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In modern countries, the sight of ambulances and police-cars
rushing to the scene of a road accident is so commonplace that it hardly
attracts attention. Sadly, this is part of the tragedy of road accidents, which
occur so frequently that they are taken for granted, and the general public has
become desensitized to them. Unlike murders, fires, or riots, which still make
front-page news, serious motor accidents resulting in ghastly injuries and loss
of life barely make it to a small back-page paragraph. However, for the
relatives of those involved, a few seconds of rending metal and shattering glass
can shatter their lives, reducing them to pitiful sadness, often poverty. No
solution can help these individuals, and therefore, prevention is the key to
reducing the alarming increase in accidents shown by statistics.
The problem of road accidents is complex, and there are many causes. The first
point to realize is that not all accidents are caused by the driver; pedestrians
can also be to blame. The "jay" walker, the child or teenager playing on the
road, and the old person with impaired senses can all be a menace. Sometimes,
the roads themselves present hazards, such as sharp bends with reverse cambers,
sudden rain, ice patches, snow, and fog in cold countries, or narrow roads with
poor surfaces and blind corners in country areas. A proportion of accidents can
be blamed on the vehicle and therefore on the driver, though nobody can rule out
a front-wheel blow-out or speed. Vehicle defects, however, often result from
careless maintenance and the refusal to pay for necessary repairs. Faulty tyres,
steering, lighting, and brakes cause many accidents. But, it must be admitted
that most accidents result from a failure of the driver himself.
Drink increases foolhardiness and slows reactions, and in most countries, the
penalties for driving under the influence of liquor are severe. But many
accidents result from a simple error of judgment due to inexperience or lack of
'road sense.' Other relevant causes are inconsiderate driving, fatigue,
distraction, illness at the wheel, or simply the desire to 'show off' to a
friend.
Just as there is no single cause of road accidents, there can be no single
solution, although most countries are trying out both short and long-term ideas.
The sane policy is to teach road manners, both to drivers and pedestrians alike.
Driving tests are becoming more exacting, and licenses are withdrawn for long
periods following serious offenses. Heavy fines and imprisonment await the
serious offender. It may become necessary to institute periodic tests for all
drivers. Insurance companies already increase their premiums after serious
accidents and may refuse to reinsure 'bad risks.' Drunken driving is severely
punished nowadays, and 'breathalysers' may become legal evidence after the
government has laid down the maximum quantity of liquor a person who is driving
may consume in a given period.
Roads must be widened, improved, and modernized as fast as possible, preferably
made two ways. It is rather a grievance among motorists that little of the
revenue they pay in road tax is actually spent on road improvement. Vehicles
should be subjected to a five-year check, at least, and old commercial vehicles
to spot-checks. This would put many of them off the road. |
