The ‘Fatal 5’ are the 5 leading reasons for deaths and serious injury on the roads in the UK. These are the 5 issues which, when targeted and reduced effectively, will ensure considerably better safety standards on UK roads. Learn about these 5 reasons and ensure you don’t fall short of any and you’ll give yourself and other road users the best chance of arriving at their destination safely.
Don’t Drink/Drug Drive
We’re taught from day 1 that drink driving is a leading cause of crashes and fatalities on our roads, yet still, the issue persists. In recent years the problem has been exacerbated as there’s been a huge increase in the number of drivers being convicted fr drug driving, which is just as if not more dangerous than drink driving. If you’re caught behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs then you’ll be making a trip to court for a 12-month ban, a large fine, criminal record or even imprisonment. 100,000 people are caught drink or drug driving each year in the UK, don’t be one of them.
Kill Your Speed
With the introduction of SMART motorways and speed cameras, there is plenty of visual reminders out there to keep an eye on your speed and remain within the legal limits, but some people just cannot resist. In the year ending June 2018, there were 1,770 reported deaths on the roads and 26,610 killed or seriously injured - speeding played a significant role in a huge number of these cases. It is said that if you hit someone at 35 mph you are twice as likely to kill them than if you were travelling at 30 mph. The message here is stick to the limit, and even creeping over the limit can have serious consequences.
Don’t Get Careless
Careless driving is another leading cause of crashing in the UK. Whether it is hogging the middle lane, braking unnecessarily, failing to check your blind spot or gambling on an amber light, your vehicle can become a lethal weapon when driven carelessly. Punishments vary. If a police officer spots you driving carelessly you can be issued with a £100 fine and 3 points on your licence, but if you kill someone while driving dangerously you can be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison.
Belt Up
Every modern car will now beep continuously if you try to drive off without securing your seatbelt, but not all cars will detect if passengers have buckled up. If you or any of your passengers are involved in a crash and aren’t belted in, then the chances of a fatality double. Of course, you can be punished if you are caught without a belt on, with a fine of up to £100. You as the driver are also responsible for making sure you’re passengers are secured too. Don’t risk it, not even for the shortest of journeys.
Switch It Off
It’s worrying to see how often people are checking their phones while driving. Sitting in traffic and you'll see countless people staring down at their devices, blissfully unaware of the danger they pose to themselves and other road users. Just turn it off. The penalties for being caught on your phone while driving doubled recently, so you can now find yourself with 6 points on your licence and a £200 fine if you’re caught. If you cause a death while no your phone then you’re looking at up to 14 years in prison… it’s just not worth it.