Garth Rattray
MANY YEARS AGO my father theorised that, if we are to become serious about saving lives on the roads (worldwide), the speed limit should never exceed 40 km/h (25 mph). Although I saw the wisdom of his trained engineering mind, I didn't agree because that seemed painfully slow. Surprisingly, researchers who concentrated solely on impact studies (without taking into account primary preventative safety measures), proved his figure to be incredibly accurate.
Other researchers however present figures showing that, in general, highway crashes decreased with increasing speeds up to 105 km/h, but they then increased with speeds above that figure.
Then there's the Montana no speed limit safety paradox, which suggests otherwise. Based on the classifications of highways as 4-lane interstate and rural federal-aid primary 2-lane highways, the National Motorists Association (an American organisation) reported that, "In 1999, after four years of no numerical or posted daytime speed limit on these classifications of highways, outside of urban areas, Montana recorded its lowest fatality rate".
ADVANTAGES
They found that people driving on soundly engineered highways changed their practices when there was no posted speed limit. Drivers demonstrated improved lane courtesy and increased seatbelt use. Engineers pointed to Germany as further proof of this unexpected finding. That country's 12,044 km Autobahn has some sections with static speed limits and others with dynamic ones (depending on driving and weather conditions). It also has many sections with no posted speed limit yet boasts extremely low fatality figures.
Evidence suggests that the real killers are careless and dangerous driving (sometimes) combined with excessive speeding. The plethora of speed traps and paucity of highly visible rolling patrols suggest that we are concentrating primarily on speeding and not on the preponderance of deplorable dangerous driving techniques. We need to dedicate more resources to high-profile road vigilance in order to combat indiscipline, selfishness, disrespect, impatience and ignorance.
Recently, the Island Traffic Authority was urged to "pay closer attention to cars that are modified in a bid to reduce the number of traffic fatalities". Before embarking on this new campaign someone should first ascertain how many modified cars are involved in deadly crashes. Very few, I believe. The authorities would better serve the cause of safety if they concentrated on drivers (of regular vehicles) that change lanes erratically and without signalling, tailgate, cut dangerously in front of slower moving vehicles and race down the highway at breakneck speed.
DANGEROUS PRACTICES
I'm referring here to competitive buses, route taxis and regular (unmodified) motor cars that are pushed to their limit by people with limitless stupidity. If we constantly monitor those dangerous practices, people will be forced to drive safer, we will reduce excessive and dangerous speeding and our road fatalities will decrease dramatically.
There are too many stretches of unmonitored (urban and rural) roads where motorists and cyclists don't bother to stop at stop signs. There are many very busy thoroughfares where impatient drivers routinely overtake long lines of traffic, form new lanes, 'undertake' on the soft shoulder, overtake around blind corners, over the crests of hills, on bridges, across pedestrian crossings and in the face of oncoming traffic.
Our many speed traps will help to reduce speeding but I've seen people behave like angels along speed-trap alleys (like Central Village, the Spanish Town Road and the Michael Manley Highway) only to revert to their dangerous demonic driving once they get beyond the police. This is how innocent lives are lost.
Next week: My wish list for our roads.
Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice
