‘Driver Safety’ Archive

New research released this week shows that motorists are ill-prepared for a puncture, with 1.3 million (4%) of drivers admitting they don’t even know whether they have a spare wheel or not.

The study, carried out in the UK for Kwik Fit, found that a million (3%) motorists confess to not having any provision whatsoever for a flat tyre. With an estimated 8.8 million (26%) drivers suffering a puncture each year, this could lead to a quarter of a million cars being stranded at the roadside in the next 12 months.

And it’s not just the rubber that’s missing in some cars – 10% (2.9 million) of drivers who do carry a spare say they don’t have the necessary tools in their car to change it over should a tyre blow, while 36% (11.6 million) have the tools but admit they don’t know how to use them when it comes to swapping over a wheel and 6% (1.8 million) are short on both fronts and have neither the equipment nor knowledge to get a new wheel on.

There also seems to be confusion as a result of car manufacturers no longer offering full size spares as standard on some vehicles. One in ten motorists (3.3 million) who have a spare don’t know whether it’s a full-size spare or a low-speed space-saver, which could prove hazardous if a blowout happens on a long motorway journey.

Some manufacturers offer neither a full size spare or a space saver, instead providing drivers with a puncture repair kit. Over 4 million drivers (11%) have a puncture repair kit but the vast majority of them (3 million) don’t rely on the kit alone and also carry a spare, ensuring they are prepared for a double puncture.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The recent trend amongst car manufacturers to offer space-saver spares or puncture repair kits instead of full-size spare tyres could be the cause of this confusion amongst motorists. It’s is worrying how many drivers don’t know what provision they have for a puncture, but it’s even more of a concern to see how many have absolutely nothing in their car to deal with a deflated tyre.”

“For those who have recently bought a second hand car it’s also important that they assess the condition of the spare – there could be damage that isn’t obvious at a glance, and if it hasn’t been checked in a while it’s likely to be underinflated.”

“There are clearly gaps in knowledge around how to change a tyre, and indeed many cars are missing tools, which means even if a spare is carried some motorists will struggle to swap it over.”

Source – Fleet News, 30.04.12

The Health & Safety Authority, together with AVIVA, has developed a new Roadsense Guide aimed at reducing the harm caused by vehicles at work, through better management of work practices by employers. The guide is a valuable resource to fleet operators who want to safeguard their employees and business. To view or download the guide, please click here.

A fifth of business drivers are exceeding the speed limit, and as many as one in 10 are driving through red lights to get to appointments on time or meet targets, according to research released in the UK by RSA. It also claims sales reps are the most dangerous business drivers, but van drivers are more likely to ignore vehicle faults and haulage drivers are not given enough time to sleep between shifts. In addition, one in four business drivers are being put under pressure to get to appointments on time and meet ambitious sales or delivery targets, leading to dangerous and in some cases illegal driving practices.

The study suggests businesses and their employees are turning a blind eye to road safety as they try to cope with increased pressure to perform post-recession. It also questions the roadworthiness of some business vehicles. Almost a third of workers say they have driven with a blown light or faulty windscreen wipers, around a fifth have ignored a cracked windscreen – potentially impairing their vision – and more than one in ten have driven with a slow puncture.

Jon Hancock, managing director of Commercial at RSA, said: “Employers have a duty of care to ensure the legality of their vehicles as well as the safety of their drivers and, by extension, other road users, yet these findings suggest that due diligence is not being adhered to in all parts of the country or by all types of business drivers.”

Merrion Fleet Management can provide advice on Health & Safety, including Duty of Care and Driving for Work. For more information please contact us on 01 206 11 18.

Source: Fleet News, March 2012

The AA is asking for help from the public to report badly set speed limits up and down the country.

Boreens with grass growing up the middle and an 80kph limit. Very safe major roads with triple and even four-lane carriageways but speed limits so low that you barely feel that you are moving. According to the AA, the setting of Irish speed limits has become a mess.

Speed limits are set legally by the local authority, not by central government. While speed limit categories are set out in road traffic law, which limit to apply on which road is a decision made locally. The problem is that some local authorities have done their job well, some have done it badly and some have not done it at all. The result is limits that have no consistency from one county to another, and many examples of dangerous, careless and just plain ridiculous local variations.

