The Consequences of Speed and Dangerous Driving
Over 3000 people die on the roads every day, globally.
Millions are injured or disabled due to speeding and collisions every year around the world.
Almost 1.3 million people are killed due to road accidents every year. Unabated the figure will rise to an estimated 2.4 million per year, by the year 2030.
WHO global status report on road safety situation in 178 countries, using data drawn from a standardized survey.
These shocking figures are direct consequences for speed and dangerous driving. The irony is that despite this data and growing awareness of road safety most people openly admit to speeding and have recurring tickets to show on their records even though it negatively affects their insurance.
This is just a brief glimpse of how speeding rules are regularly flouted by motorists around the world leading to more and more dangerous driving and accidents. Somewhere there needs to be more stringent regulations because clearly the current norms are hardly enough to stop accidental deaths. It is perhaps to curb more such incidents that the UN General Assembly in association with WHO has announced the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.
The most common reason for speeding is perhaps rush. While time is of essence, it cannot be more important than life itself. Sadly, most people ignore such basic truths when they are on the road, endangering their lives as well as those of their fellow motorists’. For many, speeding is also fun as the thrill of speed and breaking the rules adds an immediate zing to their moods. What they don’t understand is that speeding takes away their control of the wheel and they will never have enough time to avoid a crash or collision while they are speeding. Road accidents can occur for a lot of reasons but the impact of damage will be much higher for speeding vehicles.
Dangerous driving, however, amounts to more than speeding. The common features of dangerous driving include:
– Speeding
– Racing
– Driving under influence of alcohol
– Driving under influence of drugs (even over the limit for prescribed medications)
– Deliberately ignoring warning signals from fellow motorists
– Deliberately flouting traffic rules
– Aggressive driving
– Distracted driving (use of cellphones, talking to fellow passengers, listening to the radio etc.)
– Driving when not well or medically incapacitated
– Driving when fatigued, sleepy or drowsy
– Driving poorly maintained vehicles
Any of these are considered irresponsible behavior and severely undermine the safety conditions of the roads, leading to serious injuries, vehicle and property damage and death. But these can be easily avoided by exercising just a little bit of caution. You can actively contribute to the road safety decade by following these simple safety rules next time you are on the road:
Control your speeding habits
Adjust speed when you are changing lanes
Adjust speed with fellow motorists
Check traffic report and avoid congested roads so that you don’t have to rush or speed
Plan your day ahead and with it your travel time
Check weather conditions and be prepared for bad road conditions which means you will have to be very cautious about your speed
Keep proper distance between vehicles so that you can avoid collision even when you are not speeding yourself
Wear your seat belt at all times
Don’t drive under influence of drugs and alcohol
Don’t talk on the phone or be distracted while driving
Don’t drive if you are not feeling well
Don’t fret if you are late, better late than dead.
Following these rules is important, not just for your own safety, but for others on the road as well as your near and dear ones. Life is precious; we should learn to appreciate it. Begin by driving safely from today.