Truck drivers warned of obstructions placed on roads with criminal intent!

This past week I had the pleasure of hosting a young man, Michiel Van Duurling, from the Netherlands and invited him to drive with me from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg. Along the route I could inform him of some unique challenges in South Africa. Much of our conversation was pertaining to the threats on our roads, the low numbers of cyclists on our roads and the reasons for this.

Near Johannesburg I had to explain the road signs alerting road users to hazardous objects on the roads! During this past weekend these messages were further highlighted by a warning from crash reconstructionist Stan Bezuidenhout to truck drivers of this threat. I would like to quote:

“Trucking Alert (and all motorists): This morning at approx 04:30 on N12 near Etwatwa, driver of a loaded fruit truck is reported to have swerved to avoid boulders/ rocks placed on the freeway. He crashed into the centre median, destroying the guard rails and “clearvu” anti-pedestrian fence proceeding across the freeway. The crash also destroyed the trailer and load was scattered.

This is not the first incident on objects being put on the road or thrown from overhead bridges. Earlier this year a cattle truck overturned after bricks were thrown from the overbridge on N1 near grasmere. Last week a mother and child were seriously injured on the N12 near the Glen (comaro offramp) after a brick was thrown at the vehicle. News reports indicate the child is in a coma….

A special warning to all drivers to slow down and be observant on freeways especially in the dark…..pics of this mornings aftermath uploading.”

Also view:

Crime as a Threat to Road Safety

Truck Hijackings, Crime and Road Safety

Truck drivers warned of obstructions placed on roads with criminal intent!

Truck drivers warned of obstructions placed on roads with criminal intent!

This past week I had the pleasure of hosting a young man, Michiel Van Duurling, from the Netherlands and invited him to drive with me from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg. Along the route I could inform him of some unique challenges in South Africa. Much of our conversation was pertaining to the threats on our roads, the low numbers of cyclists on our roads and the reasons for this.

Near Johannesburg I had to explain the road signs alerting road users to hazardous objects on the roads! During this past weekend these messages were further highlighted by a warning from crash reconstructionist Stan Bezuidenhout to truck drivers of this threat. I would like to quote:

“Trucking Alert (and all motorists): This morning at approx 04:30 on N12 near Etwatwa, driver of a loaded fruit truck is reported to have swerved to avoid boulders/ rocks placed on the freeway. He crashed into the centre median, destroying the guard rails and “clearvu” anti-pedestrian fence proceeding across the freeway. The crash also destroyed the trailer and load was scattered.

This is not the first incident on objects being put on the road or thrown from overhead bridges. Earlier this year a cattle truck overturned after bricks were thrown from the overbridge on N1 near grasmere. Last week a mother and child were seriously injured on the N12 near the Glen (comaro offramp) after a brick was thrown at the vehicle. News reports indicate the child is in a coma….

A special warning to all drivers to slow down and be observant on freeways especially in the dark…..pics of this mornings aftermath uploading.”

Also view:

Crime as a Threat to Road Safety

Truck Hijackings, Crime and Road Safety

Truck drivers warned of obstructions placed on roads with criminal intent!

Highways England heralds roads revolution

The government is altering the way England’s motorways and A-roads are built and managed with an ambitious package of reforms that is expected to save the taxpayer at least £2.6 billion more than the subsequent 10 years.

Highways England, a new ‘at arm’s length’ government agency, will take over the operating of motorways and significant trunk roads from the Highways Agency in April.

Expressway to heaven?

Up to £15 billion will be invested over the coming years in a programme of works that contains upgrading busy A-roads to ‘expressways’ by removing roundabouts and traffic lights.

These will be replaced with entry and exit slip roads, and refuge locations will be offered for breakdowns and emergencies.

CCTV monitoring will be employed to determine troubles and manage traffic flow.

Slow visitors, such as tractors, will be banned from chosen routes. Cyclists may also be barred from high-speed routes.

Smart moves

A lot more motorways will also be actively managed, with variable speed limits and traffic permitted to use the tough shoulder as a 4th lane during busy periods – the so-called ‘smart’ strategy.

There are also plans to supply wi-fi connections by means of roadside signal masts so that drivers could be provided with info, by way of SatNav devices, relating to congestion, climate situations and fuel rates.

Testing is also expected to take spot on no matter whether electric automobiles can be charged even though in motion by way of charging loops embedded in the road surface.

Jam right now, jam tomorrow?

New routes are also becoming deemed as a way to relieve congestion in notoriously busy areas, such as the route from Devon to Cornwall and the trunk roads north of Newcastle and across northern England.

The government is currently committed to spending £2 billion on a ‘strategic corridor’ to the southwest by means of the A303, such as a 1.8 mile tunnel at Stonehenge in Wiltshire.

Other measures include 9 main improvements along the A1 from Berwick to London, taking it to motorway normal through Yorkshire and extending the continuous dual carriageway 24 miles further north.

Highways England heralds roads revolution

Highways England heralds roads revolution

The government is changing the way England’s motorways and A-roads are built and managed with an ambitious package of reforms that is expected to save the taxpayer at least £2.6 billion more than the next 10 years.

Highways England, a new ‘at arm’s length’ government agency, will take more than the operating of motorways and main trunk roads from the Highways Agency in April.

Expressway to heaven?

