to slow down, often times believing themselves invincible and we all know this is not the case. Just stay safe and be conscious of other road users.
@ Kysten - Thank you and I agree entirely. Its illegal here too and we use a penalty point system but it never deters those that will use their phone regardless. @Angel - thank you ;-)
Ya I had to be the evil big sister and rat my sis out for txting and driving but its out of love i had a friend die txting..the txt was srill there when they found him. And to those that say they drive fast because they have control etc..my husband was the same way. I felt safe because he has done stunt driving. But that ice, or that deer, or that kid, you just dont always see it in time. For us, it was ice...under a one lane train bridge. We hit that ice, spun, and hit the inside wall head on. I still have neck issues and his back it actually twisted now. So please, dont pretend it cant happen, it can.
13 years ago my brother was hit and killed by a car so this topic is close to my heart. Road casualty figures are better expressed as rates per 100,000 to allow more meaningful comparisons between countries/states/counties but any death on the road is one too many. RIP to those that have died.