IN A society as heavily reliant upon cars as Australia’s, crashes on the roads are inevitable.
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A sad reality, however, is that a lot of crashes are the result of irresponsible driving – speeding, drink-driving, text-messaging.
In other words, they are crashes that are totally avoidable.
It should concern all road users that police and driving instructors are increasingly worried about the number of crashes at intersections with traffic lights.
A signalled intersection is designed to make traffic flow safely.
It’s a foolproof system – just as long as everyone obeys the signals and is mindful of what’s going on around them.
Unfortunately, a growing number of drivers out there aren’t.
The consequences, police say, are often crashes involving cars turning right.
So who’s responsible for reducing the number of these accidents?
Everyone.
Police say those turning right have a responsibility to give way no matter what the colour of the light.
Those going straight through, they add, must not only stop on an amber light if it’s safe to do so, but must approach the intersection with care in the first place.
When driving instructors – people on the road more than most of us – are talking about drivers trying to beat amber lights from 50 or 60 metres away, it’s clear we have a problem.
Yet, this type of driving is something that most people have seen for themselves.
What’s missing in the mindset of someone flooring it to beat an amber light or a fellow driver deciding “I have the right of way here, I’m not waiting any longer” is an eye on the bigger picture.
Being a couple of minutes late somewhere rarely matters.
But a split-second decision to take an unnecessary risk on the road can change – or even end – lives.
Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car has a responsibility to themselves and others to drive safely.
So stop when you have to, give way when you need to.
Statistics show that driving can be dangerous – but it doesn’t have to be.
- Shane Worrell, senior reporter