Up to £15 billion will be invested over the coming years in a programme of functions that includes upgrading busy A-roads to ‘expressways’ by removing roundabouts and visitors lights.

These will be replaced with entry and exit slip roads, and refuge places will be provided for breakdowns and emergencies.

CCTV monitoring will be employed to identify issues and handle visitors flow.

Slow site visitors, such as tractors, will be banned from chosen routes. Cyclists may also be barred from higher-speed routes.

Sensible moves

Much more motorways will also be actively managed, with variable speed limits and visitors permitted to use the challenging shoulder as a 4th lane in the course of busy periods – the so-named ‘smart’ method.

There are also plans to offer wi-fi connections by means of roadside signal masts so that drivers could be offered with data, via SatNav devices, relating to congestion, climate circumstances and fuel costs.

Testing is also expected to take location on no matter whether electric automobiles can be charged whilst in motion by way of charging loops embedded in the road surface.

Jam these days, jam tomorrow?

New routes are also getting regarded as as a way to relieve congestion in notoriously busy places, such as the route from Devon to Cornwall and the trunk roads north of Newcastle and across northern England.

The government is currently committed to spending £2 billion on a ‘strategic corridor’ to the southwest via the A303, like a 1.8 mile tunnel at Stonehenge in Wiltshire.

Other measures consist of 9 major improvements along the A1 from Berwick to London, taking it to motorway standard by means of Yorkshire and extending the continuous dual carriageway 24 miles additional north.

Highways England heralds roads revolution

Highways England heralds roads revolution

The government is altering the way England’s motorways and A-roads are constructed and managed with an ambitious package of reforms that is expected to save the taxpayer at least £2.6 billion over the subsequent 10 years.

Highways England, a new ‘at arm’s length’ government agency, will take more than the running of motorways and main trunk roads from the Highways Agency in April.

Expressway to heaven?

Up to £15 billion will be invested more than the coming years in a programme of operates that contains upgrading busy A-roads to ‘expressways’ by removing roundabouts and traffic lights.

These will be replaced with entry and exit slip roads, and refuge areas will be supplied for breakdowns and emergencies.

CCTV monitoring will be employed to identify problems and handle targeted traffic flow.

Slow visitors, such as tractors, will be banned from chosen routes. Cyclists may possibly also be barred from high-speed routes.

Wise moves

A lot more motorways will also be actively managed, with variable speed limits and targeted traffic allowed to use the challenging shoulder as a 4th lane during busy periods – the so-known as ‘smart’ method.

There are also plans to provide wi-fi connections by means of roadside signal masts so that drivers could be offered with data, by way of SatNav devices, relating to congestion, climate conditions and fuel prices.

Testing is also anticipated to take spot on regardless of whether electric automobiles can be charged while in motion through charging loops embedded in the road surface.

Jam today, jam tomorrow?

New routes are also being considered as a way to relieve congestion in notoriously busy places, such as the route from Devon to Cornwall and the trunk roads north of Newcastle and across northern England.

The government is currently committed to spending £2 billion on a ‘strategic corridor’ to the southwest via the A303, including a 1.8 mile tunnel at Stonehenge in Wiltshire.

Other measures incorporate 9 major improvements along the A1 from Berwick to London, taking it to motorway regular by way of Yorkshire and extending the continuous dual carriageway 24 miles further north.

Highways England heralds roads revolution

Highways England heralds roads revolution

The government is changing the way England’s motorways and A-roads are constructed and managed with an ambitious package of reforms that is expected to save the taxpayer at least £2.6 billion more than the subsequent 10 years.

Highways England, a new ‘at arm’s length’ government agency, will take more than the running of motorways and key trunk roads from the Highways Agency in April.

Expressway to heaven?

Up to £15 billion will be invested more than the coming years in a programme of operates that involves upgrading busy A-roads to ‘expressways’ by removing roundabouts and targeted traffic lights.

These will be replaced with entry and exit slip roads, and refuge areas will be offered for breakdowns and emergencies.

CCTV monitoring will be employed to determine difficulties and manage targeted traffic flow.

Slow traffic, such as tractors, will be banned from chosen routes. Cyclists may also be barred from higher-speed routes.

Sensible moves

Much more motorways will also be actively managed, with variable speed limits and targeted traffic allowed to use the tough shoulder as a 4th lane during busy periods – the so-referred to as ‘smart’ approach.

There are also plans to offer wi-fi connections by means of roadside signal masts so that drivers could be supplied with info, via SatNav devices, relating to congestion, climate circumstances and fuel rates.

Testing is also expected to take spot on no matter whether electric cars can be charged whilst in motion by means of charging loops embedded in the road surface.

Jam today, jam tomorrow?

New routes are also becoming regarded as a way to relieve congestion in notoriously busy areas, such as the route from Devon to Cornwall and the trunk roads north of Newcastle and across northern England.

The government is already committed to spending £2 billion on a ‘strategic corridor’ to the southwest by way of the A303, including a 1.8 mile tunnel at Stonehenge in Wiltshire.

Other measures incorporate 9 major improvements along the A1 from Berwick to London, taking it to motorway standard via Yorkshire and extending the continuous dual carriageway 24 miles further north.

Highways England heralds roads revolution

Drive with extra caution to avoid colliding with small antelope on rural roads

Last weekend did not start well for a friend of the Arrive Alive website when he collided with a Klipspringer, a small species of African antelope.

