Drivers are being urged to think about the dangers of driving too fast for the road conditions in a new THINK! campaign, which launches nationwide today (Monday).
The campaign, entitled ‘Is pushing it worth it?’, is targeted at young male drivers as statistics show male drivers aged 17-24 are 4x more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 25 or over.
Research findings also show that 60% of all serious or fatal collisions involving young male car drivers occurred on rural roads. With this in mind, the new campaign focuses on speeding and driving too fast for road conditions, especially on rural roads such as those found here on the Isle of Wight.
It’s known that less than half (43%) of young men consider exceeding the speed limit to be unacceptable, while over two thirds (68%) see drink driving and over half (52%) think using a mobile without handsfree is unacceptable.
Statistics from the Department for Transport also show that driver/rider error or reaction contributed to 65% of road traffic collisions on the Isle of Wight in 2021. Injudicious action contributed to 34% of collisions, failing to look properly 29% and road environment 21%.
Despite popular belief that speed is a factor in most crashes, travelling too fast for the conditions contributed to just 17% of collisions. At the other end of the scale, rain, sleet, snow or fog contributed to just 1% of crashes, as did vegetation or illegal/defective tyres.
Road Safety Minister Richard Holden, has said:
“Road safety is our priority, but we want to accelerate our efforts to tackle unsafe driving habits and create some of the safest roads in the world.
Article continues below this advertisement “We’re highlighting the dangers of relaxed driving attitudes on rural roads so that everyone recognises that pushing the speed limit is just not worth it.”
The campaign marks another milestone for the Government’s award-winning THINK! campaign, a dedicated road safety awareness campaign which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on UK roads.
In the decade that followed the conception of THINK!, road deaths in the UK reduced by 46%. Sadly, 54 young people are still killed or injured every week in the UK.
Any update island echo on the old lady that hit parked cars a pedestrian and a tree in Sandown? You never seem to do updates or outcomes
If the stats say 17-24 are the dangerous drivers, due to there attitude to the law, then make it illegal to drive a car until your 25. Can’t wait for the boy racers to respond to that comment.
I agree, pushing their cars to the limit at every opportunity. They can’t handle it. No experience. Or just don’t think of the horrible tragic consequences of what can happen if it goes wrong. I saw a horrific video of a car crash in slow motion.. 4 people in a car. The forces involved on the human body! Maybe it should be shown. The shock factor.. Sometimes that stays with you an can make you think.
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‘Despite popular belief that speed is a factor in most crashes, travelling too fast for the conditions contributed to just 17% of collisions ‘ ?????. Maybe if our roads were improved with visibility,signage, no pot holes, footpaths etc would help.
It’s always been the same, i and my friends drove too fast as youngsters and thought we were immortal but time and experience proves otherwise, i was lucky enough to survive several crashes that could easily have killed me, still did not slow me down, having a family was the greatest influence on driving style, i suddenly became responsible and went from a “pocket rocket “ to a family car.
Ban all phones in cars and any device that includes a screen.
I cannot understand why the police don’t drive around in unmarked vehicles
they would catch loads of Muppets who drive whilst on their phones.
I notice many vehicles on a regular basis driving, some even hold their phones right
high up, it’s so noticeable.
When sitting at traffic lights you only have to look in the rear view mirror and 9 times
out of 1o the person is texting.
“Despite popular belief that speed is a factor in most crashes, travelling too fast for the conditions contributed to just 17% of collisions.” Says it all really doesn’t it? If only Police were allowed to concentrate on the real problems on Island roads and not have their time wasted by endless calls for ‘speeding clampdowns’ from people who don’t understand what the real problem is, the Island could be a much safer place!
isn’t this a bit paradoxical ?
“Drivers are being urged to think about the dangers of driving too fast for the road conditions in a new THINK! campaign” … but “Despite popular belief that speed is a factor in most crashes, travelling too fast for the conditions contributed to just 17% of collisions.”
so,.. they’re having a campaign, to try to get people to think,.. about something, .. that isn’t a factor in the vast majority (83%) of ‘crashes’ ???
As the irrefutable facts are that drivers aged 17-24 are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers over 25, if it ain’t speed that’s the problem you have to conclude it’s just crap and senseless and inexperienced driving by that age group. Or am I wrong and it’s actually us oldies causing all those deaths and injuries amongst the youngest drivers? Just askin’…
Ask the Driving instructors.
Yes there are lots of other factors but, even if it is ‘only’ 17% of crashes that happen because of inappropriate speed, maybe the ‘THINK!’ campaign will save just one of our children from being killed or maimed – that’s good enough for me..
My car is built to do a ton plus. Like to drive as fast as possible get some of the slowcoaches to speed up or I will just go past them.60plus is safe in most 40 mph signed areas.
your a wind up eh
You obviously have a brain akin to a cartoon character.
Well said speedy.Far to many people on the island just poodling about at 30mph speed up or I will just go past you as well.
Speedy see you on the Milly tonight 10.30 Freshwaterbay car park along to Blackgang and back OK.
If this is aimed at 17 – 24 year olds then a TV ad won’t work, they don’t watch tv, they watch streaming services and YouTube.