The best idea I ever had for road safety ...

[tyred]

My idea is to display the shells of smashed-up cars on the middle of big roundabouts with a notice of how many people were killed, etc etc.

Shock tactics and horrible pictures has really helped people stop smoking...

 

[twowheelsgood]

Simple. Add a 3rd part to the driving test. Test, theory and psychological assessment.

 

[tyred]

Simple. Add a 3rd part to the driving test. Test, theory and psychological assessment.

Definitely in favour of that. There are some people who simply have the wrong temperment for driving on busy roads with potential delays.

 

[Chrisz]

Regulation of speed is all well and good - but how does it prevent drunk/drug drivers (who are not speeding) or left-hookers (who are not speeding) or lorrys at roundabouts etc.??

IMHO, what is needed is (a) better training for ALL road users and (b) a sense of respect for other people needs to be instilled in EVERYBODY.

For me, there seems to be a general lack of awareness of/consideration for other people which is not just road-user based but is endemic throughout our society!

Basic rules on how to treat fellow human beings should be taught at school, and in the home and carried on throughout childhood and into teenage years (manners, courtesy etc.).

 

[arallsopp]

One thing I've been thinking about is "what if traffic lights didn't have a green setting"?

Most of the problems (congestion and danger) I encounter are down to road users reading a green light as "Go ahead. You're fully entitled to progress right now. If there's something or someone obstructing your onward journey, that's their issue. Beep at them if you want".

We could sneak it in under environmental guidelines (a flashing amber in place of the green light will use 50% of the energy) and it would rightly say "there is a potential hazard in the road ahead. Slow down... (which is a much better message than 'Go go go!!! Its still green. You can make it. Go!')

I kinda toyed with the thought of removing all but the red signal. After all, every other combination seems to mean "have a good look... then proceed only if its clear and safe to do so, but be prepared to stop either way." In that reading, absence of a signal and a signal that is off should be treated identically.

For some reason, green is the tricky one, as I don't understand what it is saying that an absent signal doesn't.

Andy.

 

[Vigilies]

I would give support to the black box idea. I don't think a camera would be necessary if we let the insurance companies fit them and then punish the poor drivers through their pockets and reward the good drivers.
I also think the car crushing or dismantling for parts idea is good as a punishment but I would link it in to the black box to get information on poor and dangerous drivers.
Mandatory car crushing/dismantling for using a mobile whilst driving, whilst under the influence of drink or drugs or a sliding scale of exceeding the speed limit from say five miles an hour in a thirty limit to anything over ninety on a motorway.

 

[PpPete]

One thing I've been thinking about is "what if traffic lights didn't have a green setting"?

Most of the problems (congestion and danger) I encounter are down to road users reading a green light as "Go ahead. You're fully entitled to progress right now. If there's something or someone obstructing your onward journey, that's their issue. Beep at them if you want".

We could sneak it in under environmental guidelines (a flashing amber in place of the green light will use 50% of the energy) and it would rightly say "there is a potential hazard in the road ahead. Slow down... (which is a much better message than 'Go go go!!! Its still green. You can make it. Go!')

I kinda toyed with the thought of removing all but the red signal. After all, every other combination seems to mean "have a good look... then proceed only if its clear and safe to do so, but be prepared to stop either way." In that reading, absence of a signal and a signal that is off should be treated identically.

For some reason, green is the tricky one, as I don't understand what it is saying that an absent signal doesn't.

Andy.

Or just remove traffic lights altogether?
Ever driven though a junction where traaffic lights are temporarily out of action? Since no one has priority it more or less has to be done at walking pace.

 

[pshore]

Or just remove traffic lights altogether?
Ever driven though a junction where traaffic lights are temporarily out of action? Since no one has priority it more or less has to be done at walking pace.

This works at a cross roads with equal levels of traffic. But the other week I came through a junction with traffic lights out and the larger traffic flow was zooming through the junction like they had a green light and the poor folks on the side road could not get across.

I am a fan of a well designed roundabout for equalising speed. Those that allow for high speed or flying-through are not cycle friendly though. The best one I saw was on Jersey, where there was a three road roundabout with a sign that said something like 'merge in turn at busy times'. It worked well at busy times with equal priority for all.

 

[byegad]

Better. Ban everyone form the roads except me. Safety at a stroke.

 

[cd365]

Wow, too many car haters in here advocating a Big Brother society. Where would it stop?
Be careful what you wish for!

 

[Archie_tect]

20 mph speed limit on all roundabouts and traffic light controlled junctions... step down reduced speed limits nearing junctions works well in France... lower speeds allows for better observation and increases traffic flow on roundabouts.

 

[Night Train]

It's funny how it is ok to penalise motor vehicle drivers with life bans and car crushing but not cyclists.

Seriously though, I agree with the earlier post about better training, as people, from an early age and better training to use the roads, regardless of method of transportation.
Many people do seem to have a selfish tendancy when moving about by whatever means.

 

[Arch]

The driver I saw kill a whole family had just one previous conviction for drink drive. If he'd been off the road first time round perhaps they'd still be alive and I and the rest of the bus queue who watched it wouldn't have the consequences etched on our brains for life.

Sorry Arch, but there are some offences where there's no justification for any second chances. Drink driving is just one of them.

I can see that, and drink driving would be a no-chance offence. I was thinking of minor speeding and so on. There are a lot of things that could use up that one chance, like not wearing a seat belt, using the phone etc. Of course, this assumes enough police on the roads to catch such offences. Cameras can do some things, but not everything.

 

[Arch]

Wow, too many car haters in here advocating a Big Brother society. Where would it stop?
Be careful what you wish for!

Where would it stop? Oh, I dunno, with no one dying in avoidable road crashes? With everyone's journey being more relaxed and enjoyable? Terrible, terrible consequences, I agree.

I don't hate cars by the way, I hate people who think they have a god given right to drive one in any way they want, and sod the rest of us.

 

[ColinJ]

My idea is to display the shells of smashed-up cars on the middle of big roundabouts with a notice of how many people were killed, etc etc.

You will probably know the steepish hill from the traffic lights on the A646 on the outskirts of Burnley - from Manchester Road down Rossendale Road?

The police used to put speed traps on that descent and a few colleagues were caught and asked to get inside a patrol car parked at the bottom of the hill. They were then shown a selection of gory photographs of local RTA victims and told in no uncertain terms that how they had been driving was totally unacceptable.

I don't know if it made them think twice about speeding after that, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

(Talking of speeding on that hill ... I nearly came off my bike when I hit a raised manhole going down there at 56 mph! )