The collision occurred on Friday afternoon shortly before sunset about 8 kilometres outside Ottosdal on the Wolmaransstad road.

Unfortunately neither the Klipspringer nor the radiator of the car survived the impact of the collision.

What can we do to reduce these types of crashes and also assist towards making our roads safer?

On the Arrive Alive website we have made available information on the following topic: Avoiding animals on the Road

There are a few suggestions that could assist in protecting motorists:

• Take special care near animal crossing warning signs or signs warning of the absence of fences. The signs are there for a reason.


• Minimize your distractions from passengers, food, and accessories like cell phones. If your full attention is on the road, you’;ll be more likely to spot approaching animals with your peripheral vision.


• Get in the habit of scanning the roadside as you drive.


• Vigilance is the first and best defense, especially when driving on unfamiliar rural roads. Ask passengers to help by scanning both sides of the roadway.


• If you see one animal, expect that there are others nearby.


• Use your high beams whenever possible. They will give you more time to spot and react to animals in the road.


• Always obey the speed limit and wear safety belts


• To protect themselves, defensive drivers adapt their speed to conditions and keep alert for wildlife.


• Slowing down a little gives you and the animal more time to react – Be especially cautious at night


• Be aware of your surroundings.


• Be especially watchful in areas near woods and water


• If you see a large animal near the road and think you have time to avoid hitting it, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers and sound your horn.


• If the animal is in your path, brake firmly but do not swerve to avoid it. Sound your horn in a series of short bursts to frighten it away. Provided you can slow down with control, steer around the animal but stay on the road if possible. Watch out for oncoming traffic.


• If a collision seems inevitable, don’;t swerve to avoid the animal; your risk of injury may be greater if you do. Maintain control of the vehicle. Report the accident to the police and your insurance company.


• Always consider if the land along the road could host large animals, and if you think it could, anticipate that they might run out into the road. It’;s much easier to anticipate animal encounters and be ready to react calmly than to deal with the costly expenses, injuries, and guilty conscience of a collision.

We can also assist the World Wildlife Fund and the Project to reduce Roadkill.

View: Endangered Wildlife Trust starts new roadkill project in Pilanesberg National Park

Drive with extra caution to avoid colliding with small antelope on rural roads

Hole lotta really like – parties split on patching Britain’s roads

Just before Christmas, drivers were given what looked like an attractive present by the government – the promise that £6 billion will be spent on fixing potholes over the next 6 years.

But when the wrapping paper was ripped off, it wasn’t quite the stunning package we were given to believe.

Old money

For a start, it wasn’t a fresh injection of cash into country’s beleaguered road ne2rk.

The funding for road repairs was originally unveiled in the 2013 Spending Review, and was announced (again) in December by Patrick McLoughlin, transport secretary.

The move prompted Labour MP Richard Burden to accuse the government of a “complete Christmas con.”

McLoughlin said the funds will be enough to repair 18 million potholes countrywide: “The £6 billion funding I am announcing today will put an end to short-term fixes and will mean we have committed £10 billion between 2010 and 2021.”

His mention of short-term fixes is intended to prevent further criticism of the government, which has previously come under fire for its quick-fix approach to road repairs.

Divvying up

Over £4.7 billion of the funds will be split between 115 local councils, with those that have the biggest road ne2rks getting the greatest amount of funding.

A further £575m will be available to councils to help maintain local roads, junctions, bridges and street lighting, but authorities will have to bid for a share of this.

There’s also another £578m which has been put aside for a new “incentive fund scheme” which will start in 2016. This money will be used to reward councils who can demonstrate that they have made cost-effective road improvements.

Half measures?

While £6 billion might sound like an awful lot of money it may not be anywhere near enough to solve the problem as some councils are facing bills of close to £100million to fix their crumbling carriageways.

A recent freedom of information (FoI) request from the Press Association found Leeds city council has the biggest backlog, with repairs estimated to cost somewhere between £90million and £100million, with Gloucestershire’s £86million repair bill and Islington’s £79million tab not too far behind.

The FoI request also gives an indication of the size of the task faced by local councils – even before this year’s bad weather sets in, Derbyshire has 1,110 potholes to repair, Plymouth 3,200 and Northumberland a whopping 6,600.

The idea that even £6billion may not be enough has also been supported by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (who knew?!?) which estimates an immediate one-off expenditure of £12 billion in England alone is needed to return our roads to a state we can be proud of.

Inflation will also have a big impact on the government’s planned expenditure on roads. Following today’s announcement, the shadow transport team @LabourTransport tweeted that the £976m-a-year allocated for local road maintenance is set to decline in real terms to £865m by 2020.

It also claimed that over 2,220 miles more of our local roads now need maintenance work compared to 2010 – further than going from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

Going to pot

There certainly seems to be some pretty damning evidence around to suggest that road repairs have been bottom of the agenda for far too long. According to the RAC, from 2012 to 2013 it saw a 67% increase in vehicles damaged by potholes.

A survey conducted by the motoring organisation earlier in 2014 found that 41% of drivers said the condition of local roads is a major concern – second only to the cost of fuel. And with the cost of fuel plummeting, it could soon be the biggest.

A further 68% said they wanted targeted local road improvements and 65% would like to see more maintenance of motorways and trunk roads.

