Hello Loughborough University

This week I have started the first module working towards a MSc in Road and Vehicle Safety, led by Dr Richard Frampton.  The course is being run from the stunning Loughborough Design School, which opened in September 2011.

Loughborough Design School

So far in the first module, 'Principles of Road and Vehicle Safety' taught by Dr Andrew Morris and Professor Brian Fildes, we have briefly looked at the history of Road Safety and a global perspective of the current and future problems the world faces.

This has highlighted something I have really failed to grasp properly in my time as a Road Safety Officer:  the scale of the global problem.  With the rapid growth in car ownership across developing nations such as China, India and Brazil, combined with poor infrastructure, we are likely to see a huge global rise in road fatalities over the next decade from 1.3 million to approximately 1.9 million per year.  This growth will see road traffic accidents become the third highest cause of disease and/or death.  Sobering stuff really!

More to follow this week, particularly looking in more detail at the 'Safe System Approach' rather than the 'Transportation Model' which has traditionally been used in the UK.

How do you stop the in-car 'domestic'?

This week a news piece by Road Safety GB highlighted research, led by Terry Lansdown at Heriot-Watt University, showing the significant adverse effects of couples arguing (having 'contentious conversations') while driving.  While this may seem obvious to many it is interesting that the research showed the effects were far worse with the driver's partner present in the vehicle rather than if the conversation took place using a hands-free kit.  You can purchase the report here.

Today I happened to come across this possible solution...enjoy!

View on Lockerz

Warning: May Cause Drowsiness

Having just developed a seasonal head cold (aka 'man flu'), I dragged myself into the supermarket on the way to work to select an appropriate remedy in order to try and get me through the day.  The cold and flu section was well stocked for the season so there was plenty to choose from and I spent a few minutes comparing the different products.

What caught my eye was that a number of products indicated that they may cause drowsiness.  Now, ordinarily that might be a good thing if you are holed up under the duvet to recover.  But for anyone out and about with a cold or flu, as many people are, it is important to remember that drowsiness and driving don't mix!

Prescription or over-the-counter drugs can affect your ability to drive in the same way as illegal drugs, and result in the same punishments by law in the UK.

If I hadn't been consciously looking with driving in mind I don't think I would've stopped to consider anything other than the remedial properties of the product.  So just a word of caution as winter approaches:  Check your medication to see if it could affect your ability to drive.  If in doubt check, with your GP or pharmacist.

"My Mum Says We Don't Really Need to Wear a Seatbelt on Short Journeys"

Last week I was involved in delivering an event to 9 and 10 year old children at a local fire station.  My colleagues and I were delivering in-car safety messages concentrating on the importance of wearing a seatbelt.

What continues to amaze me is the number of pupils who tell us they don't always wear a seatbelt, particularly on short journeys.  This is even more worrying as some of these children should still be using a booster seat.

The words of one pupil really stand out, and it's not the first time I've heard them:

"My mum says we don't really need to wear a seatbelt on short journeys."

It's not said proudly or shyly, just matter-of-fact, and it is at that point that I consider the magnitude of the task at hand.  We spend about 15 minutes with these pupils, and for this minority, and thankfully it is a minority, they already have a belief ingrained by their parents that we have little chance of changing.

According to the Department for Transport 89-95% of people in cars are observed wearing seatbelts, but that still means 1 in 10 to 1 in 20 aren't!  I don't think that figure has much chance of changing significantly unless we can change the behaviour of the adult role models.  It may be that diversionary courses that have been successful alternatives to other driving offences could work for seatbelts too, and I know this is being trialed in some areas.

Personally, I just can't understand a parent saying something like that to their children when it is a matter of their safety.  As a parent myself I would always be thinking "what if...?"

The driving test: Is it enough for young drivers?

Yesterday (4 Oct) saw the Association of British Insurers (ABI) call for "radical action" from the government to tackle the number of casualties among 17-24 year-olds, including proposals to ensure young drivers learn for a year before taking their test and restrictions on post-test driving.  But, if the driving test has been developed to ensure drivers have the skills to control a car, what is it that is missing?

Skill Acquisition and Driving Experience

The process of learning to drive can be split into two aspects: 1) the physical skills required to control the car; 2) the experience of how to act/react to changes in the road environment as they occur.

The skills to control a car have to be learned, and are memorised through hours of repetition as a learner driver.  These skills should become almost automatic by the time a driver takes their test.  In this respect, any driver who has passed their test should be able to control their vehicle to an acceptable level.

Experience is a very different matter though.  Learning to drive takes place in a more controlled environment, as there is always an instructor/parent etc. sitting in the seat next to you using their experience to warn the driver of any potential hazards.  Because of this supervision, the driver's behaviour is also likely to be different e.g. not listening to music.  However, once someone has passed their test, they no longer have someone sat next to them and they have to make all the decisions themselves.  Invariably, the stereo goes on and their friends are all invited for a ride.

Reducing the Risk

Statistics show that the risks reduce dramatically over the first 12 months of driving, so it is clear that valuable experience is learned relatively quickly, the problem is that 1 in 5 drivers will have a crash in the first 6 months of driving.

Over the past few years it seems that the government has tried to influence young drivers through insurance companies rather than legislative changes, but this has only led premiums to skyrocket while the problem has remained.  The only good thing to emerge from this, in my opinion, is the wider use of 'black box' technology as part of insurance premiums and/or to allow parents to monitor their children's driving more closely.

Therefore, I would agree with the ABI that "radical action" is required and that a graduated system of driver licensing should be introduced, to allow novice drivers to build up experience in lower-risk driving situations such as:

• restricting driving at night (23.00-04.00)
• restricting the carrying of passengers, particularly teenage passengers

I would also add restricting the engine size/power output of the vehicles they can drive.

However, I disagree with the ABI's suggestion that there should be a lower drink drive limit for young/novice drivers, as this gives the impression that it is fine for someone who is older or more experienced to have a drink and drive.  I think the limit should be reduced for everyone in line with most of the rest of Europe, but that's a different topic.

No, the current test is not enough

That's the simple answer anyway, as any change is not going to be popular with those young people it affects.  But we're not talking about a popularity contest, we're talking about people's lives, and the number of young people getting killed or injured on Britain's roads is unacceptable and something needs to be done about it.