Change attitude and take responsibility says road safety expert

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/01/03/3401423.htm?site=&source=rss

Change attitude and take responsibility says road safety expert


Western Australia had 16 fewer fatalities on WA roads in 2011 compared to 2010, but the holiday road toll across Australia has been horrific, with 35 people killed, a threefold increase on last year.
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"The holiday road toll is completely tragic," says Professor Brett Hughes from the Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre.
"If you look at the road toll across Australia there won't be really obvious pattern as to what happens. Alcohol, speed and fatigue are all factors."
Police patrols, road safety campaigns and highway maintenance are all contributing to reducing accidents overall, but ultimately, Prof Hughes, says, it's up to drivers themselves.
"It's our own responsibility to take care of ourselves, whether we're driving in the city or the country."
"There's this blames shifting that goes on, where city people say it's the country drivers who are the problem and vice versa, but that irrelevant."
"We are all responsible for own safety wherever we are."
Overall however, the number show 2011 was a better one for Western Australian motorists, with the number of deaths and critical injuries on the road steadily decreasing over the past four years.
Sixteen fewer fatalities occurred in 2011 compared to 2010, with the most significant change on regional roads where there were 18 fewer fatalities and 58 fewer critical injuries.
Prof Hughes says it's due to a number of initiatives.
"The police are rolling out speed camera much to the annoyance of some people although I do notice in the paper there is strong support for reducing speed across the board."
"Main roads have been spending a lot of money on the black spot program and reducing hazards on the roadsides"
"The Office of Road Safety has been putting out the message about 'slow down and enjoy the ride.'"
"I think drivers have been taking that on board and doing things like managing their speed and fatigue"
The need to wear a seat belt is still a message that needs to be pressed, he says, particularly in regional areas.
"For whatever reason it seems like the seat belt wearing rate in country areas is not as high as in the urban areas."
"Seat belts are a real issue in terms of the number of fatalities."
"The most common serious crash in country areas is single vehicle run-off road crash."
"That highlights a number of issues about fatigue and driving to the conditions. It also highlight the fact that if a car does run off the road it's going to be serious crash if it hits something."
"I know Main Roads is very sensitive to reducing the number of objects that can be hit by the roadside. They've been putting a lot of effort into barriers protecting cars from hitting trees."
"There are also the audible edge lines, where if your car strays you'll hear the noise and hopefully stray back onto the right part of the lane."
Finally though, Prof Hughes says staying alive on the roads is up to drivers.
"We need to make sure that our drivers are up to standard in terms of the way they drive and the skills that they have."
"Over the holidays, I suggest to people that they give some of the attitude a break."
"Be a little bit more patient, a little more forgiving. It's better to be a few minutes late that to be dead late."
"It's our own responsibility to take care of ourselves, whether we're driving in the city or the country."
"There's this blames shifting that goes on, where city people say it's the country drivers who are the problem and vice versa, but that irrelevant."
"We are all responsible for our own safety wherever we are."