Axle to grind

Poor roads aren’t just inconvenient, but can cause a huge amount of damage.

Research by the website Potholes.co.uk, an independent website to help motorists assist councils to improve the state of roads, found that the average repair bill for pothole-induced axle or suspension damage is £247. In contrast, it costs councils just £52 to repair one pothole.

They are also extremely dangerous. My local Kent roads are riddled with potholes that you have to swerve to avoid, and many have been left to deteriorate over a period of several years.

Road to ruin?

Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, said: “Hard-pressed motorists and businesses are justifiably sick and tired of having their vehicles damaged because of Britain’s pothole crises.

“This Tory Government is all talk. Motorists have had enough of their failure and broken promises.”

I actually preferred his tweet to his official announcement. It read: “Govt announcement on roads seems to be: We’ve totally knackered the roads over the last 5 years. We might do something about it in the next 6.”

Can you dig it?

Only time will tell how big an impact the £6 billion funding will have over the next few years, but in the meantime you can do your bit to let councils know about the worst-affected areas.

You can report any potholes you find here, or you can use the ‘Fill That Hole’ iPhone app, which lets you take a photo of a pothole and combine this with GPS technology to pinpoint the exact location of the hazard.

The problem is then reported to the National Cycling Charity, which in turn contacts the right people on your behalf to get roads repaired.

Hole lotta really like – parties split on patching Britain’s roads

Govt hails £15bn roads ‘revolution’

The government has revealed how it plans to devote the £15billion it has earmarked for improvements to England’s ne2rk of trunk roads and motorways as element of its ‘roads revolution’.

As we outlined last month, the government is upgrading some of the UK’s busiest and most problematic roads and it has nowadays revealed this will involve 100 road improvement schemes and add 1,300 new miles of additional lanes to current motorways and A roads.

The plans had been announced by Patrick McLoughlin, the transport secretary, who said: “I am setting out the largest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades. It will substantially improve our road ne2rk and unlock Britain’s economic prospective.”

Light at the finish of the tunnel?

Among the improvements outlined are plans to turn the M53 motorway in Wirral into a ‘smart motorway’, with varying speed limits and occasional use of the challenging shoulder allowed to ease congestion, and make the A1 a dual carriageway from London to Ellingham, 25 miles south of the Scottish border.

There will also be improvements to the M62 amongst Manchester and Leeds, and the A27 along the south coast, upgrades to the east-west connection to Norfolk by means of the A47 and A11, as well as work on M25 junctions and the M42 east of Birmingham.

Arguably the most ambitious program even though is the tunnel under Stonehenge as part of upgrades to the A303 and A358.

Road to ruin?

But will the plans ever see the light of day?

It is not unusual for governments to announce massive plans for the roads – specifically with an election looming – only to place them on ice when budgets get a tighter.

This happened under the Conservatives in the late 1980s when the biggest building programme because the Romans was shelved, and also beneath the last Labour government in 2007 when it stopped plans to tunnel below Stonehenge amid spiralling charges.

The present coalition government has previous form when it comes to cancelling projects and cutting road maintenance budgets – the shadow transport secretary, Michael Dugher, was keen to point out “infrastructure output has fallen significantly considering that Might 2010”.

In other words, it’s anyone’s guess how much of the function will really be carried out.

As you can see from the government graphics below, the Strategic Road Ne2rk (SRN) is currently overworked and so some significant improvements do require to be produced.

Why the Strategic Road Ne2rk (SRN) demands investment

Are modifications to the Highways Agency the key?

The government also plans to turn the Highways Agency into a government-owned organization to make confident funding can be allocated on a longer-term basis and give it a assured price range every single 5 years.

In theory, this must bring about a change in how roads are planned and constructed, allowing for longer-term investment and arranging and, eventually, cutting road-building costs.

As ever even though, we’ll have to sit tight and see what the future brings.

What do you feel? Will these plans ever see the light of day? Or will this and possibly any successive governments revert to variety and shelve the plans? Let us know…

Govt hails £15bn roads ‘revolution’

A quad bike must be loaded onto a trailer when transported on public roads

Question:

I have Quad Bike Query. I accept they cannot be ridden on public roads – No Problem.

I have bought a quad bike with Rear light,turning lights front and back and also headlights (hi and Low beam) plus many extras

The manufacturer fitted a steel Shaft that can be used for a TOW-Ball and can be connected as a Tow-Hitch. I can safely lift 2 wheels from the road surface and securely connect the ATV to my vehicle tow-bar. Is it possible for me (After I register the Vehicle)to license my ATV as a trailer or any appropriate Name?)    I can then safely and legally tow the ATV on a public road within the rules of towing as prescribed by Law.  When done correctly there is no real difference between towing a trailer or car or Towing an ATV (Folks still tow their ‘Beach buggies’;?)       I would appreciate your comments and input.

Answer:

You are not allowed to register and licence the quad at all and will have to load the entire vehicle onto a trailer to be able to transport it.

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

Also view:

Quad Bike Safety

Towing a Trailer Safely

A quad bike must be loaded onto a trailer when transported on public roads

Country roads, take me home… in one particular piece, please!

John Denver had a deep enjoy of the countryside – West Virginia, mountain momma, a night in the forest, and all that clobber.

