The Department for Transport has published statistics on road casualties in accidents reported to the police in Great Britain in 2008, according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority
The number of people killed in road accidents reported to the police, fell by 14 per cent from 2,946 in 2007 to 2,538 in 2008. 28,567 people were killed or seriously injured in 2008, 7 per cent fewer than in 2007. There were just under 231,000 road casualties in Great Britain in 2008, 7 per cent less than in 2007.
The number of deaths among car users in 2008 was 1,257, 12 per cent less than in the previous year. The reported number of seriously injured fell by 7 per cent to 10,707. Total reported casualties among car users were 149,169, 8 per cent lower than 2007. Traffic estimates indicate a 1 per cent fall in car and taxi traffic over the period.
Child casualties fell by 8 per cent. The number of children killed or seriously injured in 2008 was 2,807 (down 9 per cent on 2007). Of those, 1,784 were pedestrians, 6 per cent down on 2007. 124 children died on the roads, 2 per cent higher than in the previous year, when the lowest ever child fatality figure of 121 was recorded.
There were 572 pedestrian deaths, 11 per cent less than in 2007. Reported killed or serious injured casualties fell by 4 per cent to 6,642. The all pedestrian casualty figure fell to 28,481 in 2008, 6 per cent lower than 2007.
The number of pedal cyclists killed fell by 15 per cent from 136 in 2007 to 115 in 2008. The number of seriously injured rose by 1 per cent to 2,450. The total casualties among pedal cyclists rose by 1 per cent to 16,297.
There were 493 motorcycle user fatalities in accidents reported to the police in 2008, 16 per cent lower than during 2007. The reported number of killed or seriously injured fell compared to 2007 (down 10 percent from 6,737 in 2007 to 6,048 in 2008). The all motorcycle user casualties figure for 2008 of 21,549 is 8 per cent lower than in 2007.
There were 170,500 road accidents involving personal injury reported to the police in 2008, 6 per cent fewer than in 2007. Of these, 25,457 accidents involved death or serious injury, 6 percent fewer than in 2007 (27,036).
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular teenage schoolboy killed in a car crash.
Christopher Dale, 15, was hit by a car as he walked across a main road in Oldham. Police confirmed that he suffered serious, multiple injuries and was pronounced dead later at the Royal Oldham Hospital.
In a statement Christopher’s family said: “We are devastated at the loss of Chris.
“He was a wonderful son and brother who will be very much missed by all who knew him.”
The industry is changing, and it’s about time! Out with the old-fashioned and largely ineffective teaching methods, and in with the successful new coaching style. Some may argue that their current instructional style is proving very effective, but they largely base this claim on their pass rates.
But pass rates mean nothing when young drivers pass their tests and go on to have crashes. The facts:
An 18-year-old driver is more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash as a 48 year-old.
One in five new drivers has a crash within six months of passing their test.
So at long last, it appears that the DSA are supporting the approaches that many driver trainers like myself have been pushing for for years – progressing from short-term instructional methods which tend to help learners pass the driving test, towards more active-learning methods which prepare learners for solo driving and to foster ongoing learning after passing their driving test.
In light of the latest research into the use of hands-free mobile phone equipment whilst driving, Latics’ directors Claire Wilmot & Glyn Crossley have banned their use by Latics instructors in all training vehicles.
Research has consistently found that driving whilst using a mobile phone (whether hand-held or hands-free) is extremely dangerous. One test by the the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) found that motorists who talk on hands-free phones are more dangerous than drink-drivers, finding that they were 30 per cent slower to react than those slightly over the legal alcohol limit. The report also found that drivers reflexes remained dulled for up to ten minutes after a conversation.
Claire Wilmot said: “I am glad we have taken this step. Very few of our instructors use hands-free equipment anyway, and none of our instructors are allowed to answer their phone during lessons. But we want to ensure that not only are all our instructors safe on the roads, we also set a good example to our pupils and members of the public. Whilst we appreciate that driving instructors have very little time to run their business effectively between lessons, it is important that we stay safe and set a professional image”.
