We are urging all drivers and riders to slow down as Road Safety Week gets under way (19-25 November).
Share The Road to Zero is collaborating with our road safety partners in the emergency services to remind drivers and riders that there is ‘No Need to Speed’.
Excessive speed for the road or the conditions is one of the main causes of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.
In the past five years (2018-2022), 310 people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) due to ‘excessive speed having regard for the conditions’.
Every 1mph reduction in average speeds causes, on average, a 5% reduction in collisions. This could be the difference between life and death.
The consequences of excessive speed for the road or the conditions is not acceptable to the many families here affected by the actions of people who choose to speed.
Why do some people feel it is acceptable in some situations to speed?
Perhaps it’s time to have a conversation about speed with family or friends to help prevent the loss of life and harm done by choosing to speed.
We must challenge the attitudes of people who think it is acceptable or safe to speed. No one can foresee the unexpected. Whatever the circumstances of any collision, whether on a rural or urban road, speeding always makes the consequences worse.
We all must be mindful that speed limits are set for our safety and are an absolute maximum we should travel and that the weather and conditions also need to be taken into consideration when driving on any road. Speed does not need to be high to kill or seriously injure.
Every time we drive faster than the speed limit, or too fast for the road conditions, we increase our risk of crashing; increasing the risk of someone being killed or harmed on the road. Remember the faster you drive, the greater the stopping distance and the harder you will hit something.”
Evidence shows that more than 9 out of 10 crashes are caused by human error. The decisions we make when using the road. Therefore, the majority of road traffic collisions are avoidable and we can be the difference if we slow down, pay attention, and never, ever drink alcohol or take drugs and drive.
This Road Safety Week, we are urging people to take the ‘Road Safety Pledge’ to be as safe as possible on the road. By signing up to the Share the Road to Zero pledge, you are committing to be the best road user than you can be – whether as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist or horse rider, and adopt positive road user behaviours.
Pledging is quick, easy and free at www.sharetheroadtozero.com and receive regular advice on how to stay safe as you use the road. Share this page with your friends and family and help achieve our aim of zero road deaths in Northern Ireland.
#YouCanNeverControlTheConsequencesIfYouSpeed
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