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> Why do people keep having car 'collisions', And what can be done about it?
Claude
post Apr 25 2014, 11:05 AM
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I've just seen on Facebook that a multi-vehicle RTC has taken place at the notorious A4 / Kintbury junction. Hopefully it's not serious.

I know people are calling for the speed limit to be reduced at that location - to 50, 40 and even 30, but what I'd like to know is what the cause of these accidents is.

Speed is always a contributory factor - if people were going slower they'd have more reaction time and more chance of stopping if required, plus the consequences would be less severe, but we can't all go around driving at 5mph, just in case.

So, why do these 'collisions' happen and why do we never read about the true causes? If we had that information surely we'd be better equipped to make more informed planning decisions, and it could also help improve driving standards too.

To try and make progress rather than just whinge, what can I do or who can I raise this with to see if anything can be changed for the better?
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JeffG
post Apr 25 2014, 11:16 AM
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QUOTE (Claude @ Apr 25 2014, 12:05 PM) *
I know people are calling for the speed limit to be reduced at that location - to 50, 40 and even 30, but what I'd like to know is what the cause of these accidents is.

According to the NWN the cause of this particular accident was a woman who was subsequently arrested for drink driving. According to the police, and contrary to other reports, only two cars were involved.

That is some serious drinking to be drunk at 10.30 in the morning.

I suspect some tabloid-style reporting elsewhere.

QUOTE (Claude @ Apr 25 2014, 12:05 PM) *
So, why do these 'collisions' happen and why do we never read about the true causes?

Well, I just did.
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newres
post Apr 25 2014, 03:49 PM
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QUOTE (JeffG @ Apr 25 2014, 12:16 PM) *
Well, I just did.

Are you going to share?
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On the edge
post Apr 25 2014, 04:12 PM
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That's a very good question Claude. I suppose, in reality, because vehicles are very powerful mobile machines, independently in the sole control of the driver, unless it's a mechanical failure, the rest must be down to driver error. In other words, the driver for whatever reason was too slow to react safely. Arguably, that means the main root cause has to be insufficient distance between the moving vehicle and what's in front of it. The only difference speed makes is then the need to increase that distance. So, and I'm sure I'm over simplifying, if we had a technical means of preventing a vehicle from being driven with an unsuitable gap we'd prevent a good few accidents. Would be worth a research project certainly - perhaps Transport and Road Reasearch at Crowthorne might help?


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Biker1
post Apr 25 2014, 04:15 PM
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QUOTE (Claude @ Apr 25 2014, 12:05 PM) *
I've just seen on Facebook that a multi-vehicle RTC has taken place at the notorious A4 / Kintbury junction. Hopefully it's not serious.

I know people are calling for the speed limit to be reduced at that location - to 50, 40 and even 30, but what I'd like to know is what the cause of these accidents is.

Speed is always a contributory factor - if people were going slower they'd have more reaction time and more chance of stopping if required, plus the consequences would be less severe, but we can't all go around driving at 5mph, just in case.

So, why do these 'collisions' happen and why do we never read about the true causes? If we had that information surely we'd be better equipped to make more informed planning decisions, and it could also help improve driving standards too.

To try and make progress rather than just whinge, what can I do or who can I raise this with to see if anything can be changed for the better?

There is no THE cause, there are many contributing factors.
However, as most of these A4 crashes seem to be at road junctions I would imagine many happen because drivers don't see things.
As I have said in earlier posts, if they can't see signs warning of bollards and restrictions over bridges then they won't see a car / BIKE approaching at 60mph!
PS Even less likely if they are pi$$ed.
SMIDSY
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On the edge
post Apr 25 2014, 05:33 PM
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QUOTE (Biker1 @ Apr 25 2014, 05:15 PM) *
There is no THE cause, there are many contributing factors.
However, as most of these A4 crashes seem to be at road junctions I would imagine many happen because drivers don't see things.
As I have said in earlier posts, if they can't see signs warning of bollards and restrictions over bridges then they won't see a car / BIKE approaching at 60mph!
PS Even less likely if they are pi$$ed.
SMIDSY


One common factor; the driver...


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newres
post Apr 25 2014, 06:00 PM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Apr 25 2014, 06:33 PM) *
One common factor; the driver...

... and the location. Usually a road redesign reduces accidents at blackspots.

We are human. We make mistakes. Even you.

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On the edge
post Apr 25 2014, 06:11 PM
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QUOTE (newres @ Apr 25 2014, 07:00 PM) *
... and the location. Usually a road redesign reduces accidents at blackspots.

We are human. We make mistakes. Even you.


I agree, me more than most. However the question asked what were the real causes if accidents. If you actually think about it, generally, there is just one, the driver. A vehicle very rarely moves on its own.

Yes, of course good design can help, but if you really want to remove the root cause of most, eliminate human / independent control.

Have a think..


