Traffic Transport and Road Safety Associates Ltd. (TTRSA)

TTRSA regularly reviews road safety news and policy related interventions from around the world so that we can extend our knowledgebase and that of our clients. This roundup covers: changes to legislation in Bermuda; tougher penalties in Oman;  the effect of public holidays on accident rates in the USA and Canada; the need to regulate public transport operations; and, action being undertaken in Tamil Nadu, India.

Don't use your iPod whilst driving in Bermuda

Politicians in Bermuda have passed legislation to prohibit the use of hand-held devices such as ipods and mobile phones whilst driving. The Royal Gazette reports that offenders will face on the spot tickets for fines of $500. Politicians have also used the vote to highlight other road safety issues. MP Mark Pettingill of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance is reported to have said that "if one looks at the statistic in regards to fatalities, 90 percent of the time they will take place a night and toxicology reports will say that the victim or the people with them have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol".

24 - 48 hours locked up in Oman

The Khaleej Times reports that new tougher penalties are being introduced in Oman for motorists committing traffic offences. Oman has a population of about 3 million, and the death toll on its roads since the start of the year is over 400. Speaking at a Road Safety Workshop, Captain Khamis bin Ali Al Batashi of the Royal Oman Police (ROP) is reported to have said that "more than 87 per cent of accidents are due to human error like speeding, reckless driving and inappropriate modes of overtaking" and that drivers who speed, jump traffic lights, drive on the hard shoulder and drive without a licence will now be locked up for between 24 and 48 hours.

The public holiday effect?

Road safety agencies around the world often report significantly higher accident and fatality rates over public holiday periods. In the United States, the Insurance Institute for Road Safety has undertaken research on accident data from 2004 to 2008, showing July 4th as 'The Deadliest Day' with an average of 148 people being killed in motor vehicle accidents on america's roads. ABC News reports that the institute suggests the reasons behind the higher number of deaths might involve: more people on the roads; people driving longer distances; and, a higher rate of alcohol related crashes at 41% compared to the average of 31%.

Across the border in Canada, RCMP Traffic Services and Alberta Traffic Sheriffs, cracked down on unsafe drivers over the Canada Day weekend, issuing 3,401 charges including: 15 for impaired driving; 50 related to infringments at intersections; 101 related to seatbelt and child restraint; and, 2574 related to speeding. The Government of Alberta reports that during July 2010 the focus will be on motorcycle safety. The Alberta Traffic Collision Statistics (2008) shows that 'motorcycle riders under the age of 25 have the highest rate of involvement in casualty collisions per 1000 drivers. In particular, 16 to 17 year-olds had an involvement rate of 44.3 per 1000, which is three times greater than motorcycle riders aged 20 to 24'.

How safe is taking the bus?

Whilst in many countries taking a bus is considered to be a safe way to travel, recent accidents in the Philippines have highlighted the road safety consequences of inadequate levels of regulation and enforcement. The Sun Star reports that 40 people have been killed in the last three weeks, citing: a tour bus which 'fell off' the Trancentral Highway on June 13 killing the driver and 20 foreigners and a bus which was reported to be unlicenced, overloaded and travelling at high speed hitting a concrete wall and killing 15 passengers on 3 July. A Director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is reported to have said that the Board is consulting its lawyers to see if it "can act as a complainant so as to ensure that criminal cases will push through until resolution and make sure these reckless drivers will serve jail terms". Most drivers get away without jail terms when the relatives of victims decide not to pursue charges.

Increased emphasis on reporting and action in Tamil Nadu

The Times of India reports that the transport commissionerate for Tamil Nadu has asked for extensive information from the states districts on the state of the road network, engineering measures, enforcement activities, road safety education and other 'special activities' taken to prevent road safety accidents occurring. Tamil Nadu has a population of approximately 66 million, with 13,746 road related deaths in 2009. The state has an objective to reduce fatalities and injuries by 20% by 2013. Reasons cited for accidents are also common to those working in other countries and include: ignorance on the part of the drivers; carelessness; speeding; rash and negligent driving; drunken driving; violation of traffic rules; not wearing protective headgear; not fastening seat belts; lack of signage in accident prone areas and poor maintenance of vehicles. Nationally, the Ministry of Transport and Highways has made it mandatory for all highways to be audited every year, and the International Roads Federation are conducting Road Safety Auditing courses later this month in association with the Australian Road Research Board.

(11 July 2010)