Why (car) accidents happen....?

[GrumpyGregry]

An interesting article (caution contains Torygraph)

 

[jonny jeez]

It is interesting and telling that "impairment" is so low on the list.

Sadly the top few items (all error related) are harder to mitigate as they are really down to the individual. so its no Surprise that excesive speed and impariment are so heavily policed. At the end of the day they may not be the biggest killers but are the easiest (only ones) that we can enforce restrictions against.

 

[HLaB]

Speeding isn't a problem but going to fast is, thats a bit of a pedantic oxymoron. Any well written report does indeed state that excessive speed is the greatest problem, but it still is speed

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

But the biggest cause of road accidents in the UK today? The statistics are quite clear on this and it's "driver error or reaction".

I haven't seen the report, of course, but the reporting in the article seems to be very naive. Of course errors will happen, but they will have serious consequences more frequently the less margin for error you leave.

Close passing of cyclists is an example. It may well be that a cyclist ended up under the wheels of a car because of an unfortunate gust of side wind, which the cyclist was not able to react to quickly enough. The real cause of the "accident", though, was that the car was passing the cyclist at speed with only 18" gap.

 

[vernon]

The real cause of the "accident", though, was that the car was passing the cyclist at speed with only 18" gap.

That's quite a generous gap.

 

[tyred]

The sad reality is that to err is human.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

That's [18"] quite a generous gap.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few motorists who believe that, or even that 6" is enough.

 

[HLaB]

Unfortunately, there are quite a few motorists who believe that if they don't hit you its enough is enough.

FTFY

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

FTFY

Thank you.

 

[Mad at urage]

Speeding isn't a problem but going to fast is, thats a bit of a pedantic oxymoron. Any well written report does indeed state that excessive speed is the greatest problem, but it still is speed

It is clear though, that the report is making a distinction between exceeding the posted speed limit (can be regulated against and measured with cameras) and exceeding the capabilities of the vehicle in the particular conditions prevailing (which includes presence of other road users, weather conditions etc and is less easily regulated and not amenable to measuring with speed cameras).

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Unfortunately, there are quite a few motorists who believe that, or even that 6" is enough.

If they don't hit me I'm content.

 

[HLaB]

It is clear though, that the report is making a distinction between exceeding the posted speed limit (can be regulated against and measured with cameras) and exceeding the capabilities of the vehicle in the particular conditions prevailing (which includes presence of other road users, weather conditions etc and is less easily regulated and not amenable to measuring with speed cameras).

I think educated people will recognise there is a difference but at the end of the day IMO its still speed, unless you believe the safe speed forum inappropriate speed may not be legally speeding but its still speeding for the conditions. IMO the report tries to bring up various excuses for poor driving and play down speeding, whilst all of which are still speed related.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

If they don't hit me I'm content.

Until next time, when you aren't so lucky.

 

[mangaman]

I think educated people will recognise there is a difference but at the end of the day IMO its still speed, unless you believe the safe speed forum inappropriate speed may not be legally speeding but its still speeding for the conditions. IMO the report tries to bring up various excuses for poor driving and play down speeding, whilst all of which are still speed related.

Exactly

Apart from the drunk / drugged drivers or distracted (on phone / applying make-up) - all the others are speed related.

Their number 1 was "Driver Error or reaction" - meaning not seeing people in time or taking corners too fast or losing control for other reasons.

If you take a corner too fast that should come under driving too fast for the conditions.

It's stretching logic to breaking point to claim 65% of fatal accidents are due to drivers losing control of their vehicles or not noticing hazards and not realising these will not be a problem at an appropriate speed.

 

[Mad at urage]

I think educated people will recognise there is a difference but at the end of the day IMO its still speed, unless you believe the safe speed forum inappropriate speed may not be legally speeding but its still speeding for the conditions. IMO the report tries to bring up various excuses for poor driving and play down speeding, whilst all of which are still speed related.

No, it's a useful distinction, because breaking the speed limit is something that can be enforced using more speed cameras, inappropriate speed for the conditions cannot: That needs more traffic police. The report allows a sensible discussion (if we could have one on this emotive subject) about where resources should be allocated to prevent this.