No doubt component of the attraction is that the traffic in the Blue Ridge Mountains is light, the highways are effectively maintained, and the drivers are both courteous and punctilious in obeying the guidelines of the road.

I was certainly seeking forward to a modify of pace and temperament when I left London 4 years ago for a life in rural Kent. I couldn’t wait to escape the perils and stresses of urban driving.

Following all, what could be far better than trading in all that jostling for position and endless traffic jams for quiet country roads exactly where there’s no rush to get anyplace?

Oh how wrong I was.

In the country…

Country drivers are insane. They drive at speeds which wouldn’t be out of place in Formula A single, overtake exactly where there are blind corners, and take no account of typical country hazards, such as animals on the road.

Of course, it is a bit of a generalisation to condemn all nation drivers, but I have been genuinely staggered at just how dangerous some of the rural driving I’ve witnessed has been.

Perhaps there’s one thing about roads being quieter that makes folks think it is safer for them to go quicker. Country roads are also normally extremely familiar to the drivers who use them, which can lull them into a false sense of security that they are secure.

Dead reckoning

A challenging-hitting new campaign from Consider! highlights just how hazardous country driving can be.

Analysis from the road security campaign group reveals that 60% of people killed on Britain’s roads die on nation roads, with 3 men and women losing their lives each and every day on typical.

In reality, the number of folks killed on nation roads is practically 11 times larger than on motorways, and a single in 20 people has had a collision on a nation road.

Final year alone, there were 1,070 fatalities and 9,104 critical injuries on rural roads.

Trunk road

These shocking statistics make me quite relieved that my only nation accident so far has been reversing into a tree stump at the neighborhood station (ahem), but like most country drivers, there have absolutely been a couple of near misses.

Usually these take place when anything is slowing traffic down ahead. I’ve watched in horror as folks in front of me have more than-taken tractors at speed on blind bends, or have screeched to a halt suddenly when a rabbit runs in front of them.

According to Think! nearly a single in 2 drivers on nation roads have been shocked by an unexpected hazard, such as an animal, even though a third confess to taking a bend as well quick.

Stuck in a rut

Deer in particular can be a true problem on rural roads. The golden rule is that if one particular crosses in front of you, there will invariably be one or a lot more following behind, which often catches motorists out.

Our neighbour not too long ago wrote off his Mini following a collision with a deer which ran in front of him. He was extremely lucky to have escaped unscathed and admits that he was most likely going too fast.

Autumn is a time for distinct care as this is when deer mate – the rutting season – and the males in certain combine aggression and recklessness (the chemical formula of testosterone), which can lead to them inadvertently leaping into the path of cars.

Rural guidelines

Think! is urging country drivers to drive at a speed that permits them to stop in the distance they can see to be clear. It also advises motorists to give themselves time to react by braking before a bend, not on it, and to give cyclists and horse riders lots of space when overtaking.

As the campaign points out, the speed limit is just that – a limit, not a target. The national speed limit on single carriage roads is 60mph, but there will be times we all want to drive properly beneath that in order to drive properly for the situations.

Capital moves

If the campaign to make nation driving safer encourages even just a few motorists believe much more carefully about their rural driving habits, then I for a single will be very relieved.

Idyllic as country roads could appear, they definitely aren’t free from idiots, and, the next time I’m driving in London, I’ll make sure I sit back and enjoy the visitors getting at a standstill.

Country roads, take me home… in one particular piece, please!

Nation roads, take me home… in 1 piece, please!

John Denver had a deep love of the countryside – West Virginia, mountain momma, a night in the forest, and all that clobber.

No doubt part of the attraction is that the traffic in the Blue Ridge Mountains is light, the highways are well maintained, and the drivers are both courteous and punctilious in obeying the rules of the road.

I was certainly looking forward to a change of pace and temperament when I left London 4 years ago for a life in rural Kent. I couldn’t wait to escape the perils and stresses of urban driving.

After all, what could be better than trading in all that jostling for position and endless traffic jams for quiet country roads where there’s no rush to get anywhere?

Oh how wrong I was.

In the country…

Country drivers are insane. They drive at speeds which wouldn’t be out of place in Formula One, overtake where there are blind corners, and take no account of common country hazards, such as animals on the road.

Of course, it’s a bit of a generalisation to condemn all country drivers, but I have been genuinely staggered at just how dangerous some of the rural driving I’ve witnessed has been.

Perhaps there’s something about roads being quieter that makes people think it’s safer for them to go faster. Country roads are also usually very familiar to the drivers who use them, which can lull them into a false sense of security that they are safe.

Dead reckoning

A hard-hitting new campaign from THINK! highlights just how hazardous country driving can be.

Research from the road safety campaign group reveals that 60% of people killed on Britain’s roads die on country roads, with 3 people losing their lives each day on average.

In fact, the number of people killed on country roads is nearly 11 times higher than on motorways, and one in 20 people has had a collision on a country road.

Last year alone, there were 1,070 fatalities and 9,104 serious injuries on rural roads.

Trunk road

These shocking statistics make me very relieved that my only country accident so far has been reversing into a tree stump at the local station (ahem), but like most country drivers, there have definitely been a few near misses.

Often these occur when something is slowing traffic down ahead. I’ve watched in horror as people in front of me have over-taken tractors at speed on blind bends, or have screeched to a halt suddenly when a rabbit runs in front of them.

