Time to focus on injury prevention

New Zealand roads toll statistics refuses to come down, with 366, 385 and 375 people dying on our roads in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively . It is still not time to open champagne bottles. For every hundred thousand, 7 people are still dying on our roads every year. Sure we are far better compared to countries like China and India who boast of averages of 10 and 13 respectively. However, for a developed nation, this figure could be closer to some of the European countries that have less than 5 deaths per hundred thousand.

The second reason for not celebrating yet is injuries. Major injuries are still high as per ACC and Ministry of Transport . However, this country seems to be transfixed on roads deaths. Few seem to be concerned that our injury statistics due to motor vehicle related crashes are lot higher and is costing us lots more. As long as car design assists in avoiding fatality, we do not seem to be concerned of crashes. It does not require rocket science to figure out that reducing accidents is the only way to reduce injuries.

Injury statistics in accidents take into account only direct costs like salary reimbursements or hospital treatment. It does not consider socio-economic costs like lost productivity especially in cases of life long injuries, or loss of family income. Not to mention the injured person having to live the rest of his/her life thinking “what if….” and feeling miserable at his/her own state.

Some of these social costs are incurred in case of deaths as well. However, with injuries being ten times more than deaths, these costs quickly balloon.

Reduced fatalities could be attributed to safer cars. However, that does not prevent accidents. Most crashes are attributed to driver faults, ranging from misjudging the circumstances to blatantly ignoring warnings of potential hazard. If the driver is not skilled enough, even the safest cars can be crashed. Just that instead of death, it results in serious injuries.

The answer lies in changes to our culture. We should aim for preventing accidents from happening in the first place and getting to its root cause.

Is it just a simple task of deploying more police on the roads or building more roads? One needs to look at how Europeans tackled the problem. They achieved huge reductions not just by tackling road design and engineering issues causing accidents, but through a comprehensive programme that also included education aimed at changing driver behaviour and skills. For all the calls being made in New Zealand to make huge investments in better road design, the society also needs to invest in changing driver behaviour.

What this means is, New Zealand driver behaviour needs to undergo fundamental change by showing more understanding and responsibility on the roads. A typical observation made is drivers thinking “if I have the right of way, just go. In case of an accident, it will anyway not be my fault”. A more logical reasoning could be “OK! I have the right of way, but let me avoid a crash”. Two wrongs do not make a right.

The desire to drive to speed limit essentially sums up driver attitude. Anyone going below speed limit becomes a target of abuse. Different road users come with varying levels of driving skills. Expecting a less skilled driver to keep up to speed limit creates a recipe for an accident, for all that you know that low skilled driver is not likely to handle high speed and crash somewhere. Some of you will suggest that slower drivers should give way to the faster. Theoretically, that sounds fine. But, who is a slow driver?

Understanding and patient drivers don’t always complain of inadequate roads, they will adjust to the environment. On that point, there are no trouble-free driving conditions. Clear days also have their traps for drivers. A study by Christchurch based Investigative Engineering Services shows warm summer conditions can cause bituplaning which results in vehicle tyres sliding across unexpected low-grip. How many of our accidents take place on bright and sunny days?

Society must seize the initiative to show bad drivers causing even minor injuries will not be tolerated. We seem to be too lenient on bad drivers ready to let them go with just a mere slap on the wrist for causing injuries to other road users. We do not take into account the amount of suffering and agony that the injured person and their families have to undergo as they go thru long process of recovery and rehabilitation. Police and courts could start treating injury related incidents as being major accidents, so offending drivers will be deterred by the prospect of more severe punishments.

Safety messages and campaigns also need to be revamped. For example, campaigns that aimed at drivers ensuring safety of children on the roads have good intentions. However, such campaigns have a potential problem where a driver tends to get the idea that being careless in other circumstances or for other road users will be fine.

The key to change in road user behaviour is “patience”. I say road users because this applies not just to motorists, but also cyclists and pedestrians. The difference being, with a tonne of metal at their disposal, motorists need to show more restraint and responsibility.

ENDS

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