In a recent study of road safety around the world, South Africa was considered the most dangerous country for driving due to a high number of fatalities on the road, often involving alcohol. According to the World Health Organization, around the world every year approximately 1.3 million people lose their lives in a road traffic accident, and up to 50 million more are injured. While most countries agree on a number of major road safety regulations in an attempt to to reduce these numbers, they also have to deal with their own particular safety issues. From encouraging the use of motorcycle helmets in Pakistan to warning drivers of harsh winter conditions in Norway, improving road safety is a major consideration in any country.
Dealing with the Consequences of Rear End Collisions in the US
In the US, rear-end collisions are amongst the most common types of accident, accounting for almost 30% of all traffic collisions that result in serious injury. Rear-end accidents are dangerous and often occur while one vehicle driving at high speed hits another stationary vehicle. This can make it harder for drivers to brace themselves for impact and, as a result, rear-end accidents are a common cause of injury to the neck and back, including whiplash and bulging discs. Damage to the spinal discs can be aggravated by the trauma of a car accident, and can result in long-term pain, medical costs and lost wages. However, where a driver is not at fault, an insurance claim can be made against the party responsible. If treatment has been necessary, bulging disc injury settlements with steroid injections can provide victims with an appropriate amount of compensation to cover long-term losses.
Encouraging Pakistani Motorcyclists to Wear Helmets
In Pakistan, the leading cause of serious injury, disability and death for motorcyclists is trauma to the head and brain due to not wearing a helmet. To reduce the number of serious injuries, the government set a target to get 100% of riders to use standard helmets by 2030. To help encourage more motorcyclists to wear a helmet, the Women Bike Squad of Karachi Traffic Police has recently started to patrol the city’s roads, spreading safety awareness and issuing penalty notices for dangerous driving.
Tackling an Increase in Dangerous Manoeuvres on UK Motorways
While statistically the 2,300 miles of motorway in the UK remain the safest types of road in the country, since 2016 police have stopped drivers for committing nearly 18,000 serious road offences on the motorway. Lives are put at risk by reckless drivers making U-turns, driving the wrong way along slip roads entering or leaving the motorway, and stopping or driving unnecessarily on hard shoulders. Keeping the hard shoulder clear for broken down cars and emergency vehicles to gain access to serious accidents is essential to avoid unnecessary collisions.
Coping with Harsh Driving Conditions in Norway
With its well-maintained roads and calm traffic levels, Norway is consistently named as the safest place to drive in the world. While safe driving measures such as slow speed limits and a ban on drunk driving are strictly enforced, hazardous driving conditions are harder to manage. To help drivers cope with driving on snow and ice, it is compulsory to use winter tyres and carry snow chains during the months November to April. Drivers are also advised to be well prepared for any journey by filling up with fuel at the start and carrying extra clothes, food and water in case of emergency.
While general road safety is a priority around the world, individual countries each have their own particular issues to deal with.