Road & Vehicle Safety
Topic of the Month for August is Road & Vehicle Safety. Explore what Road & Vehicle safety is and how to protect yourself.
What is Road Safety?
Road safety is a way of not only protecting yourself, but others while on the road to prevent accidents/injuries or death. Around 1.19 million people die in road traffic accidents every year. This may only seem like a small percentage of the population, however road safety is one of the most leading causes of preventable deaths when taking the right action!
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Road safety isn't just driving or being on a motorcycle or pushbike, it is also about pedestrians. Ways to keep yourself and others safe include:
- DRIVER
- Follow speed limits and laws of the road
- DO NOT use your phone while driving - hands-free is allowed as long as you are not holding the phone
- DO NOT drive under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Always keep suitable and desired space between you and another vehicle (this will change dependent on weather)
- Always use indicators
- Be aware of pedestrians/motorcyclists/pushbikes
- PEDESTRIANS
- Use footpaths and crossings appropriately
- Always check it is safe to cross the road
- Avoid using your phone or headphones when walking
- Pay attention to the road and stay alert
Importance of Insurance, Tax and MOT
It is a legal requirement for you to have insurance, tax and valid MOT on your vehicle for many reasons, one of them being safety. Insurance protects you in the event of an accident or any other incident involving your vehicle or another vehicle.
An MOT ensures that your vehicle is road worthy and safe to drive/ride. Without this, your vehicle could pose a risk to yourself or others.
You have a legal requirement to ensure your vehicle is taxed. If you do not tax your vehicle, this could lead to you receiving fines, clamping or prosecution - such as temporary bans from driving - or a complete ban.
Check that your vehicle has insurance, tax and MOT:
Vehicle tax, MOT and insurance - GOV.UK
What do you need to keep safe on your car?
- Tyres: Your tyres must have a tread depth of 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the tyres width. Please see link on how to check this yourself - Tyre tread depth, UK law and tyre safety checks | RAC Drive
- Brakes: Your brakes must be fully functional at all times - How to tell if car brakes need replacing | Halfords UK
- Lights and Indicators: Every light on your vehicle must work - How to check your lights and bulbs | RAC Drive
- Seat Belts: Seat belts are considered the most important safety feature within your car. Therefore, you MUST keep these in good condition - no missing seat belts, no damaged or frayed webbing, no buckles that do not click. You will fail your MOT if your seatbelts are not in good condition - Seat belt law - how to keep safe and avoid fines | RAC Drive
Motorbike Safety
- Helmet: The use of a helmet is legally required on all motorbikes (trikes are not legally compulsory). You must ensure the helmet fits properly (a proper fitting helmet should feel snug and secure. It requires a little effort to pull on and off and should not be able to freely slide around) and is worn securely (straps done up efficiently). This is for the use of protection against head injuries - How to check your helmet fits properly and is secure
- Brakes and Tyres: Regularly check your brakes and tyres for wear and tear, similar to a car. Tyre pressures will vary bike to bike - if you have a pillion, this will also affect the tyre pressure required in the rear tyre.
- Clothing: Wearing appropriate clothing ("leathers") can add as an additional layer of protection if you were to be involved in an accident. These can be leathers, Kevlar or Armoured clothing.
