Matters Arising From This Video.
- The posted speed limit here was 30mph and so far as we can tell both vehicles were travelling at or below the legal speed.
- This is true for around 95% of crashes which makes a mockery of the ‘speed kills’ proposition when one or more parties ‘driving without due care and attention’ is by far the dominant issue in the majority of crashes.
- Whilst the driver that turned right was predominantly at fault, drivers familiar with the Risk Model are constantly scanning the road for Surprises and recognise that drivers turning right in front of them very often pose a risk.
- If Surprise had been anticipated in this case as I believe it could have been, the planned response from the vehicle going stright ahead could been to create Space, yet this vehicle was right up to the centre line very close to the vehicle turning right.
- The attitude of blaming others (encouraged by insurance companies) is most unhelpful here. Rather the maxim presented at the top of this page should be uppermost in a drivers mind: “Almost All Collisions Could Be Avoided By Any Of The Road Users Involved
- Presumably both drivers involved in this crash had been taught to drive by qualified driving instructors following a syllabus set by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and passed driving tests conducted by DVSA Examiners – but a crash still occurred! Maybe that’s because they were taught but not trained!
- Crashes can happen anytime and anywhere through a unique combination of circumstances. Only drivers on the spot can assess the infinite variety of risk situations that could arise and act decisively to prevent a crash. Rules and regulations, (including speed limits) however sensible, cannot do that for you. Rather, your own skilful assessment of every situation that you encounter is needed.
- Seemingly minor crashes at low speed can later prove fatal.In this crash for example a side impact has the potential for a fatal aortic rupture. It can be more by good luck that fatal injuries don’t occur so we must naturally look to minimise the risk of ALL crashes
Saccadic Masking
In the previous video the driver of white car that pulled out in front of the red car possibly didnt see it. Up to a quarter of crashes are of this nature – where a vehicle pulls out in front of another – but ask most drivers what they know about saccadic masking and they will give you a blank look. Something else for the DVSA to rectify possibly…..
Another Example…
A Child Runs Out Into The Path Of An Oncoming Car
- In this common scenario drivers trained in the Risk Model might first be thinking in terms of Space here being tight because of the vehicles parked on both sides of the street. They will also recognise the ever present risk of Surprise should someone suddenly emerge unseen from between the row of vehicles as this boy in fact did.
- Luckily for the boy the car driver understood that his Speed needed to take account of the increased risk posed by Space being compromise and he kept his Speed low and was able to deal with Surprise. Keeping Speed, Surprise and Space in balance enabled him to stop without hitting the boy since swerving was never going to be an option in this street due to lack of Space.
- Say the speed posted speed limit was 30mph or even 20mph in this street, this would be of lesser relevanance to the driver whose primary concern should be to choose a safe speed for the road conditions. A secondary concern should be to comply with arbitrary set speed limits secondary.
- In other words, had he hit the child at 19mph say, it would not be OK to use as his defence that he was driving within the 20mph speed limit if that was too fast for the conditions. i.e in relation to Surprise and Space.
- Whilst not wishing to appear to condone breaking the law, logically speed limits should be for mainly for guidance and therefore discretion is needed in their enforcement.
And Who Could Possibly Think This Would Be OK?
THE BOTTOM LINE IS:
THINK SURPRISE AND ACT DRIVE ACCORDINGLY!