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Drugs and dangerous distractions
Finding ways to stop motorists becoming distracted would not only prevent hundreds of crashes each year, it would also save Australia millions of dollars.
According to Rick Jackson, CEO of the Sydney-based NRMA Insurance the problem of distracted motorists has now reached the point where young drivers who text messages can spend 40% of their driving time with their eyes diverted from the road.
Separate research by Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd (AAMI) has also found that thousands of young Australians text messages while they drive.
Despite the much publicised dangers, an AAMI survey has found that 68% of motorists under-25 are likely to have read or texted a message while driving. By comparison only 25% of motorists over-25 are likely to have done the same thing.
But when it comes to distraction, mobile phones are not the only problem. The NRMA also lists "distressed child passengers" as a distraction that regularly cause crashes.
At a presentation to detail new NRMA research findings, Mr Jackson said the point had now been reached where the average Australian motorist could expect to be involved in a crash once every seven years.
He said crashes in NSW alone were costing the community $1.8 billion annually - just in property damage. Nearly half of all reported crashes involved rear-end collisions and in all crashes, head and limbs featured prominently in serious injuries.
When it came to insurance, women were more likely to make injury claims while men were twice as likely as women to sustain serious injuries.
The scan also showed:
Driving high
New research into the driving habits of Australia's young motorists shows that many are ignorant of the risks involved in driving after taking drugs.
Although the under-25s are more likely to leave their cars behind if they are going out drinking, they are twice as likely as older motorists to think that "recreational drugs" are not going to affect their driving. The findings have been published by AAMI (Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd) after a nationwide in-depth survey of 2400 licensed motorists.
Researchers found one in eight drivers under 25 believe recreational drugs like marijuana, cocaine, speed and ecstasy have no impact on driving abilities.
Only half the motorists over 25 held similar views. Similarly 30% of younger drivers who are taking medications are likely to ignore warning labels if it says they should not drive while on the drug. (25% of older drivers think that way too.) AAMI said one of the most positive findings from the survey was that 85% of young people were likely to leave their cars at home if they were planning to go out and have a few drinks.
Among the over-25s some 78% thought that way. "Young drivers appear to be planning their night out to ensure their safety and that of others, which is a positive sign," said Mr Hughes.
Global view
The United Nations has selected April 23-29 2007 for the world's first "Global Road Safety Week".
Australia was among the 83 UN member states that co-sponsored the resolution. The decision, endorsed by the UN General Assembly, proposes that national organisations use the week to focus on the safety of young drivers.
At the same time the General Assembly has invited countries to recognise the third Sunday in November of every year as the "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims".
London's alternative
In London, first-time speeding offenders and those caught driving just over the speed limit are to be offered a new penalty option. Instead of a fine or demerit points, they will be able to choose to take a short educational course on why they should not speed.
The course will not be free - they will be charged "an administrative fee" of about $150 to attend. The course is part of a $120 million package of safety measures being introduced by London aimed at cutting the city's road toll by 50% between now and 2010.
The $120 million budget is all to be spent this year and will include traffic calming, junction improvement and digital speed cameras sharp enough to identify the faces of offending motorists. Some 56 of the new cameras will be installed over the next six months and based on trials are expected to bring a 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured.
Cities are safer
A statistical analysis of fatal rural and urban road crashes in the United States has shown that driving outside cities is considerably more dangerous than driving in them.
The report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration draws no conclusions nor makes any recommendations - apart from suggesting an in-depth study "may be warranted".
Nonetheless the report does find that more crashes occur in rural areas, rural crashes are more severe, cause greater injury and pose a more difficult challenge to the highway safety community. Overall there were 42% more fatal crashes in rural areas than in urban zones.
Drink nothing
As part of its efforts to crack down on drink-driving, Britain launched a TV campaign over Christmas warning motorists not to drink at all.
Although UK laws still permit some alcohol to be in the bloodstream before a motorist can be charged, the TV campaign argues that motorists are incapable of calculating their own drink drive limits.
Consequently the message from the TV ads is that if anyone plans to drive, they should drink nothing. Meanwhile new laws before Parliament will make it tougher for drink drivers to retain their licences. Anyone found guilty of a drink-driving offence will risk a two-and-a-half year disqualification.
If a motorist receives two such convictions within a ten-year period, they will be forced to retake a driving test.
