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OCTOBER 2004
Page 22
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Speed kills but the wrong speed limit can increase the likelihood of accidents...
Speeding death toll
In 2002, excessive speed was a contributory factor in 12% of slight accidents, 19% of serious accidents and 30% of fatal accidents. This equates to over 1,000 people killed and more than 38,000 injured in road accidents involving excessive speed in just 12 months.
Between 1999 and 2002, the 21% of accidents where excessive speed was recorded as a contributory factor involved two-wheeled motor vehicles (TYVMV) followed by cars at 15%. Only 9% involved HOVs. Speed was the seventh most cited of 54 factors causing road accidents, coming behind reckless behaviour, inattention and failure to judge another driver's path or speed.
The report states that excessive speed is a less significant factor in accidents precipitated by trucks than it is for all accidents in which they are involved.
This could be seen as evidence in support of the haulage industry's calls for the 40mph speed limit for trucks on single carriageways to be raised. Many truck drivers claim that, rather than preventing accidents, the 40mph limit contributes to them by causing frustration among car drivers, which leads them to attempt reckless manoeuvres to overtake trucks.
Among car accidents, excessive speed was the most frequent contributing factor among younger drivers. The report also states that the proportion of accidents on rural roads associated with excessive speed was twice that of accidents on urban roads.
Fuel ptios
Fuel prices continued to rise over the past month as the cost of crude oil rose to a record $53 a barrel following hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. The UK remains the most expensive EU country in which to buy fuel, with the average price of diesel at €1.21 it compared with just €0.69/lit in Poland.