nd road report

nd road report

Road Safety Measures

1. Introduction

The safety of all road users is a primary concern of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and has been the subject of intensive study. The road safety measures implemented are based on the findings of these researches and the expert knowledge of Transport and Main Roads staff. They are designed to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow on Queensland roads. The laws are just one part of the equation. Our ability to reduce disaster on our roads also depends on the decisions and behaviors of all road users. This includes choices about travel mode, route, departure time, speed, and alcohol consumption. It requires organizations and individuals to take where and how you want to travel is a subject of consideration for many road users. Reduce travel the risk of travel the right route at the right situations frequently do not have one simple answer take to risk simple life. A life is not worth a drive down a dangerous path and end to consider an alternative the route Consider using a safe travel mode such as public transport, cycling or walking. At times the choice of mode may be more pertinent. E.g. the cyclist who had his bike crushed on his drive and wished he had ridden it instead. Unfortunately there is only short term relief in reaching your destination without incident. E.g. the commuter who misses a turning and takes longer but gets home safely. The safety of roadways and traffic flow will be discussed further in the following sections. Recent law changes have incited a great deal of debate. Changes such as the increase in random breath testing units and the banning of handheld mobile phones seek to affect behavioral change. Alcohol and speeding are still major contributors to road trauma. It is hoped that the drink driver coming home from work, boot load full of tools will think twice about having one for the road as it is no longer worth the risk. Changes in the laws are frequently backed by public education campaigns ranging from press releases to graphic television advertisements. It is expected that continued exposure to road safety messages should see increased awareness of road safety issues in the community. The road safety aware individual is well informed and more likely to make safe choices when driving.

2. Current Road Conditions

Surface texture is a key thing that influences skidding resistance and affects all road users from pedestrians to cyclists and motorcyclists to car users. A smooth road surface constructed mainly of bitumen can be beneficial in wet conditions as noise and rolling resistance are reduced. However, it can be dangerous in terms of skidding resistance. Skids are more likely to occur on roads with a high resistance to slip, and surfaces like gravel are very difficult to regain stability on when skidding. Wet roads are twice as likely to cause an accident than dry roads, and an estimated 75% of the difference in wet and dry accidents can be attributed to changes in driving behavior as a result of the weather.

The condition of a road is a key factor in ensuring safety, as the effectiveness of road safety measures is dependent on the maintenance of the road. Road conditions can be looked at in terms of surface condition (dry, wet, icy), skidding resistance, level of maintenance, roadworks, and surface texture. The factors here can influence the stopping distance of a vehicle. A study by K Rumar states that 58% of accidents due to road condition are caused in bad weather. This is often because drivers fail to adjust their driving style to the conditions and experience a loss of stability of their vehicle.

3. Road Maintenance and Upgrades

Preventative strategies for reducing road deaths and injuries have been shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of crashes. A well-maintained road is less likely to contribute to a crash, and a well-designed and constructed road will make it easier for drivers to avoid crashes. Preventative strategies are delivered on the road with line marking, the installation of crash barriers and signs. Off the road, they are delivered through targeted speed enforcement and by applying consistent penalties for all drink-driving offenders. The most cost effective road safety interventions are designed to prevent a crash from occurring. However, it is inevitable that some crashes will occur. The severity of which can be reduced through the implementation of forgiving road infrastructure and post-crash care services.

4. Driver Education and Awareness

It is mandatory for students to complete at least 60 hours of supervised driving practice, including 10 hours of night driving, before moving to a full licence. The changes will ensure new drivers are better prepared to drive unsupervised in a range of driving conditions. The location where the majority of people learn, sitting in a car, is likely to be an effective learning time to change their attitude and behaviour. We could learn from the example of driving under the influence. The majority of people now see drink driving as both a socially and morally unacceptable behaviour, and most would not consider driving when they think they are over the limit. This attitude and behaviour change stemmed from legislation on drink driving and the introduction of random breath testing, but some of the behaviour change could have initially come from the thought that having a crash and injuring themselves or others would be a very bad thing.

Driver education and awareness is a key factor in improving road safety. Since driver behaviour is so important in the cause, prevention, and crashes, improving driver education is likely to have positive benefits. Road safety education is intended to build on young people’s existing knowledge and experience to influence their attitudes and behaviours. It aims to help prepare them for using the road when they become drivers or road users. In NZ, most education is road safety education that is part of the school curriculum. This is a very important step as most people learn their attitudes and behaviours towards risk-taking and the safety of using the road from childhood.

5. Conclusion and Call to Action

Heard this sentence too many times? “Prevention is better than cure”. This does make lots of sense. It’s much better to prevent something bad from happening, than to suffer the consequences of it occurring. Road safety is very much achievable if there is a will and awareness. The world of road safety is way too clear and the solution is simple; take all the necessary steps to prevent a road accident from occurring. Out of many road safety measures, most problematic are power over speed and speed limit enforcement. However, this will take some time to settle down and stick in the mind of the society today, but there are many things that each individual can do to play a role in achieving road safety. A simple thing like using a seatbelt whether driving or being a passenger can save many lives. Ensure that children too are using a booster or a child seat and do not forget to keep to the speed limit, and for sure it helps to reduce 50% of road death tolls.

Drawing attention to the argument made, road traffic safety is an important aspect in influencing the safety and health of individuals as well as well-being of the whole communities. Most road traffic accidents are due to human error which can be related to drunk driving, speeding, careless and inconsiderate driving, and using mobile phones while driving. These factors can result in injury or death of the driver, passenger or even innocent pedestrians. This can be prevented if the public is well informed and aware of the risks when on the road.

In conclusion, this road safety essay is probably one of the most important essays for road users. A very basic but crucial aspect of our daily life, road safety in simple terms is defined as the methods and measures used to prevent road users from being killed or seriously injured. Considering the impacts, this is a subject that has been very well connected to us, starting from the early days up till today. It is not something new and is definitely not a complex subject which requires a genius mind to understand its importance.