The N4 – an example of how not to do it…

The N4 is the national primary route from the M50 in Dublin to Sligo. At the Dublin end for a stretch it is four lanes wide with a solid centre divide to prevent cross-over accidents. It also has an 80kph speed limit. Regular users will know that as you approach from Sligo or Galway you are on a motorway for many miles at 120kph until suddenly the road doubles in width but the speed limit drops to 80kph.

Further west along that same national primary route in Co. Sligo the road is a narrow, winding single lane. There are ditches on either side lined with white crosses erected by local people marking spots where people have died. The speed limit on that lethal stretch is 100kph.

The AA has been arguing this issue with government literally for years, and now with the new government, have been promised meaningful co-operation at last. They have been asked to provide a list of bad speed limits nationally and have been promised that they will be supported when that list is presented to local authorities to fix.

They are asking all motorists to report bad speed limits to them directly. You can report a bad speed limit by emailing publicaffairs@aaireland.ie. The AA is asking for as much detail as possible, including a photo if available. They will be putting the best example up on the AA website and will pay €25 for every photo that is featured. To be fair, they are also asking for information on instances where the local council has done a good job, maybe by changing a limit or by assessing a road properly.

For further information, see www.aaireland.ie

Source: The AA, 08/02/2012

The AA, 14/12/2011

In the countdown to Christmas AA Motor Insurance is warning frazzled shoppers not to leave presents or other valuables in the main cabin of their car when dropping off items mid shopping spree. This advice while seasonal, is delivered against the backdrop of the AA’s latest Motor Insurance Poll where 12% of drivers surveyed said they habitually leave items on view in their car. A further 18% also stated they often leave valuables and important documentation in their glove compartments.

The nationally representative poll of 12,400 drivers also reveals that women are marginally more inclined to have a bit of visible clutter in their cars than men. 15% of women compared to 11% of men said they’ll routinely have items strewn about the interior of their cars.

Further analysis of the AA findings also highlights varying degrees of security consciousness in accordance with a driver’s county of residence. Drivers in Limerick (8.6%), Waterford (9.3%) and Dublin (9.9%) were identified as the least likely to have anything on view in their car while those in Leitrim (19.6%), Roscommon (19.5%) and Sligo (19.4%) were identified as most inclined to do so.

“Leaving a stash of brand new items complete with tags, receipts and in their original bags is nearly as careless as leaving a wad of cash on your back seat in plain view.” Remarks John Farrell, Director of AA Insurance. “The risks of a smash-and-grab break in are much higher around Christmas and by leaving a pile of easy to exchanges good on display, the unfortunate reality is that you’re singling out your own car as a target.”

AA Motor Insurance also highlights that the terms and conditions relating to the theft of personal belongings will vary from one motor insurance policy to the next. “In some cases your personal belonging will only be covered against theft if locked in the boot so all the more reason to get into good habits.” advises Farrell.
The AA Motor Insurance Poll which equally looked at a wider matrix of car security measures also identifies other areas where complacency has crept in among motorists.

22% of the drivers polled said they rarely bother to lock their car when paying for fuel, something the AA particularly urges lone female motorists to avoid doing. The AA Motor Insurance Poll again identifies quite an inter county variance in this regard. At the upper end of the scale, 34%, 31% and 31% of motorists in counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo respectively say they’re not inclined to lock up when slipping in to pay for fuel and use the shop. Inversely least likely to do so were drivers in Kerry, Offaly, Monaghan and Dublin yet again.

Tallying in with Dublin motorists more security conscious behaviours, Central Statistic Office figures for the third quarter of 2011 reveal that car related crimes were almost seven times higher in the Dublin Region Garda Division than in the Limerick Garda Division, the region second most afflicted by car theft and associated crimes.

The AA Motor Insurance Poll does however show that most motorists are clued in to the theft beacon that is their Sat Nav. Just 8% of Sat Nav owners polled said they’re in the habit of leaving their Sat Nav in place once they’ve parked up their vehicles.

