road safety

Road traffic safety refers to the methods and measures used to prevent road users from being killed or seriously injured. Typical road users include: pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, vehicle passengers, horse-riders and passengers of on-road public transport.

Best-practices in modern road safety strategy:

The basic strategy of a Safe System approach is to ensure that in the event of a crash, the impact energies remain below the threshold likely to produce either death or serious injury. This threshold will vary from crash scenario to crash scenario, depending upon the level of protection offered to the road users involved. For example, the chances of survival for an unprotected pedestrian hit by a vehicle diminish rapidly at speeds greater than 30 km/h, whereas for a properly restrained motor vehicle occupant the critical impact speed is 50 km/h (for side impact crashes) and 70 km/h (for head-on crashes).

 At the highest level is sustainable prevention of serious injury and death crashes, with sustainable requiring all key result areas to be considered. At the second level is real time risk reduction, which involves providing users at severe risk with a specific warning to enable them to take mitigating action. The third level is about reducing the crash risk which involves applying the road design standards and guidelines such as  improving driver behavior and enforcement.

Safety can be improved in various ways depending on the transport taken.

Buses and coachesEdit

Safety can be improved in various simple ways to reduce the chance of an accident occurring. Avoiding rushing or standing in unsafe places on the bus or coach and following the rules on the bus or coach itself will greatly increase the safety of a person travelling by bus or coach. Various safety features can also be implemented into buses and coaches to improve safety including safety bars for people to hold onto.

The main ways to stay safe when travelling by bus or coach are as follows:

• Leave your location early so that you do not have to run to catch the bus or coach.
• At the bus stop, always follow the queue.
• Do not board or alight at a bus stop other than an official one.
• Never board or alight at a red light crossing or unauthorized bus stop.
• Board the bus only after it has come to a halt without rushing in or pushing others.
• Do not sit, stand or travel on the footboard of the bus.
• Do not put any part of your body outside a moving or a stationary bus.
• While in the bus, refrain from shouting or making noise as it can distract the driver.
• Always hold onto the handrail if standing in a moving bus, especially on sharp turns.
• Always adhere to the bus safety rules.

CarsEdit

 Automobile safety

Simulated crashes using crash test dummies can help improve automobile design

Safety can be improved by reducing the chances of a driver making an error, or by designing vehicles to reduce the severity of crashes that do occur. Most industrialized countries have comprehensive requirements and specifications for safety-related vehicle devices, systems, design, and construction. These may include:

• Passenger restraints such as seat belts — often in conjunction with laws requiring their use — and airbags
• Crash avoidance equipment such as lights and reflectors
• Driver assistance systems such as Electronic Stability Control
• Crash survivability design including fire-retardant interior materials, standards for fuel system integrity, and the use of safety glass
• Sobriety detectors: These interlocks prevent the ignition key from working if the driver breathes into one and it detects significant quantities of alcohol. They have been used by some commercial transport companies, or suggested for use with persistent drunk-driving offenders on a voluntary basis^[

The Dutch Reach - Use far hand on handle when opening to avoid dooringcyclists or injuries to exiting drivers and passengers.

Motorists and passengers - both front and rear - can make dooring less likely by practicing the "Dutch reach" - opening the car door by reaching across the body with the more distant.

Motorcycle

Motorcycle safety

UK road casualty statistics show that motorcycle riders are nine times more likely to crash, and 17 times more likely to die in a crash, than car drivers.^] The higher fatality risk is due in part to the lack of crash protection (unlike in enclosed vehicles such as cars), combined with the high speeds motorcycles typically travel at. According to tatistics, the percentage of intoxicated motorcyclists in fatal crashes is higher than other riders on roads.Helmets also play a major role in the safety of motorcyclists.  estimation of helmets are 37 percent effective in saving lives of motorcyclists involved in accidents.