28/08/2012
Our speeding nation is slowing down
I have some news which should brighten every safe and considerate motorist’s day.According to the RAC Foundation, working alongside the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety – quite a mouthful – the number of people speeding on the UK’s roads is decreasing!
In 1998, around 69% of drivers were breaking 30mph speed limits, however, in 2010 this figure dropped to 46%.
Likewise, the amount of road users choosing to travel at over 70mph on motorways has reduced from 57% in 2003 to 49% in 2010.
Apparently, says the director of the RAC Foundation, part of the reason for this reduction in speeding motorists, is the high cost of fuel during an economic downturn.
However, I hope the main reason is that people are finally starting to realise that by speeding they are putting their life and the lives of others in danger.
I suppose we’ll just have to see what happens if fuel prices get lower and people start feeling better off. Will speeding figures increase again? Only time will tell.
Photo © Pug50 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: driver, fuel, motorist, motorway, Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, RAC Foundation, road, safe, speed limit, speeding
02/07/2012
Watch out for Rupert the chartered surveyor!
A recent study by a car insurance provider found that depending on what your name is, you are apparently more or less likely to break the speed limit.
Furthermore, which profession you’re in also has an impact on your need for speed.
Reportedly, if you are called Juliet, Susannah, Justine, Deirdre or Alexis, or Rupert, Julian, Piers, Giles or Justin, you’re much less likely to decide to stick to the speed limit, preferring rather to leave other motorists in a cloud of your dust.
On the other hand, anyone called Molly, Shannon, Bethany, Lily, Courtney or Caitlin, or Terrence, Jake, Jordan, Joshua, Jacob or Declan, tends to stay safe by obeying speed signs.
Apparently men employed as chartered surveyors, sales managers, surgeons, TV producers, company chairmen or barristers are the worst offenders when it comes to driving too fast, and for women the speediest professions are commissioned officers in the Armed Forces, chartered surveyors, GPs, business consultants, heads of personnel and vets.
Looks like chartered surveyors are the very worst on both sides then!
Is there any science behind these findings? Erm, I’m not sure. But it’s certainly interesting, I can’t deny!
Furthermore, which profession you’re in also has an impact on your need for speed.
Reportedly, if you are called Juliet, Susannah, Justine, Deirdre or Alexis, or Rupert, Julian, Piers, Giles or Justin, you’re much less likely to decide to stick to the speed limit, preferring rather to leave other motorists in a cloud of your dust.
On the other hand, anyone called Molly, Shannon, Bethany, Lily, Courtney or Caitlin, or Terrence, Jake, Jordan, Joshua, Jacob or Declan, tends to stay safe by obeying speed signs.
Apparently men employed as chartered surveyors, sales managers, surgeons, TV producers, company chairmen or barristers are the worst offenders when it comes to driving too fast, and for women the speediest professions are commissioned officers in the Armed Forces, chartered surveyors, GPs, business consultants, heads of personnel and vets.
Looks like chartered surveyors are the very worst on both sides then!
Is there any science behind these findings? Erm, I’m not sure. But it’s certainly interesting, I can’t deny!
Photo © oddsock via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, driving, motorists, name, profession, safe, speed limit, speed sign
29/06/2012
Airbag seatbelts from Ford
Having airbags for the front passenger and driver is all very well and good, but what about the backseat passengers?
It’s quite rare, in my opinion, to have any safety equipment ready to leap into action to save backseaters from injury in a collision.
Well, next year Ford will be offering inflatable seatbelts for backseat passengers as an extra – which will probably cost around £250.
Initially the belts will be available only in the Mondeo, but the company plans on having it available in all of their family cars eventually.
The seatbelts, which will act as airbags for anyone in the rear of the vehicle, are safe for use with a booster seat and wil fully inflate in 40 milliseconds.
Hopefully this will lead to a reduction in the number of whiplash, back and head injuries suffered annually in the UK.
The inflatable belts have already been available to the American public since late last year, and apparently the company states that so far 40% of customers have elected to have the safety extra.
I’m not surprised! Changing the paintwork colour of a Ford Mondeo can cost anything from £200 to £545 – with that in mind £250 for something which will protect someone from suffering harm in a crash is a very good price!
It’s quite rare, in my opinion, to have any safety equipment ready to leap into action to save backseaters from injury in a collision. Well, next year Ford will be offering inflatable seatbelts for backseat passengers as an extra – which will probably cost around £250.
Initially the belts will be available only in the Mondeo, but the company plans on having it available in all of their family cars eventually.
The seatbelts, which will act as airbags for anyone in the rear of the vehicle, are safe for use with a booster seat and wil fully inflate in 40 milliseconds.
Hopefully this will lead to a reduction in the number of whiplash, back and head injuries suffered annually in the UK.
The inflatable belts have already been available to the American public since late last year, and apparently the company states that so far 40% of customers have elected to have the safety extra.
I’m not surprised! Changing the paintwork colour of a Ford Mondeo can cost anything from £200 to £545 – with that in mind £250 for something which will protect someone from suffering harm in a crash is a very good price!
Photo © Criterion via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: air bag, backseat, crash, driver, Ford, inflatable seatbelt, injuries, passenger, safe, vehicle, whiplash
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