According to THINK! nearly one in 2 drivers on country roads have been surprised by an unexpected hazard, such as an animal, while a third confess to taking a bend too fast.

Stuck in a rut

Deer in particular can be a real problem on rural roads. The golden rule is that if one crosses in front of you, there will invariably be one or more following behind, which often catches motorists out.

Our neighbour recently wrote off his Mini following a collision with a deer which ran in front of him. He was very lucky to have escaped unscathed and admits that he was probably going too fast.

Autumn is a time for particular care as this is when deer mate – the rutting season – and the males in particular combine aggression and recklessness (the chemical formula of testosterone), which can lead to them inadvertently leaping into the path of cars.

Rural rules

THINK! is urging country drivers to drive at a speed that allows them to stop in the distance they can see to be clear. It also advises motorists to give themselves time to react by braking before a bend, not on it, and to give cyclists and horse riders plenty of space when overtaking.

As the campaign points out, the speed limit is just that – a limit, not a target. The national speed limit on single carriage roads is 60mph, but there will be times we all need to drive well under that in order to drive correctly for the conditions.

Capital moves

If the campaign to make country driving safer encourages even just a few motorists think more carefully about their rural driving habits, then I for one will be extremely relieved.

Idyllic as country roads may look, they certainly aren’t free from idiots, and, the next time I’m driving in London, I’ll make sure I sit back and enjoy the traffic being at a standstill.

Nation roads, take me home… in 1 piece, please!

Safety requires that we slow down and not swerve to hit or miss animals on our roads

Every year, thousands of animals, including birds and reptiles are killed on South Africa’;s notoriously dangerous roads due to vehicle collision with animals.

Colliding with wildlife is likely to cause significant harm to the driver, passengers, animals and the vehicle,yet evidence from a recent Endangered Wildlife Trust(EWT)study reveals that some drivers may in fact deliberately swerve to hit the animals. Roadkill research undertaken by the EWT in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA), northern Limpopo, found evidence that a number of species are deliberately killed on the roads (including snakes and Black-backed Jackal).

A preliminary study in the GMTFCA, using fake animals (chameleon, snake and grasshopper), also showed that 2 out of 50 drivers deliberately swerved to ‘squash’ the fake chameleon. Out of 600 drivers surveyed by the EWT in the GMTFCA, 5-per-cent admitted to deliberately killing animals on roads.

The main reason given was dislike of the animal, either through superstitious folklore within local communities, or a landowner ‘vendetta’ against certain carnivores (e.g. Black-backed Jackal and Caracal), which are believed to be responsible for livestock killing. “Through the Wildlife and Roads Project, the EWT has been working to raise awareness of the threat to wildlife from roads and road users. We are also identifying, developing and implementing relevant mitigation strategies that will ultimately protect wildlife from roads and improve human safety” remarked Wendy Collinson, Project executant: Wildlife and Roads Project.

South Africa already experiences a high accident rate due to road factors such as slippery roads, potholes, sharp bends and poor visibility. As we are fast approaching the festive and holiday season, the EWT cautions drivers to be vigilant and exercise caution when driving on the roads where wildlife is present. Swerving for animals has been reported to cause injury or death to vehicle occupants and to the animals.

The Automobile Association recommends that drivers do not swerve at all since swerving to avoid an animal can often cause a more serious crash or result in loss of control behind the wheel. “Swerving at high speeds can be fatal for the driver and vehicle passengers. Complacency is high on rural roads due to a general lack of traffic but obstructions can occur anywhere. It is best to be alert at all times”, said Collinson.

The EWT’s Wildlife and Roads Project is supported by Bridgestone SA and Arrow Bulk Logistics, with logistical support from Mopane Bush Lodge. For further information please contact Wendy Collinson on wendyc@ewt.org.za

Also view:

Avoiding Animals on the Road

What do you need to do if you crash into a stray animal

Safety requires that we slow down and not swerve to hit or miss animals on our roads

Safety requires that we slow down and not swerve to hit or miss animals on our roads

Every year, thousands of animals, including birds and reptiles are killed on South Africa’;s notoriously dangerous roads due to vehicle collision with animals.

Colliding with wildlife is likely to cause significant harm to the driver, passengers, animals and the vehicle,yet evidence from a recent Endangered Wildlife Trust(EWT)study reveals that some drivers may in fact deliberately swerve to hit the animals. Roadkill research undertaken by the EWT in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA), northern Limpopo, found evidence that a number of species are deliberately killed on the roads (including snakes and Black-backed Jackal).

A preliminary study in the GMTFCA, using fake animals (chameleon, snake and grasshopper), also showed that 2 out of 50 drivers deliberately swerved to ‘squash’ the fake chameleon. Out of 600 drivers surveyed by the EWT in the GMTFCA, 5-per-cent admitted to deliberately killing animals on roads.

The main reason given was dislike of the animal, either through superstitious folklore within local communities, or a landowner ‘vendetta’ against certain carnivores (e.g. Black-backed Jackal and Caracal), which are believed to be responsible for livestock killing. “Through the Wildlife and Roads Project, the EWT has been working to raise awareness of the threat to wildlife from roads and road users. We are also identifying, developing and implementing relevant mitigation strategies that will ultimately protect wildlife from roads and improve human safety” remarked Wendy Collinson, Project executant: Wildlife and Roads Project.