Other anti vandalism and theft security practices queried during the AA poll included the use of steering wheel locks, security car clamps, car covers and the tucking in of wing mirrors and aerials when parking.
At 14%, Dublin drivers were identified as most likely to regularly use a steering wheel locking device while just 1.4% of Monaghan drivers said they use one.

TOP 10 SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE from the Road Safety Authority

When temperatures dip below freezing driving conditions can become treacherous, the risk of ice or snow on the roads increases. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has, the following ‘Top 10 Safety Tips’ for motorists driving in snow and ice. They are:
1. Get a grip.
Remember your only contact with the road surface is your tyres so it’s vital that they are up to the task in icy and snowy conditions. Check tyres, including spare wheel, and replace them if the tread depth falls below 3mm. Check that tyres are inflated to the correct tyre pressure. Lack of grip can occur even on treated roads so drive slowly in the highest gear possible, manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking. Replace tyres if necessary.

2. Make sure you can see.
Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass. Replace windshield wiper blades if necessary. De-mist the inside of your windows thoroughly. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Remember too that heavy snowfall will reduce visibility! Watch out for grit/salt spreaders and snow ploughs. The glare from the sun can be dazzling in the winter when the sun is low in the sky, so wear sunglasses in these conditions.

3. Check & use your lights.
Use your dipped headlights so that others will see you. Make sure your headlights and taillights are all in working order, replace broken bulbs. Make sure lights are clear of snow.

4. Gently does it.
Manoeuvre gently, slow down and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Too much steering is bad and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends. Falling snow, fog, rain, or hail will reduces visibility. Do not hang on to the tail lights of the vehicle in front of you as it can give a false sense of security. When you slow down, use your brakes so that the brake lights warn drivers behind you.

5. Watch out for “black ice.”
If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, “black ice” one of winter’s worst hazards: Black Ice is difficult to see! It is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Watch out for black ice, especially in sheltered / shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.

6. Give yourself a brake.
If you get into a skid, you need to know if your vehicle has ABS (Anti- Lock Braking Systems). After you “Step” on the brake the ABS begins cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working. It’s easy to properly use antilock brakes: Remember – Step, Stay and Steer. Step on the pedal. Stay on the pedal. Steer around the obstacle. (A warning: A little bit of steering goes a very long way in an emergency).
For vehicles without ABS, you’ll have to rely on the old-fashioned ‘Cadence Braking’ system: Push the brake pedal until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again.
Repeat this sequence rapidly. Your goal is to have the tyres producing maximum grip regardless of whether the surface is snow or ice.

7. How does your vehicle help?
Check in your owner’s manual and find out if your vehicle has any safety assist technology like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) and know how they assist your driving in severe weather conditions. But remember technology offers no miracles. Don’t let these lull you into overestimating the available traction.

8. Be Prepared!
In prolonged icy or snowy driving conditions it is advisable to carry the following in the boot of the car
a. High Visibility Vest
b. Tow rope
c. Spare bulbs
d. Spare fuel
e. A shovel
f. Appropriate footwear in case you have to leave your vehicle ie boots
g. A hazard warning triangle
h. Spare wheel (with tyre at correct pressure and tread)
i. De-icing equipment (Both for glass and door locks)
j. First aid kit (in good order)
k. A fire extinguisher (fully operative)
l. A working torch
m. A car blanket, additional clothing & some food and water

In preparation for driving you should also ensure:
n. The vehicle is properly maintained, serviced and engine oil viscosity is suitable for cold conditions.
o. Have the strength of coolant/antifreeze measured.
p. Ensure vehicle has adequate supply of fuel for journey.
q. Consider carrying some salt or sand. And
r. Give someone an estimated time of arrival at your proposed destination. Carry a mobile phone and spare, fully charged, battery (if you don’t have a car charger)

9. Get informed.
Listen to local weather and traffic reports. The RSA has prepared a helpful guide “Severe Weather Advice for Road Users” which you can download from the RSA’s website. It has lots more useful advice on dealing with the difficult road conditions.

