Some of our roads (and users!) are nowhere near friendly enough for the high number of cyclists there are. Many cyclists do take a massive risk jumping the lights, not just because of motorists travelling towards them, but the lack of vision cyclists may have a some sets of traffic lights. A growing problem that all drivers need to be aware of.

Certainly is a problem locally, and much more common in busier inner cities. Most roads are not as cycle friendly as needed, which forces cyclists on the path as well. But cyclists do put themselves at risk of being hit by going incorrectly through red lights, as they are not expected (or seen) by the other vehicles, possibly moving quickly.

Jennifer M Whitehill, a PhD student at the University of Washington, said: ‘We know it is important to prevent young drivers from taking their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road to use a cell phone.

‘This study suggests that thinking about future cell phone calls and messages may be an additional source of distraction that could contribute to crashes.’

As mobiles and other electronic devices get ever more sophisticated  the risk to road safety will increase. Something needs to be done to help cut down on the problem, but authorities may struggle to find an easy cure.

• Over 40% admitted to answering their phones while driving without a hands-free set
• 44% said they had sent a text message, and 62% said they had read a message while they were driving
• 1 in 6 male drivers under 25 has crashed due to mobile phone usage at the wheel
• One third of under 25s who use Facebook on their phone admitted to using it whilst driving
• 18% of under 25s who have Draw Something on their phone have played the game whilst driving – 17% for Angry Birds

Every second attention away from the road, can be potentially serious for any driver, especially the more inexperienced or newly passed, who need all their concentration focussed to keep safe on the roads at all time. There needs to be more education (and enforcement) to help keep drivers and other road users safe.

We don’t need a survey to tell us when you are performing an secondary task when driving, that your road vision and handling would be decreased, but the figures for those who think it is ok to put themselves and others at risk is worryingly high. More education is needed to help make drivers more aware.

Definitely a big concern on the roads. There needs to be clear education on the problems of taking drugs of any kind before driving, so motorists understand the risks, and allowing them to make a correct judgement of whether to drive or not. This needs to be backed up with proper roadside testing, as with the drink driving laws.

John O’Roarke, managing director of LV= car insurance, said “It is alarming that so many motorists cannot correctly identify the legal speed limit on UK roads when tested. If a driver is caught exceeding the limit by just a few mph, they can still be fined and given penalty points. The police data shows that more speeding motorists are being caught each year and drivers should take care to know their limits to avoid a fine, penalty points or worse.”

Are all speeding drivers simply not  aware of the limits, or could they just not be bothered to follow the limits?

Worrying figures, likely only to get higher which future increases in technology and improved social media applications. What can be done to stop this problem, as most drivers realise they shouldn’t use phones when driving, but still flout the laws? Many know there  may be little chance of getting caught, when they should think of the risks to themselves and others.

This suggests that there are many millions of vehicles on our streets, that may have some kind of problem that needs attention. Obviously not everyone is trained in car mechanics, so it’s wise for all drivers to seek advice as soon as a loss of performance, or any strange noises are heard, rather that wait months till the next routine service.

For anyone who has had a heavy cold and tried to concentrate on tasks, or even just watching the television, will understand how hard it is to remain focussed on the job at hand sometimes. Additionally drugs that may be taken to combat the illness, may well cause drowsiness, leading to even less concentration powers still. Always wise to stay off the roads, if impaired in any way, not worth the risk.

Drivers need to be educated more to the risks that mobile phones have on safe driving, as only a small distraction can lead to major incidents developing. This needs to be enforced on the roads, as drivers flout the law at present, as there is a limited chance of being caught.

In some countries there is a zero figure for alcohol levels when driving, maybe we will find that level arrive here in the future. If not we need to educate drivers more, on the risks of drinking and driving, so that deaths and injuries from alcohol related crashes are reduced to zero.

Many accidents are a result of driver error. In fact, this is the number one reason for accidents. Driver error refers to any sort of mistake the drive makes while on the road. For instance, they might underestimate a braking distance. They may also fail to check their blind spots. Tailgating is another driver error that can result in rear end collisions. Given the fact that driver error is responsible for more road accidents, it further emphasizes the importance of defensive driving.

Speeding or reckless driving can also result in other types of road accidents. Many drivers simply do not observe speed limits. These limits are set with safety in mind. Whenever they are exceeded, the driver is asking for potential problems. For every increase in the speed of a vehicle, the greater the chance that a road accident will occur.

Another type of road accident involves drunk driving. The accident occurs as a result of the driver’s blood alcohol level. This creates impaired judgment on the part of the driver. Some drivers may also be under the influence of other mind altering substances.

Road accidents can also be due to malfunctions within the vehicle itself. For example, brake failure can cause a car to be unable to stop or slow down. This creates the potential for a collision with another vehicle or stationary object on the roadside. Sometimes tires can fall apart which leads to a road accident.

Whiplash is a common injury after a car accident. If you want to know more about making whiplash claims, then visit www.roadtrafficaccidentsite.com.

It might seem like a simple, every day activity, but new research suggests parking a car can be a controversial issue, with more than one in six motorists saying they have argued with a neighbour over a parking space and almost one in five admitting they have parked illegally.

Car insurance expert Admiral surveyed 2,500 motorists to find out their habits when it comes to parking. It found that 16% of them have argued with a neighbour over a space. Regionally, motorists in the North West are the most likely to get into a row over parking, compared to those in Scotland who are least likely to.

Sue Longthorn, Admiral managing director, said, “For something we probably do every day it would seem parking can cause problems, with many motorists getting into an argument with a neighbour over it. As our roads get more crowded, we want to ensure we have our own parking space, preferably outside our own home, but this really isn’t something worth getting into a row about.” More

(AD ~ Parking can be a big worry for some, with there being a lack of suitable spaces available.)

35% didn’t know it was an offence

88% 17 year olds have had an accident or near miss when ignoring the lights

A craze of risky amber gamblers is sweeping the nation as hasty drivers admit to breaking the law and steaming through traffic light signals because they haven‟t got time to stop, new research reveals. A poll of 3,000 motorists by Thrifty Car & Van Rental reveals a staggering eight out of ten (85%) drivers admit to gambling amber lights in an attempt to race through 2 the traffic, with nearly four out of ten (38%) saying they rarely stop if the lights are on amber. Sixteen per cent (16%) even confess that amber is like a green light to them. Worryingly more than one in ten (13%) motorists has had an accident or near miss as a result of belting through an amber signal. Half (50%) have been shouted at by their passenger and more than a quarter (26%) have been sworn or beeped at by other drivers. If a driver crosses a light on amber, it is an offence, unless they can show that it was unsafe to stop. For some time The Department for Transport has been researching the use of continuous flashing amber signals on traffic lights at quiet times, in a bid to ease traffic flow.   More