South Africa already experiences a high accident rate due to road factors such as slippery roads, potholes, sharp bends and poor visibility. As we are fast approaching the festive and holiday season, the EWT cautions drivers to be vigilant and exercise caution when driving on the roads where wildlife is present. Swerving for animals has been reported to cause injury or death to vehicle occupants and to the animals.

The Automobile Association recommends that drivers do not swerve at all since swerving to avoid an animal can often cause a more serious crash or result in loss of control behind the wheel. “Swerving at high speeds can be fatal for the driver and vehicle passengers. Complacency is high on rural roads due to a general lack of traffic but obstructions can occur anywhere. It is best to be alert at all times”, said Collinson.

The EWT’s Wildlife and Roads Project is supported by Bridgestone SA and Arrow Bulk Logistics, with logistical support from Mopane Bush Lodge. For further information please contact Wendy Collinson on wendyc@ewt.org.za

Also view:

Avoiding Animals on the Road

What do you need to do if you crash into a stray animal

Safety requires that we slow down and not swerve to hit or miss animals on our roads

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Traffic deaths on Missouri roads have been on a downward trend for almost 10 years, and a highway patrol spokesman said the declining numbers are most likely due to several aspects that incorporate education and road improvements.

The number of traffic fatalities has dropped since 2005, with 2012 the only year displaying an improve from the preceding year, the Jefferson City Tribune reported.

On typical, about 1,068 deaths a year have occurred because the Missouri Highway Patrol began reporting site visitors fatalities in 1949.

The highest quantity of site visitors deaths reported was in 1969 with 1,521 fatalities, and the lowest number reported was in 2013 with 757 deaths.

Lt. John Hotz, Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman, stated the state agency attributes the common decline in fatalities to education, enforcement, engineering and emergency health-related solutions.

“The Patrol, of course, performs diligently in the areas of education and enforcement, conducting educational applications for tens of thousands of Missourians every single year,” Hotz mentioned.

“We pressure the value of paying focus, obeying the speed limit, driving sober and buckling up.”

Hotz also noted highway patrol collaborates with other law enforcement, such as regional sheriff and police departments, to aid enforce Missouri’s traffic laws.

“We know that if we can lessen the quantity of traffic violations that are committed, we can lessen the number of traffic crashes that take spot,” he mentioned.

Transportation officials think that road improvements, such as adding shoulders to roads that did not have them prior to, likely helped reduce site visitors fatality numbers as well.

Hotz agreed improvements to roads and safer cars have helped the state lessen its traffic fatality figures.

“We also should give credit to the drivers in Missouri who are undertaking the appropriate factor on far more occasions,” Hotz stated.

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Visitors deaths on Missouri roads have been on a downward trend for practically 10 years, and a highway patrol spokesman said the declining numbers are most likely due to many variables that contain education and road improvements.

The number of site visitors fatalities has dropped given that 2005, with 2012 the only year displaying an improve from the earlier year, the Jefferson City Tribune reported.

On typical, about 1,068 deaths a year have occurred because the Missouri Highway Patrol began reporting visitors fatalities in 1949.

The highest number of targeted traffic deaths reported was in 1969 with 1,521 fatalities, and the lowest quantity reported was in 2013 with 757 deaths.

Lt. John Hotz, Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman, stated the state agency attributes the basic decline in fatalities to education, enforcement, engineering and emergency healthcare solutions.

“The Patrol, of course, works diligently in the places of education and enforcement, conducting educational programs for tens of thousands of Missourians each and every year,” Hotz stated.

“We tension the significance of paying focus, obeying the speed limit, driving sober and buckling up.”

Hotz also noted highway patrol collaborates with other law enforcement, such as neighborhood sheriff and police departments, to help enforce Missouri’s visitors laws.

“We know that if we can lessen the quantity of targeted traffic violations that are committed, we can minimize the quantity of visitors crashes that take place,” he mentioned.

Transportation officials believe that road improvements, such as adding shoulders to roads that did not have them before, likely helped lower site visitors fatality numbers too.

Hotz agreed improvements to roads and safer automobiles have helped the state minimize its site visitors fatality figures.

“We also should give credit to the drivers in Missouri who are undertaking the correct factor on much more occasions,” Hotz said.

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Traffic deaths on Missouri roads have been on a downward trend for practically 10 years, and a highway patrol spokesman stated the declining numbers are probably due to numerous factors that consist of education and road improvements.

The number of site visitors fatalities has dropped since 2005, with 2012 the only year displaying an enhance from the prior year, the Jefferson City Tribune reported.

On average, about 1,068 deaths a year have occurred given that the Missouri Highway Patrol started reporting traffic fatalities in 1949.

The highest number of visitors deaths reported was in 1969 with 1,521 fatalities, and the lowest number reported was in 2013 with 757 deaths.

Lt. John Hotz, Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman, stated the state agency attributes the general decline in fatalities to education, enforcement, engineering and emergency medical services.

“The Patrol, of course, operates diligently in the areas of education and enforcement, conducting educational applications for tens of thousands of Missourians every year,” Hotz stated.

“We anxiety the significance of paying consideration, obeying the speed limit, driving sober and buckling up.”

Hotz also noted highway patrol collaborates with other law enforcement, such as regional sheriff and police departments, to assist enforce Missouri’s visitors laws.

