Why not benefit from road safety expertise elsewhere?

Why not benefit from road safety expertise elsewhere?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday the 7th I had the privilege of attending a meeting of the Global Road Safety Partnership in Pretoria. At this event the members were addressed by Andrew Pearce, Chief Executive of the GRSP Secretariat in Geneva. The Global Road Safety Partnership is the most important road safety governing body and has a voice at the United Nations. During the presentation members gained information about road safety initiatives elsewhere and more importantly – the successes achieved.

Thursday evening I enjoined the hospitality of the Balalaika Hotel in Sandton, had lunch at the Bull Run restaurant and after a proper South African breakfast made my way to Pretoria for another face to face with the experts from the Global Road Safety Partnership. I was accompanied by my friend Nelio from Chillies, the developers of the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website.

It was during this meeting that I became even more aware of the importance of cooperation in the attempt to raise road safety awareness. The biggest advantage of technology for any social cause is that it facilitates a much wider distribution of expertise and the sharing of information. There are many trained and road safety professionals who have tried and tested different methods – so why not benefit from the lessons learnt?

The Global Road Safety Partnership enables other countries to benefit from their expertise by providing guides and manuals. This can benefit developing countries in desperate need of expertise and with inadequate funding.

I am positive that South Africa, as a member of the Global Road Safety Partnership, will continue to cooperate with our international partners in enhancing awareness of road safety!

Also view “Global Road Safety Partnership” on the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website.

Road Safety Foundation warns about Tyre Pressure

Road Safety Foundation warns about Tyre Pressure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever wondered what causes the huge amounts of tyre debris one sees lying on or alongside our South African roads? It seems that wherever you drive these days, bits of tyre, partial or even complete casings have become a common occurrence. Bridgestone South Africa tasked the Road Safety Foundation to look into this increasingly emerging phenomenon, in an attempt to ascertain the cause.

Bridgestone General Manager, Group Public Relations, Romano Daniels comments that tyre technology has improved substantially over the years, and whilst South Africa has recently started importing cheaper, and sometimes sub-standard tyres into the country, he doesn’t believe that this could possibly be the only factor in this apparent increased tyre failure.

A blowout of a tyre can be caused by a number of factors, however more often than not; incorrect tyre inflation is the cause. And here is where it really starts to get interesting! You and I as motorists, check our tyre pressures occasionally (often only when we remember, or if we’re on a long trip), more often than not at various petrol stations depending on when and where we require fuel. The pump attendant will fill your car with fuel, clean your windscreen, and offer to check your vehicles oil, water and tyre pressures.

The tyre pressure gauges that are utilized on the forecourt to measure your tyre pressures are often hopelessly inadequate. As part of the Bridgestone National Tyre Index a research study was conducted by The Road Safety Foundation, in which 91 different forecourt tyre pressure gauges were checked for accuracy. A tyre inflated to 2.0 bars was placed in the load area of a vehicle – this was done so there was no heat build up which would occur if the tyre was fitted on the car. A calibrated gauge was used to set the tyre pressure, and the same gauge used to record all subsequent readings. In addition, altitude was also recorded as the testing took place over a large geographical area.

Results of the research indicated that only 48% of gauges tested gave acceptable readings, 5% were not operational, 29% produced marginal readings and 18% recorded potentially life-threatening and totally unacceptable readings. Almost one in five tyres tested at our filling stations, would result in incorrect, and therefore potentially hazardous pressures.

To put this dangerous issue into perspective and taking one of the pressures that were recorded, if a reading of 2.6 bars was the reading at the pump, and pressures were then reduced to manufacturers specification of 2.0 bars, the actual pressure in the tyre would be in the region of 1.4 bars! Under-inflation of tyres, according to Bridgestone, is arguably one of the main contributors to tyre failure and blowouts and often results in major accidents.

Currently, there is no legislation in South Africa regarding testing, calibration and maintenance of these tyre inflators, some of which we know have been in operation for more than fifteen years with very little maintenance.

So what are the options for the South African drivers, accepting the fact that introducing legislation may take years? The opinion of Bridgestone South Africa and The Road Safety Foundation is for motorists to purchase a good quality tyre gauge from a reputable spares outlet and to set tyre pressures using this gauge. Another couple of important tips regarding tyre pressures, is always check pressures when cold, and refer to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations when carrying heavier loads.

[Information provided by Road Safety Foundation and Bridgestone]

Accident Victim asks for end to speeding!

Speeding Accident

Accident Victim asks for end to speeding!Accident

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Arrive Alive Road Safety website was copied in on an email addressed to a website promoting the early identification of speed cameras. This Blog would like to give exposure to the message delivered since this impact on all road users. The message reads as follows:

“I bet you won’t put THESE photos on your website! This is what can happen to innocent law-abiding drivers who stick to the speed limit – thanks to those road hogs who don’t. The one who pushed me off the road in his effort to get to fast car heaven didn’t even stop to see whether or not I had been killed.

I was travelling at the speed limit of 100 km/h. Two cars overtook me, apparently dicing each other, going a lot faster than the speed limit. This was the result of their lawlessness. They drove away without a care in the world. I lost my car and very nearly my life. I have post-traumatic stress disorder now which makes travelling the open roads a total nightmare. Often I just have to pull off the road when someone comes speeding up behind me, so as to get myself together again.

I say, more hidden cameras, fines, police officers, whatever it takes – we are living in a lawless society and the attitude of speedsters is truly disgusting. This is no more than another form of violence in a truly violent society.

If you want to speed, go and use a racetrack, not the public roads.

Think about the kinds of attitudes you are encouraging on your website. I challenge you to publish my photo and story.”

The Arrive Alive Road Safety Website and this Blog would like to urge all road users to consider the consequences of an accident at high speed. The wrong speed might result in more than a traffic fine and will endanger no only the life of the driver but also the lives of other innocent road users!

Also view “Accidents as a contributing factor to accidents”