Road Safety Education: What Are the Most Important Rules to Know?
The importance of road safety education cannot be overstated. Road traffic accidents are a major cause of death and injury worldwide, killing over 1.3 million people annually.
Surprisingly though, robust road safety education is lacking. Thankfully, more and more organizations are stepping up to engage in concentrated efforts for efficient and long-term prevention.
That said, with today's ever-rising world population increasingly reliant on vehicles, it's vital that both drivers and passengers are educated enough to always stay alert. When it comes to roaming the roads, a minute's distraction could prove disastrous. We take a look at the most important road safety standards you should know to stay safe.
Wear A Seatbelt At All Times
A lot of people suffer from road accidents simply because they overlook the importance of wearing a seatbelt. We all know how risky road trips are, yet many of us stubbornly refuse to buckle up. Could it be our unconscious fascination with playing with fire? Or could it be our defense mechanisms at play, enticing us to believe nothing harmful would ever happen to us?
Whatever the cause, it is our individual responsibility to examine our negligence and get into this simple yet life-saving habit of putting on a belt. At other times, people might simply forget to wear a seatbelt. This is where road safety education comes into play. Knowledge should be disseminated widely and repeatedly so that everyone is reminded to stay cautious at all times. We are constantly bombarded with ads from brands vying for our attention, yet such crucial information as road safety standards is scarce online. This needs to change.
Avoid Distractions
The World Wide Web has opened up near-magical, never-before-seen opportunities, yet our fascination with it has reached a point when we can't imagine a day without our screens. At home or in the woods, on foot or in a vehicle, we need our phones by our side. It won't take much effort to spot a teenager browsing his Instagram while crossing the street or a mother driving while checking on her daughter. Alas, such distractions are now one of the leading causes of road accidents.
For an adult, having an extra set of eyes on the road usually means more responsibility to stay cautious. Yet for teenagers with raging hormones, riding in a company usually means more fun, more distractions, and consequently, more risk.
Beware of Bad Weather
Temperature fluctuations are becoming ever more common and more severe due to climate change. In 2022, you might wake up to a glaring heatwave and go to bed trembling from the cold. Violent winds, floods, and monsoon rains are all on the rise. Unsurprisingly, extreme weather has been having a negative impact on traffic accidents worldwide.
As hitting the road is considerably harder during bad weather, either stay extremely alert or avoid driving altogether. Unless you have an urgent task that cannot be postponed, think up some other activity and save driving for later. Better be safe than sorry!
Never Exceed Speed Limits
It may be tempting to rush off when you finally hit the road without traffic, as if you are conquering the skies, but have you ever considered that exceeding the speed limit is one of the major reasons why road deaths are an accepted part of daily life? If not, take a minute to think about it. Why risk a serious injury for a minute's worth of pleasure?
By exceeding speed limits when on the road, people not only risk their own lives but also endanger others. This is why it's more important than ever that governments and organizations step up to educate people on the dangers of neglecting speed signs when they travel. Thankfully, more and more regulations are emerging, and solid road safety education is permeating most parts of the world. We hope this positive pattern persists.
Keep A Safe Distance
Last but not least, always ensure you maintain a safe distance on the road. While you might trust yourself to ensure safety while close to other vehicles, you cannot vouch for others. The best strategy is to always keep a safe distance. During optimal weather conditions, you could stick to the suggested three-second rule. However, in bad weather, especially when there is fog, make sure to double your distance to at least 5 seconds. This will help you notice a threat in time to respond properly. Again, better be safe than sorry!
The Way Forward
Roads are deadlier than ever. Pause for thought: so far into 2022, there have been 1669 road deaths in Texas only. Globally, road accidents result in more deaths than murder or HIV. Our built-in defense systems frequently detach us from the facts, rejecting them as raw statistics far away from us. But the numbers are real, and we all are equally vulnerable.
At the heart of successful mitigation lies accessible road safety education for everybody, but it also depends on our individual responsibility because, to be fair, the biggest handicap is inattentiveness, not a lack of knowledge. All the information you require is just a click away. Keep your mind on the road!
Pic: by MIXU on Pexels