Today, the goverment launches it’s latest campaign against drivers texting whilst on the move. The Think! campaign is especially targetted at young drivers, 30% of whom admit to texting at the wheel.
The Department for Transport noted that using a mobile phone at the wheel is considered the second most unacceptable driving behaviour among motorists with 93% agreeing that texting while driving is dangerous. However, 12% of all motorists admit to texting while driving.
Whilst online this morning, I came across this unbelivable video from CNN, showing a bus driver, driving disabled passengers in Texas, crashing into stationary traffic whilst texting:
The new radio campaign features a driver’s voice spelling out a text message followed by the harrowing sound of a car crash. Click here to listen to it.
An online ‘driving challenge’ game is also available, which demonstrates how using a mobile at the wheel can completely distract the driver. Try it out for yourself!
A report by insurance firm Swinton has revealed that as the recession bites, many learner drivers are relying more heavily on informal tuition from friends and relatives.
A survey of 1,000 new drivers found that the average number of lessons per driver has fallen from 43 in 2008 to 32 in 2009 (compiled from data taken during the first 3 months of each year).
On average, those who passed in March this year received 63 hours of tuition from friends or family, compared to just 41 hours in the first three months of 2008.
Road users are injured and die on the Borough’s roads every year. The age group most affected is 17 to 25 year olds.
The Road Safety Unit of Rochdale’s Impact Partnership are organising a driver safety evening presented by a range of road safety experts. The event is open to 17-25 year olds and their parents. It takes place at Rochdale Town Hall on 6th May 2009 at 6.30pm.
Following the recent publication of the results of the DSA’s Learning to Drive Consultation comes the Government’s latest document seeking views on the vision, targets and measures for improving road safety in Great Britain beyond 2010.
“Making Britain’s Roads Safer” is the title of the consultation document, and we would urge you all to get involved and make your opinions known. The full document and related research articles can be found here. The closing date for this consultation is 14th July 2009.
The key challenges for the new strategy are as follows:
reducing the number of road deaths, which have fallen at a slower rate than serious injuries;
pedestrian and cyclist casualties in our towns and cities – particularly in deprived communities;
On 7th May 2008, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) issued a Consultation Paper setting out wide-ranged proposals intended to make Britain’s roads safer by getting newly qualified drivers to cope with the challenges of driving unsupervised in today’s modern driving conditions.The Government’s preferred approach to achieving this is through education and incentives, encouraging young people to participate in more effective and efficient learning.
The four key elements of the proposed programme were:
An improved learning process
Improved driving tests
Better information about driving instructors and improved driving instructor training
Further options for qualifications and learning
Today (21st April 2009), the DSA published its report on this consultation.Having read the document this evening, I have listed the main changes that will happen, changes that may happen and proposals that have been rejected or indefinitely postponed.
Thanks to all the staff and customers at Costco in Oldham for a great Trade Fair today!
Claire Wilmot & Sophie Holland
We were able to meet with many members of the public who were interested in learning to drive (or knew someone who wanted to learn). Sophie Holland (Office Manager), along with Frank Walsh ADI and Ric Hughes ADI were there for the full day to hand out leaflets, pens and road safety materials to passing customers, and some even got to try out the Theory and Hazard Perception test on site, too! Claire Wilmot (Managing Director) said, “today’s trade fair here at Costco has generated quite a lot of interest, and we hope to do more of the same in the future. Latics Driver Training prides itself on being the best driving school in the area, and it’s been great to have been able to meet and answer questions from the public about learning to drive”.
Special thanks to Sophie, Frank and Ric for all their hard work!
The Department for Transport has published statistics on road casualties in accidents reported to the police in Great Britain in 2008, according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority
Source: Manchester Evening News
The industry is changing, and it’s about time! Out with the old-fashioned and largely ineffective teaching methods, and in with the successful new coaching style. Some may argue that their current instructional style is proving very effective, but they largely base this claim on their pass rates.
A report by insurance firm Swinton has revealed that as the recession bites, many learner drivers are relying more heavily on informal tuition from friends and relatives.
Road users are injured and die on the Borough’s roads every year. The age group most affected is 17 to 25 year olds.
