When it rains it kills – please slow down!
The weather here at home has been awful these last days, or maybe it was weeks..it’s hard to keep track when all I see it rain rain rain!
Because of this, I wanted to share with you something extremely important!
Almost 3,000 people were killed or seriously injured when driving in the rain on English roads last year. The latest statistics show that people are 30 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the roads in rain than in snow.
Because of this, a new campaign has been launched by Highway England to try to change these numbers.
Highways England is aiming to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on England’s motorways and major A roads by 40% by 2020 through road improvements, safety campaigns and other initiatives.
Watch the new road safety video directed by award-winning photographer Nadav Kander:
Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, Richard Leonard, has said:
Most of us already slow down in snow, ice or fog but when it rains we consider it normal so don’t adapt our driving.
The sad fact is that 2,918 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads when it was raining last year, and not slowing down to suit the current conditions was identified as a factor in 1 in 9 of all road deaths.
Rain makes it harder for tyres to grip the road and harder for drivers to see ahead – significantly increasing the chances of being involved in a collision. We’ve launched our new campaign to make drivers aware of the dangers and to stay safe.
What can you do?
It takes twice as long to stop on a wet road compared to on a dry road. This is because your tyres have less grip on the surface.
This is what you should do:
- Slow down if the rain and spray from vehicles is making it difficult to see and be seen
- Keep well back from the vehicle in front as this will increase your ability to see and plan ahead
- Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually if the steering becomes unresponsive as it probably means that water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road
Pouring down and you still need to head out? #slowdownrain #BritainsBusiestMotorway #BusiestMotorway @ITV pic.twitter.com/28900A5HCM
— Highways England (@HighwaysEngland) March 21, 2017
Watch this short film to promote safer driving in wet conditions. Made for Highways England through Joe Media.
Stay safe everyone! #slowdownrain
Therese has completed the ‘Advanced Child Car Seat Training Course’ at TRL (Transport Research Lab) and is a CPD accredited car seat expert. She blogs about in-car safety, car seats, tips, reviews, giveaways and advice. She’s a mum on a mission to change the law and raise awareness. She is also a breastfeeding advocate and gentle parenting promoter who loves cloth nappies, baby-wearing, BLW and co-sleeping/bed-sharing.