The airline industry has had good success with improving safety. Is it not time that we adopted some of their techniques for ourselves?
Regular re-certification
Less of a blame culture regarding accident reporting
Looking for root causes
Certification: We could require that each driver undergoes some training (not necessarily a test) every few years. Given that the number one cause of accidents is 'lack of observation', the focus can be on an accompanied drive, with a suggested list of things for the driver to work on following the training.
Less of a blame culture: By training everyone to look for reasons why it was the other person's fault (as encouraged by our insurance companies), we're not looking for our own faults. Even after an accident.
Root Causes: We're not putting enough effort into finding accident blackspots and eliminating the problem. Nor into the fact that many motorists drive too closely together. We could drive people behaviour via the recertification route.
Based on the airline experience, this could slash accident rates?
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Black boxes with a tiny camera (like a Nissan Primera reversing camera) that records objectively what happened in a collision. Drivers knowing that they won't able to blag their way out of a collision would make them concentrate harder. Or would it?
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Rigerous technical checking and parts certification would either drive all older cars off the road or, more likely over time, ensure that older cars are well maintained and thus retain more value than they do now.
Rather like the days of extortionate purchase tax on cars in Scandinavia, you would see 10 year old cars in pristine condition, it cost a lot to own and run car of any age so the majority of owners looked after theirs.
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Compared to 30/40 years ago the overall standard of older vehicles I feel has improved. You were lucky to get 10 years out of one.
There were 'rotboxes' full of corrosion and holes in body and structural parts.
I have no doubt the longevity has increased with improved anti rust treatments and thicker construction to meet crash test requirements.
Fullchat
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But certification doesnt always work. For instance, how many solicitors send a junior on CPE courses, but make sure the junior signs in to the course as them so that they can claim the 'points' they need to earn each year to maintain their qualifications.
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I would certainly warm to the idea of investigating root causes, rather than the pre occupation we have at the moment of shifting balme on the other party - a neccessary but pointless distraction in today's litigation culture I'm afraid.
Some other countries have a much more beneficial approach where they try to learn from the accident.
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>>We could require that each driver undergoes some training (not necessarily a test) every few years.>>
So how exactly would you cope with ensuring many millions of drivers undertake some training every few years?
There are approximately 32.3million vehicles on UK roads and probably two-thirds that number of drivers taking into account two, three or more car owning families.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Surely geting your eyes tested properly and frequently is the first rquirement whatever your age.
I am amazed that so many are ignorant about getting eyes tested especially older people. It is an invaluable health check and it is FREE to oldies. I believe many older people fear it will incur a vast expense for new specs but of course you can say No I do not want new specs.
Would you fly with a pilot who did not have proper vision?
I guess the admin would be with Swansea but the opticians would certainly rise to meet the need for tests.
SWMBO and I both have the most expensive lenses and spares as we consider it so so important.
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