Safe Speed Forums

Killer roads: Government campaign highlights hidden dangers of speeding on rural roads

You are three times more likely to be killed on a rural road than an urban one while in a car warns a Government educational campaign launched today. The Department for Transport's THINK! Rural Speed Campaign, warning drivers not to go faster than the conditions allow, can be heard on radio stations around the country this month.

Rural areas can tempt motorists into driving too fast for the conditions they are facing. Long straights and demanding bends, as well as less traffic and fewer pedestrians can make drivers believe it is 'safe' to go faster than they normally would. But the stark reality is actually the opposite - the risk of fatally injuring yourself or your passengers increases three-fold on a rural road.

This is backed by the evidence that there is often only one car involved in rural accidents, making it likely that drivers have been tempted to push themselves or their car beyond their limits.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:

"Driving on rural roads can be deceiving. It is important that motorists drive with as much care on a rural road as they would in a more built-up area. The 'national' 60mph speed limit is a maximum, not an expectation, and drivers must match their speed to the road characteristics and weather conditions they are experiencing as well as factoring in unpredictable hazards - like sharp bends, limited visibility or even animals - which can require a quick reaction."

Figures for 2006 show that nationally 325 car users were killed on rural roads when speeding or driving too fast for the conditions.

All too often it is the Fire and Rescue Services who have to attend these incidents and deal with the consequences of speed related rural accidents. The campaign also has the backing of Fire and Rescue Services. Claire Tovey, head of prevention at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

"As with fires, we would always rather help to prevent road traffic incidents than attend the aftermath. All too often we have to try and free people from horrific wreckages. Myself and colleagues at the community safety teams work closely with road safety experts to try and educate drivers that rural roads have to be driven at a speed appropriate to the road characteristics and weather conditions."


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There's still a bit of "speeding" spin but the message seems to be much more sensible than what we've heard in the past...

when did Jim Fitzpatrick become road safety minister?
on 21st September he was visiting Spain as "shipping minister"
on the 26th of September he was [url=V]"Aviation Minister"[/url]
on the 21st of sept he was "Transport minister"

Shurley there can't be three Jim fitspatricks? How is George Galloway going to have a fair battle in Novembers election if all three are going about canvassing

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

Have they defined "rural road" yet?

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Andrew.

Inaccurate. Many of them are observation and judgement failures. The 'intention' is absent.



How do they get away with this daft adding of figures? I've missed the boat to hammer them in tomorrows press, unfortunately.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Well, despite using some dodgy statistics, I think the core message is good -- drive to the road conditions. I'd like to see them encouraged more in this direction rather than getting a hammering for it, quite frankly.

Safe Speed issued the following FoI earlier today:



The results will be a nice big stick to beat them with.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Good luck on this one Paul as I would be very surprised if you get the info you have requested.

If you do get the info I think it will be so enveloped in statistics and figures you would need to have a degree in numerology to understand / decipher it.

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"There But For The Grace of God Go I"

"He Who Ain,t Made Mistakes Ain,t Made Anything"

Spannernut

Paul can read between the lines to see the hidden message !!!