|
When it rains, it kills ?
warning to Lancashire drivers
DRIVERS are being urged to slow down
when it's raining after 7 people were killed and 124 were seriously injured in
Lancashire when driving in the rain last year.
Highways England is launching a new safety campaign warning drivers that 'when
it rains, it kills' after the latest statistics showed that people are 30
times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the roads in rain than in
snow.
The figures also reveal that travelling too fast for the current conditions was
identified as a factor in 1 in 9 road deaths in Great Britain, in 2015, with
drivers failing to alter how they drive in response to changing conditions on
the road.
Highways England is warning that even driving within the speed limit in wet
weather could be dangerous if drivers don't allow extra space between them and
the vehicle in front. And the message is being reinforced with rain-activated
paint messages visible to people leaving motorway services when it is raining.
A new road safety video has also been produced, directed by award winning
photographer Nadav Kander, which shows rain falling inside the home of a family
imagined to have been involved in a serious road collision. The video is
available to watch
online.
Highways England's Head of Road Safety,
Richard Leonard, said:- "Most of us already slow down in snow, ice or fog,
but when it rains we consider it normal so don't adapt our driving.
The sad fact is that 2,918 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads
in Great Britain when it was raining last year, and not slowing down to suit the
current conditions was identified as a factor in 1 in 9 of all road deaths.
Rain makes it harder for tyres to grip the road and harder for drivers to see
ahead; significantly increasing the chances of being involved in a collision.
We've launched our new campaign to make drivers aware of the dangers and to stay
safe."
It generally takes at least twice as long to stop on a wet road as on a dry road
because tyres have less grip on the surface. In wet weather you should:-
► Slow down if the rain and spray from vehicles is making it difficult to see and
be seen.
► Keep well back from the vehicle in front as
this will increase your ability to see and plan ahead.
► Ease off the accelerator and slow down
gradually if the steering becomes unresponsive as it probably means that water
is preventing the tyres from gripping the road.
In total, 197 people lost their lives on roads during rainfall in Great Britain
last year and 2,721 suffered a serious injury, compared to 14 deaths and 153
serious injuries during fog, and 2 deaths and 95 serious injuries during snow.
In Lancashire, there were 7 deaths and 124 serious injuries in the rain,
compared to no deaths and three serious injuries in snow, and no deaths and
seven serious injuries in fog.
Highways England is aiming to reduce the number of people killed or seriously
injured on England's motorways and major A roads by 40% by 2020 through road
improvements, safety campaigns and other initiatives.
|
