Expert Tips for Road Safety and Avoiding Traffic Accidents

Road Traffic Accidents: A Man Made Killer Disease

The term “accident” implies an unintentional and unpredictable event. But a close look at the pattern of road traffic accidents and the humungous rise in their numbers in recent decades shows that they might not be so "accidental" after all. They, in fact, resemble an epidemic that has arisen out of uncontrolled urbanization and modernization. Most importantly, it is evident that road accidents occur because of comprehensible causes and a large number of them are preventable. The causes and incidences of road accidents vary greatly from country to country. 

The Lives Lost

• Every day, nearly 3,500 people in the world die in a road accident.
• Apart from deaths, traffic accidents leave a number of victims seriously impaired for life. It is estimated that the number of serious injuries could be anywhere from ten to twenty times the number of reported deaths.
• The seriousness of the problem can also be gauged from the fact that almost 10 to 30 percent of hospital beds are occupied by traffic accident cases.

Who is the Most Affected?

• Unlike the other leading killers such as cardiovascular disease and cancers, most victims of road accidents are in the prime of their lives. In a large number of instances they are also the primary breadwinners of the family.
• Data show that a majority of road accident deaths occur in the 15 to 45-year age group.
• Road accidents are in fact one of the leading causes of deaths among young people aged between 15 and 29 all over the world.
• A recent study from the US showed that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for US teenagers, accounting for more than a third of fatalities in this age group every year.

Killer Roads

Road traffic injuries are predicted to become the fifth leading cause of death in the world by 2030. Definitely, a lot needs to be done to make our roads safer. A large part of this responsibility rests with the government through means such as better traffic regulations, better road design and better public awareness. However, the responsibility of the individual and the society cannot be underestimated. According to World Health Organization (WHO) Report, experts agree that the enforcement of road safety laws such as helmet and seat belt use is poor (rated 2 on a scale of 0-10, where 0 is not effective and 10 is highly effective). In such a situation, it is all the more important that we conscientiously follow laws that exist and take other necessary measures for the safety of self and others. 

Tips To Make Your Journey Safe

Do not multitask while driving

Absolutely - do not multitask while driving.  Talking on the mobile, snacking and touching-up your make up are all distractions that can lead to accidents.  Many experts regard the mobile phone to be one of the most important road safety hazards.  A survey showed that apart from talking on phone while driving, a large number of people engage in reading and sending text messages while driving. This is a serious mistake as taking your eyes off the road for the smallest fraction of a second can lead to a serious driving error.

Strictly avoid drunken driving

Alcohol impairs judgment and increases the risk of a crash at very low blood levels.  The hazards of drunken driving cannot be overemphasized. A study done in a US city showed that nearly 30% of road crashes involving men are attributable to alcohol. Alcohol not only increases the risk of sustaining serious head injury and death during an accident, but also the risk of serious disability in those who survive.

The level of alcohol in blood (referred to as blood alcohol concentration or BAC) depends on many factors such as the amount consumed, pace of drinking, accompanying food, gender, body fat etc. The BAC level used to define drunken driving varies from country to country. However, the important point is that in some individuals and under certain circumstances, impaired judgment can occur at even lower levels.  For example, some countries have set lower BAC limits for young and novice drivers.

Consistently use safety gear

As mentioned earlier, a large percentage of traffic accident fatalities involve two-wheeler users. Head injury may be responsible for death in 75% or more of these cases. A helmet prevents serious head injury through multiple mechanisms (Table 1).  It is estimated that wearing a good-quality helmet can reduce the risk of death from a road crash by almost 40% and the risk of severe injury by over 70%.

A helmet works in three ways:

1. It reduces the deceleration of the skull, and hence the brain movement by managing the impact. The soft material incorporated in the helmet absorbs some of the impact and therefore the head comes to a halt more slowly. This means that the brain does not hit the skull with such great force.
2. It spreads the forces of the impact over a greater surface area so that they are not concentrated on particular areas of the skull.
3. It prevents direct contact between the skull and the impacting object by acting as a mechanical barrier between the head and the object.

Strictly avoid drowsy driving

While most responsible people make it a point to not drive after drinking, they do not regard drowsy driving as something equally dangerous. Though the cops and most road safety awareness messages do not stop you from driving if sleepy, sleepiness can cause judgment errors similar to drunkenness. Watch out for signs of excessive sleepiness and if you notice any of them, call a cab or catch a nap.  If you love long road trips, you must make sure that you take turns at the wheels or take suitably long breaks to catch up on your sleep. Here is a checklist to help you have a safer road trip.

Watch your speed

Speed is one of the most important determinants of the extent of damage and injury caused in a road accident. There is a less than 10% chance of a fatal injury by the impact of a vehicle travelling at 30Km per hour and more than 80% chance of a fatal injury by one going at 50Km/hr or more. In general, the speed of the vehicle should depend on the distance up to which the road ahead can be seen. Lesser this distance, the lesser should be the speed. But when driving on highways, you must slow down within village limits even if the road is clear.

Be extra cautious on unknown terrain

When you are a regular on a road, your brain gets accustomed to its many curves and blind spots. But that’s not the case when you are on a less familiar stretch. It makes sense to take some extra caution on unfamiliar roads to avoid accidents caused by a sudden treacherous turn or vision-obstructing shrub.

Interfere if you must

Your friend says he is not too drunk to drive. You think that he is. Does it make sense to butt in and stop him from driving? Absolutely yes. The same applies when you think a person is too drowsy to drive.

Be regular with your vehicle’s maintenance

Quite a few accidents happen because of a fault in the vehicle. Be regular with your vehicle’s maintenance. Checking for small things such as reflectors and red lights at the rear of one's vehicles and ensuring that they are clean can make a difference.

Make your kids and teens aware

Sensitize your kids and teens to road safety from an early age. The most important step would of course be to set the right example. If they use a bicycle, make sure that the bicycle has reflectors, is age-appropriate and undergoes regular maintenance.