10. Stay at home.
The best thing to do in extremely bad weather is to stay off the road. Take heed of warnings not to go out. This leaves the emergency services free to deal with real emergencies instead of rounding up stranded motorists.

Motornet.ie, October 2011

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that a penalty points system introduced as part of a new crackdown on drink driving is a soft touch. The new regime, which is now in force, will give authorities a sliding scale to deal with offenders instead of mandatory court appearances. Mr Varadkar dismissed accusations that removing the automatic driving ban for first time lawbreakers was too lenient.

“It’s important that people don’t mistake this as being a soft touch,” he said. “It’s not, it’s actually getting a lot stricter.”

The new measures, which took effect at midnight on Thursday 27th October, will see the drink drive limit reduced from 50mg to 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for specified drivers, which includes people who have been driving for less than two years and professional drivers. The limit for other drivers will be reduced from 80mg to 50mg.

If a motorist is caught driving over the limit but between 50mg and 80mg, and has not already been disqualified, they will be served with a fixed penalty notice, a fine and three points on their licence.

Motorists caught over the limit but between 80mg and 100mg will receive a fine and a six-month driving ban.

The specified drivers – learners, newly qualified and professional drivers – who are over the 20mg limit up to 80mg will be fined and disqualified for three months.

The old system would have seen offending drivers sent straight to court and if convicted of an offence, immediately stripped of their licence.

Minister Varadkar explained: “It’s a system of graduated penalties. If somebody is between 50mg and 80mg they’ll get penalty points. If they are above 80mg they’ll be banned from driving.”

By reducing alcohol limits to as low as 20mg for specified drivers, Mr Varadkar said the message was to encourage people not to drink at all if they intend to drive. “We want this to be a weekend in which nobody loses their lives,” he said.

“The evidence is that when limits are reduced in other jurisdictions, in Australia for example, there’s an 18% reduction in deaths associated with drink driving. So that could be another 11 or 12 lives saved this year.”

The Department of Transport, Road Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana worked together to develop the new measures.

Garda spokesman Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid warned roadside checks would increase – and not just at weekends, but through the week too.

He said: “The advice is never ever drink and drive. You’re either fit to drive or you’re not fit to drive. We’re asking people not to drink and drive and to slow down. Speed is still the number one issue in our roads.”

Drivers are also advised to carry their licence at all times. Anyone who fails to produce their licence when stopped will be automatically classed as a specified driver, whose alcohol limit is 20mg.

Researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University have determined that a driver’s reaction time is doubled when distracted by reading or sending a text message. The study reveals how the texting impairment is even greater than many experts believed, and demonstrates how texting drivers are less able to react to sudden roadway hazards.

In addition to the reaction-time element, researchers also measured each driver’s ability to maintain proper lane position and a constant speed. Major findings further documented the impairment of texting when compared to the controlled driving conditions. Drivers were less able to:
· Safely maintain their position in the driving lane when they were texting and their swerving was worse in the open sections of the course than in barreled sections.
· Maintain a constant speed while texting, tending to slow down in an effort to reduce the demand of the multiple tasks. By slowing down, a driver gains more time to correct for driving errors (such as the tendency to swerve while texting). Speed variance was also greater for texting drivers than for non-texting drivers.

The fact that the study was conducted in an actual driving environment is important, the researchers say. While simulators are useful, the dynamics of an actual vehicle are different, and some driver cues can’t be replicated in a simulator.

The total distance covered by each driver in the study was slightly less than 11 miles. In the interest of safety for both participants and the research staff, researchers minimized the complexity of the driving task, using a straight-line course that contained no hills, traffic or potential conflicts other than the construction zone barrels. Consequently, the driving demands that participants encountered were considerably lower than those they would encounter under real-world conditions.

Ed Dubens CEO at Interactive Driving Systems said: ‘Driver distraction has been an emerging issue in US driver safety research and practice over the last few years, this study emphasizes the reasons why organizations requiring their drivers to travel for work purposes should take the issue very seriously as part of their worker health, wellbeing and safety programs.’

