05-Oct-2007
Seat Belts: Why do we not care outside our own car?
It is absolutely drummed into us that personal safety is paramount and we have "Golden Rules" covering wearing of seat belts in road vehicles.
On a hotel courtesy shuttle in the Naperville area of Ohio, I learned that a fellow passenger was a work colleague in another part of our Group. When I pointed out that she should know better from her safety indoctrination and company safety culture that she should have fitted her seat beltbefore moving off, I was told in a matter of a fact way that "I like to take a risk" and there was no attempt to wear the available seat belt.
To be frank, I was dumbstruck at the response and didn't challenge further, but her laissez-faire attitude could have put the driver of the shuttle at risk (she was sat immediately behind him) and I suppose me too if we were side-swiped as I was sat alongside her.
What amazes me is that we have a near 100% take-up of seat belt wear when we are in our own cars yet everyone thinks that they are above average skilled drivers and presumably safer than average (obviously something is wong when greater than 65% of us think that we are above average), yet we don't think it that important to wear seat belts when travelling in other public transport with a driver of unknown skills.
Come on folks, if we all truly believe that we are above average drivers, then you have to accept that statistically we are getting into vehicles driven by below average drivers.
So.... belt up....and shut up!! Put your seat belt on when you are challenged without being a smart Alec (or Alexa) and putting fellow passenger's lives in danger.
Labels: driving, HSE, HSSE, safety, seat belt
17-Nov-2006
Road Safety & The Law
In the last week, I have seen multiple examples of poor Road Safety (& Courtesy).
1. Mobile Phone Usage
Does anyone actually observe the UK law regarding absolute prohibition of hand-held mobiles and that hands-free is the only way acceptable unnder UK law?
- I saw a young girl in my rear view mirror actually texting whilst driving in town
- I also saw a man driving a fancy Bentley with a phone strapped to his ear whilst driving at ~60-70mph - no reason why he couldn't afford an integrated hands-free phone.
These folks cannot be in control of their vehicles either physically or in terms of concentration.
2. Inconsiderate Parking
There are some lazy b**stards around that have forgotten how their legs work and create a danger for the rest of us - and I have seen all of this in the last week (on more than one occasion):
- People that park outside shops and create a blockage just to save themselves 1 minute to get to the cash point or nip in to buy a packet of cigarettes and leave others stewing trying to get in or out of a car park.
- The selfish b**stards that have no legitimate reason to use Disabled parking spaces other than the fact that they are lazy so and sos.
- The other selfish b**stards that can't be bothered to walk a few metres and instead park up in a cul-de-sac outside my house blocking the road and stopping myself and my neighbours from being able to get in and out of our homes. This has a more serious point because in those situations that I can't get in or out, then what hope does an Ambulance or Fire Engine have if we really need it.
Grrrrrrrr - I feel like I would like to take a sledgehammer to the cars of those idiots that think the world revolves around them.
3. Cyclists with no regard for Personal Safety
Have bicycles started to become equipped with some magical forcefield since I last rode a bike? Since the clocks changed in the UK and it gets dark around 4pm, I have really noticed how cyclists typically have no regard for their own personal safety - it isn't a generational thing either - it doesn't matter whether it is a teenager or a grannie, they have neither lights or personal safety equipment i.e. a helmet or reflective jacket or pads.
Of course, when they get run over it will obviously be the motorist at fault.........the stupid idiots!!
I don't profess to be the best driver in the world, and I try to be as observant as I can possibly be, but these habits are an accident waiting to happen and the Police are never around to do anything about it.
Can I make an appeal to those that are taking up these dangerous habits - Even if you don't care about the rest of the population, give a thought to the risks that you are creating for yourself and your own property and STOP THIS ANTISOCIAL AND UNSAFE BEHAVIOUR NOW!!
Labels: cyclists, hands-free, HSE, law, police, road
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