“We know that if we can decrease the number of targeted traffic violations that are committed, we can decrease the number of visitors crashes that take place,” he mentioned.

Transportation officials think that road improvements, such as adding shoulders to roads that did not have them just before, probably helped lower targeted traffic fatality numbers as well.

Hotz agreed improvements to roads and safer vehicles have helped the state reduce its visitors fatality figures.

“We also must give credit to the drivers in Missouri who are undertaking the right point on more occasions,” Hotz stated.

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Targeted traffic deaths on Missouri roads have been on a downward trend for almost 10 years, and a highway patrol spokesman stated the declining numbers are probably due to a number of factors that consist of education and road improvements.

The quantity of traffic fatalities has dropped given that 2005, with 2012 the only year showing an boost from the preceding year, the Jefferson City Tribune reported.

On average, about 1,068 deaths a year have occurred considering that the Missouri Highway Patrol started reporting targeted traffic fatalities in 1949.

The highest number of traffic deaths reported was in 1969 with 1,521 fatalities, and the lowest quantity reported was in 2013 with 757 deaths.

Lt. John Hotz, Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman, said the state agency attributes the common decline in fatalities to education, enforcement, engineering and emergency health-related solutions.

“The Patrol, of course, operates diligently in the locations of education and enforcement, conducting educational programs for tens of thousands of Missourians every single year,” Hotz said.

“We pressure the value of paying focus, obeying the speed limit, driving sober and buckling up.”

Hotz also noted highway patrol collaborates with other law enforcement, such as regional sheriff and police departments, to support enforce Missouri’s targeted traffic laws.

“We know that if we can reduce the quantity of site visitors violations that are committed, we can minimize the number of traffic crashes that take spot,” he said.

Transportation officials think that road improvements, such as adding shoulders to roads that did not have them before, most likely helped decrease traffic fatality numbers too.

Hotz agreed improvements to roads and safer automobiles have helped the state reduce its traffic fatality figures.

“We also must give credit to the drivers in Missouri who are performing the correct issue on more occasions,” Hotz said.

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Site visitors deaths on Missouri roads have been on a downward trend for almost 10 years, and a highway patrol spokesman said the declining numbers are most likely due to numerous factors that include education and road improvements.

The number of traffic fatalities has dropped considering that 2005, with 2012 the only year displaying an improve from the earlier year, the Jefferson City Tribune reported.

On typical, about 1,068 deaths a year have occurred considering that the Missouri Highway Patrol started reporting traffic fatalities in 1949.

The highest quantity of visitors deaths reported was in 1969 with 1,521 fatalities, and the lowest quantity reported was in 2013 with 757 deaths.

Lt. John Hotz, Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman, said the state agency attributes the general decline in fatalities to education, enforcement, engineering and emergency healthcare solutions.

“The Patrol, of course, operates diligently in the regions of education and enforcement, conducting educational programs for tens of thousands of Missourians every single year,” Hotz stated.

“We anxiety the value of paying interest, obeying the speed limit, driving sober and buckling up.”

Hotz also noted highway patrol collaborates with other law enforcement, such as regional sheriff and police departments, to aid enforce Missouri’s visitors laws.

“We know that if we can reduce the number of site visitors violations that are committed, we can minimize the number of site visitors crashes that take location,” he mentioned.

Transportation officials think that road improvements, such as adding shoulders to roads that did not have them just before, probably helped reduce site visitors fatality numbers too.

Hotz agreed improvements to roads and safer autos have helped the state decrease its site visitors fatality figures.

“We also have to give credit to the drivers in Missouri who are undertaking the appropriate thing on more occasions,” Hotz said.

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads

Targeted traffic deaths on Missouri roads have been on a downward trend for almost 10 years, and a highway patrol spokesman said the declining numbers are probably due to several variables that consist of education and road improvements.

The number of visitors fatalities has dropped given that 2005, with 2012 the only year showing an enhance from the preceding year, the Jefferson City Tribune reported.

On average, about 1,068 deaths a year have occurred given that the Missouri Highway Patrol started reporting traffic fatalities in 1949.

The highest number of traffic deaths reported was in 1969 with 1,521 fatalities, and the lowest quantity reported was in 2013 with 757 deaths.

Lt. John Hotz, Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman, stated the state agency attributes the common decline in fatalities to education, enforcement, engineering and emergency healthcare solutions.

“The Patrol, of course, works diligently in the regions of education and enforcement, conducting educational applications for tens of thousands of Missourians each and every year,” Hotz said.

“We pressure the significance of paying consideration, obeying the speed limit, driving sober and buckling up.”

Hotz also noted highway patrol collaborates with other law enforcement, such as local sheriff and police departments, to aid enforce Missouri’s visitors laws.

“We know that if we can decrease the number of targeted traffic violations that are committed, we can lessen the number of targeted traffic crashes that take location,” he mentioned.

Transportation officials think that road improvements, such as adding shoulders to roads that did not have them ahead of, probably helped lower targeted traffic fatality numbers also.

Hotz agreed improvements to roads and safer cars have helped the state lessen its traffic fatality figures.

“We also have to give credit to the drivers in Missouri who are doing the right point on more occasions,” Hotz mentioned.

Officials: Fewer Deaths on Missouri Roads