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Strafin
post Apr 25 2014, 06:48 PM
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Complacency. Everyone feels very safe in their cars, they are quiet inside and it is easy to forget how dangerous they are.
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Exhausted
post Apr 25 2014, 08:11 PM
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I see there was a tail ender on the A339 link at the Robin Hood this evening. Looked like a simple RTA with no ambulance in attendance but four police cars, one Community support car and at least ten Hi Vis jackets. Must be a slow crime night.
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JeffG
post Apr 25 2014, 09:13 PM
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QUOTE (newres @ Apr 25 2014, 04:49 PM) *
Are you going to share?

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2014/ambulan...-morning-friday

I read about the true cause of this accident on that page - the driver was drunk at 10.30 in the morning. Seems pretty clear to me.
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newres
post Apr 26 2014, 04:53 AM
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QUOTE (JeffG @ Apr 25 2014, 10:13 PM) *
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2014/ambulan...-morning-friday

I read about the true cause of this accident on that page - the driver was drunk at 10.30 in the morning. Seems pretty clear to me.

But the drivers of the other vehicles involved in accidents there hadn't been drinking. I am sure it was a contributing factor, but possibly not the cause.
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blackdog
post Apr 26 2014, 08:05 AM
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QUOTE (newres @ Apr 26 2014, 05:53 AM) *
But the drivers of the other vehicles involved in accidents there hadn't been drinking. I am sure it was a contributing factor, but possibly not the cause.

Surely the cause of most of the incidents along that stretch of the A4 is people who are coming on to the A4 from a side road misjudging the speed of the traffic approaching along the A4. Drink just makes such misjudgement more likely.

I guess the more alert the approaching driver is (wide awake not using mobile, chatting with passenger, etc), the faster his or her reaction, the less likely it is that a collision will happen. And, the presence of traffic coming in the other direction could block off the option of driving around the car that has just pulled out in front of you.

Several contributing factors would lead to a collision (I wonder how many near misses there are?) - sadly just about the only one you can legislate for is speed. If the A4 traffic is slower, then collisions will be a bit less likely and when they happen are liable to be less serious in terms of injuries.

The other problem along the A4 is the idiots who think the hatched white line areas are for their use as an overtaking lane.
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Biker1
post Apr 27 2014, 08:50 AM
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I have often heard the saying "if it saves one life then it is worth it".
If you reduced the speed limit on ALL roads to say 30mph this would reduce accidents and significantly reduce death and injury.
Where do you draw the line between practicality and human life?
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newres
post Apr 27 2014, 09:00 AM
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QUOTE (Biker1 @ Apr 27 2014, 09:50 AM) *
I have often heard the saying "if it saves one life then it is worth it".
If you reduced the speed limit on ALL roads to say 30mph this would reduce accidents and significantly reduce death and injury.
Where do you draw the line between practicality and human life?

The truth is that the few lives saved would not be worth the cost to our economy.
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JeffG
post Apr 27 2014, 10:04 AM
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QUOTE (Biker1 @ Apr 27 2014, 09:50 AM) *
If you reduced the speed limit on ALL roads to say 30mph this would reduce accidents and significantly reduce death and injury.

I don't agree with that. You would increase driver frustration to such an extent, that you would probably make the problem worse, not better.

I try and avoid Monks Lane for this very reason. Whoever thought that making this a 30mph zone along its entire length was a good idea? It's almost like a country road for much of its length. 40mph would be much more sensible (and probably more effective).
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Andy Capp
post Apr 27 2014, 10:05 AM
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QUOTE (Biker1 @ Apr 27 2014, 09:50 AM) *
I have often heard the saying "if it saves one life then it is worth it".
If you reduced the speed limit on ALL roads to say 30mph this would reduce accidents and significantly reduce death and injury.
Where do you draw the line between practicality and human life?


Think what the trains would be like! tongue.gif
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Simon Kirby
post Apr 27 2014, 01:59 PM
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QUOTE (JeffG @ Apr 27 2014, 11:04 AM) *
I don't agree with that. You would increase driver frustration to such an extent, that you would probably make the problem worse, not better.

I try and avoid Monks Lane for this very reason. Whoever thought that making this a 30mph zone along its entire length was a good idea? It's almost like a country road for much of its length. 40mph would be much more sensible (and probably more effective).

I'm not exactly the most chilled-out person on the planet but I have no problem doing 30 along Monks Lane. People just drive too fast.


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newres
post Apr 27 2014, 03:16 PM
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QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Apr 27 2014, 02:59 PM) *
I'm not exactly the most chilled-out person on the planet but I have no problem doing 30 along Monks Lane. People just drive too fast.

Same here. 30mph seems fine to me.
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NWNREADER
post Apr 27 2014, 03:33 PM
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In no time both sids of Monks Lane will be built up, so it would be 30 anyway. I think the people who live there are happier at 30 than at 40....

The reason people have crashes is they make mistakes. Some matter, some do not: the one that doesn't matter today causes carnage tomorrow.....

My concern is when innocents are maimed/killed. What loons do to themselves is their own problem....
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