Global road safety is a combined strategy
I’m quite proud to say that my passion for road safety has reached many countries. My blog itself currently reaches people in over 100 countries and my weekly safe driving podcast “Speed Bumps” has now reached listeners in over 50 countries. Road safety is certainly a global issue. Although I spend most of my time speaking with drivers about what they do behind the wheel, road safety goes beyond the driver of vehicles. It also goes to the other road users such as cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and all the others. But that’s not just it. The infrastructure some countries and communities have doesn’t work in today’s world. Change needs to happen.
It’s true that our roads are no longer built for the type of traffic we once had, say 70 or more years ago. Vehicles are a different size and there are a lot more vehicles on the road year after year. Some governments are adding more roads to accommodate the influx of vehicles, but that is just one small piece of the puzzle. In many cases, the cost of adding new roads doesn’t really solve the road safety problem. There really needs to be other changes within the infrastructure of our communities to make a difference.
Vehicle collisions result in large annual global economic losses, which is typically from 2% to 3% of annual gross domestic product. Vehicle crashes also contribute to poverty in many developing countries. Globally, we should realize that road transport provides adds to economic growth in many countries. As the amount of motor vehicle collisions are increasing quickly in many regions, addressing the issue grows quickly. Motor vehicle deaths are now the 8th leading cause of death globally. It’s time to make the change. When and if our governments can make improvements in the design, the construction and the maintenance of our road infrastructure, it can greatly add to the improvement of road safety.
Although some drivers feel they are the most important part of road safety, that’s not true. Everyone has an equal say in the matter. Drivers of vehicles are protected by the vehicle shell, plus all of the safety features within the vehicles during many serious collisions, but what about motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists? Helmets on the cyclists and motorcyclists aren’t always enough to save them and pedestrians don’t wear them, so what can be done? Since this is The Safe Driver, let’s focus our attention of what the drivers of vehicles can do.
The mindset of many drivers really has to change. The global culture in many countries is really a me-me-me attitude. That too must change. Good things happen to good people and bad things happen to good people. It’s not bad luck that causes crashes. Nor is it always about poor road conditions. It’s about adjusting and being aware of what’s around you. We have to adjust to the poor infrastructure as pedestrians and cyclist until the government makes the necessary changes.
I know it’s frustrating but complaining to those who can’t do anything doesn’t change anything. It’s time to make changes and go to the people who can make a difference. Getting a petition started is a good way to begin to make a difference. But don’t just complain, offer solutions and proposed changes. Get a meaningful discussion happening. Give the government something to think about. Talk with them, not about them. In reality, sometimes the cost of alternatives can be less than the “band-aid effect”. Go to the experts and weigh in on their experience. And let’s be honest, many people within the government are not the experts, but they make the decisions. It’s always in the best interest of the community to refer to the experts before making the decisions. Now is the time to make your case.
Add in the fact that many of the roads are in poor conditions. These conditions are also causing damage to the vehicles traveling along them. Sometimes this damage leads directly toward a collisions, but it also leads to weakened safety features of the vehicle over time. These weakened systems of the vehicle will eventually cause a breakdown and thus lead toward injuries or death on the roads. What is your government doing to minimize these inadequate road conditions if anything?
The bottom line is to remember that your actions as a driver can affect the lives of others, and vice versus. It’s time to make a change with what you do behind the wheel. It’s time to change the culture of road safety. The world is watching.