The Think! Country Roads campaign launched this week – but how much do you know about driving on them?
The fact that 60% of all fatalities occur on country roads tells us how dangerous they are. On average, that’s three people a day – 11 times higher than that on motorways. So what can we do to make them safer?
Think! have launched their Country Roads campaign for this year, just in time for the changing of the clocks and dark winter season that lies ahead of us. In an unconventional style, they have opted for using livestock to deliver the message – livestock which could be one of the reasons people crash. They have also produced a short film and graphics to go with it, all aimed at making country roads safer for everyone.
SSRP fully supports this campaign by the government – a vast amount of Sussex roads are rural (in fact there are only nine miles of motorway in the whole county), and in addition we have farming machinery, deer, and a great many single carriageway roads to consider. The main advice coming from Think! this time around is:
- Consider the road ahead and anticipate bends, dips, concealed entrances and potential hazards.
- Give yourself time.
- Consider your stopping distance, and drive at a speed you would be able to safely stop in.
- Never take a road for granted, even if you travel frequently on it.
- Be patient, especially if it is not safe to overtake.
- The speed limit is a limit – not a target.
Everyone wants to get to their destination in one piece – we all have a responsibility to look out for ourselves and others.