Federal statistics suggest that distracted driving contributes to as much as 20 percent of all fatal crashes, and that cell phones constitute the primary source of driver distraction. Researchers point to two numbers to illustrate the magnitude of the texting while driving problem: an estimated 5 billion text messages are sent each day in the United States, and at least 20 percent of all drivers have admitted to texting while driving.
Read the full study at http://tti.tamu.edu/group/cts/texting-and-driving/

Ford safety research shows UK motorists are driven to distraction
Fleet News 22/08/2011

A Ford survey of British motorists reveals a lack of confidence behind the wheel. While women believe themselves to be the safest drivers, many male and female motorists confess to potentially dangerous driving habits.

The majority of drivers reckon they could not easily pass the driving test if they took it today, with the newly qualified having the least belief in their ability to pass a second time.

Nearly half of all women believe they are safer behind the wheel, a view shared by only one in five males. Adrian Walsh, director of motoring safety partnership RoadSafe, said: “Women are generally much safer drivers than men; every piece of substantial research done on this subject reveals that. Fundamentally it’s because they take fewer risks.”

Around 67 per cent of drivers are not confident they would easily pass the driving test if they had to take it again today. Worryingly this is highest amongst the newly qualified, with 73 per cent of 17 to 24 year olds not confident of passing a retest.

Said Adrian Walsh: “The driving test is primarily about skills, it’s not a measure of motoring attitudes. It’s the attitude this age group takes to risk which has a negative impact on road safety. “Males aged 17 to 24 are high risk drivers, and so are involved in proportionately many more accidents. “There is a need for people to learn again how to drive. Advanced driving lessons are an extremely good idea.”

The most dangerous pastime at the wheel is texting (including posting messages on social networks using a handheld phone). The 10 per cent of UK drivers texting on the move doubles among 17 to 24 year olds.
The data shows other hazardous behaviours are frequently displayed at the wheel. Motorists confess to being driven to distraction: changing the CD or radio station is the most common habit (by 60 per cent), followed by driving with one hand (40 per cent), eating and drinking on the move (30 per cent), driving when tired (20 per cent) and talking on a handheld phone (10 per cent).

70% of drivers rate themselves as ‘above average’
AA, 04/07/2011

Some Irish motorists it would seem have their rose tinted glasses firmly on when it comes to how they perceive their own driving skills according to figures issued by AA Motor Insurance. 69% of the 15,000 motorists surveyed said they would rate their own driving as above average. Inversely only 0.8% described their driving as below par.

“While there are many excellent drivers out there, the findings of our survey do suggest that most of us are more than a little biased when it comes to our own driving.” Says Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Policy. “None of us are perfect and most of us have unwittingly picked up bad and sometimes even dangerous habits that we are not aware of.”

Of note, the AA Motor Insurance poll also reveals that young males drivers, aged between 17 and 24 years, are most confident in their driving abilities despite being some of the least experienced drivers on our roads. 86.8% of those surveyed within this age group described themselves as above average drivers. And of these, 44.9% rated themselves as well above average. This is compared to 18.2% of females of the same age.

“It is an old cliché that there are two things that no male will admit that he is bad at. Driving is one of them.” Says Faughnan. “There is a serious message in this. If we tend to over-estimate our own driving abilities then that can lead to excessive risk taking. It is this cavalier attitude to risk that is at the core of Ireland’s road safety problem.”

In stark contrast to the overall results of this latest poll, an earlier Motor Insurance survey carried out last November found that just 20% of motorists believe the standard of driving on Irish roads by private road users to be high. “When it comes to driving, we’re often quite slow to recognize our own faults and quick to criticize others.” Says Faughnan. “The results of these two polls illustrate this point down to a tee.”

The AA also points out that despite how drivers perceive themselves the most important statistic of all – the number of road fatalities – is falling in Ireland. The RSA and the Garda issued data last Friday that shows that road deaths are down by 9% so far this year. While this is very encouraging the same data also shows that we still have a problem with road deaths among 16-24 year olds, precisely the age group most likely to over-estimate their driving ability.

An examination of the results of the AA Motor Insurance poll on a county by county level identifies Laois, Roscommon, Westmeath and Limerick drivers as most likely to consider themselves as first rate drivers.