HSE Tip: Safe driving

Published: 07.05.10

The best workplace health and safety in the world will not help if you do not arrive at your workplace safely. One of the most hazardous periods of your day is the time you spend driving to and from work.

Take the time to reacquaint yourself with the causes and effects of traffic accidents, as well as recent figures describing the number of lives changed through reckless behaviour on the road. We urge you to take Omega’s zero accidents philosophy with you as you drive to and from work, or anytime you take to the road.

The issue

Norway 2008
Traffic accidents	7 726
Persons killed	146
Persons injured	10 868

Road traffic injuries kill as many as 350 people per day, or over 127 000 every year in the World Health Organisation (WHO) European Region; that is more than the population of Stavanger (Norway) killed each year. At least 2.4 million people are injured and disabled in road traffic crashes annually. Out of over 2 million car crashes per year, nearly 65% occur in towns, where pedestrians and cyclists are particularly exposed.

Dr Marc Danzon, of WHO for Europe encourages all of us to take accountability for the part we play on the roads:

It is time to stop considering traffic deaths and injuries as an unavoidable consequence of road use: they are preventable. Every year some 6500 children die on the roads, and this is unacceptable. Increasing road traffic safety is everyone’s concern.

In regard to the working environment, many of us give a lot of thought to safety on the job, but perhaps forget to give the same thought to our journey to and from the workplace. In 1999, road traffic crashes accounted for about 41% of all workplace fatalities. Keep in mind that it is not just professional drivers, but also commuters that account for the high number of injuries and fatalities.

Deaths and injuries on the roads are not random events; focusing on the risk factors that lead to crashes and can assist in preventing them and saving lives.

The causes

There are numerous causes of traffic accidents, but those outlined here are some of the most dangerous.

Speed

Whether racing for a ferry connection, pushing the limit to reach a meeting on time or simply not paying enough attention to your speed, you are putting yourself and those around you at risk. Speed is the leading killer on the roads. Estimates for the EU indicate that reducing the average driving speed by 3 km/h would save around 5000–6000 lives each year and would prevent 120 000–140 000 crashes, saving €20 billion in crash costs. In contrast, raising the speed from 30 km/h to 50 km/h means a pedestrian is eight times more likely to be killed in a car crash. For car occupants, the risk of death in a crash is 20 times higher at an impact speed of 80 km/h than at 32 km/h.

Does 10km/h really make a difference?

Every single kilometre per hour over the speed limit not only affects whether a crash happens, but how severe it is. In some cases, this could mean the difference between life and death. A car travelling at 50km/h can stop 12–16 metres sooner than one travelling at 60km/h. This means that by the time a car travelling at 50km/h has stopped under emergency braking, another car braking from 60km/h would still be travelling at about 40km/h.

Speed 50km/h – stopping distance 42 metres
Speed 60km/h – stopping distance 56 metres

Alcohol and drugs

Driving under the influence is the act of operating a motor vehicle after having consumed alcohol, or other drugs, to the degree that mental and motor skills are impaired, and is responsible for a very large number of deaths and injuries every year. In regard to alcohol, the legal limit in Norway is 0.2‰ (the most strict in Europe), making it almost impossible to consume any alcohol before driving.

Drugs that impair driving need not be illegal; all these drugs can affect your driving:

Prescription drugs
Over-the-counter drugs
Recreational drugs
Illicit drugs

How do alcohol and drugs affect driving skills?

Alcohol and drugs interfere with many of the skills necessary to safely operate a vehicle, causing:

Poor motor and coordination skills
Impaired reflexes
Blurred vision
An inability to judge distance and speed
Fatigue
Memory loss
Distortions of time, place, and space
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness and fainting
Aggressive or psychotic behaviour

Driving while tired

A tired driver can be as dangerous as a driver operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Being awake for more than 16 hours is similar to having drunk more than two standard drinks (more than 0.5‰). Be sure not to put yourself at risk, identify when you are tired and take the time needed to recover and remember quick fixes such as cold air and loud music will not prevent you falling asleep at the wheel.

Warning signs of tiredness:

Sore or heavy eyes
Dim or fuzzy vision
You start “seeing” things
Droning and humming in ears
General tiredness
Stiffness and cramps
Aches and pains
Day-dreaming
Delayed reaction times
Unintentional increases or decreases in speed
Fumbling for gear changes
Car wanders across the road

Driving distracted

On the road every second counts and your ability to react to and avoid a potentially dangerous situation will be significantly improved if driving has your full attention. As a driver, it is your responsibility to avoid the temptation to be distracted by things going on inside or outside the car.

One of the most common distractions is your mobile phone. The use of hand-held mobile phones is illegal in Norway (fine 1300 NOK) and most countries. If you need to speak to someone as you drive, use a hands-free mobile phone attachment, but even then, ensure your mind stays on the road and not on the conversation.

The effects

Young lives cut short

In the WHO European Region, car crashes are the leading cause of death for people aged 5–29 years. This group accounts for more than 30% of crash victims. High speed and drunk-driving are the main risk factors for young people.

Innocent lives lost

When you are driving, consider those people around you who are at the mercy of the choices you make. Pedestrians and cyclists represent 22% of those involved in serious car crashes, but 33% of those killed.

Loss to families

In the EU alone, at least 200 000 families experience the loss or permanent disablement of a family member each year. Involvement in an accident can mean grief and hardship for the families involved.

Injuries and illness

The deaths and physical injuries caused by traffic accidents are obvious and often well publicised, but there are many others that suffer short and long term injury and illness. Reports suggest that one out of five people involved in road crashes develop acute stress reactions and one in four people display mental health issues within one year of an accident.

Fines

As well as risking the safety of yourself and others, unlawful driving can be an expensive exercise. The following are fines for driving offences in Norway:

Speeding fines

When the speed limit is 60km/h or lower:

Up to and including 5 km too fast: 600 NOK
Between 5 and 10 km/h too fast: 1600 NOK
Between 10 and 15 km/h too fast: 2900 NOK
Between 15 and 20 km/h too fast: 4200 NOK
Between 20 and 25 km/h too fast: 6500 NOK

When the speed limit is 70km/h or higher:

Up to and including 5 km/h too fast: 600 NOK
Between 5 and 10 km/h too fast: 1600 NOK
Between 10 and 15 km/h too fast: 2600 NOK
Between 15 and 20 km/h too fast: 3600 NOK
Between 20 and 25 km/h too fast: 4900 NOK
Between 25 and 30 km/h too fast: 6500 NOK
Between 25 and 35 km/h too fast: 7800 NOK

Other fines

Driving at odds with traffic signs, such as “Driving prohibited”, “Public Transport Lane” and “One way street”: 4200 NOK
Illegal overtaking: 5200 NOK
Ignoring give way rules: 5200 NOK
Driving on or over the prohibited lines, in a prohibited areas, on footpaths, or bicycle paths etc: 3200 NOK
Driving without providing the mandatory signals, without the mandatory lights on or without required free vision. Driving with incorrect low beam, high beam or driving lights: 2000 NOK
Breach of road traffic act regarding prohibition of use of electronic equipment in a vehicle that may disrupt the driver (for example hand held mobile phone): 1300 NOK

Imprisonment

Over and above the fines outlined above, serious breaches of Norway’s driving laws bring about prison sentences.

Safer driving suggestions

Safe driving suggestions often seem straightforward, but as with all aspects of HSE it never hurts to be reminded and reevaluate your current situation. Ask yourself, what can I do to protect myself and those people that depend on me and surround me?

Limit driving – create a car pool, consider public transport
Get organised – give yourself more than enough time to reach appointments, meetings and connections
Car maintenance – ensure your car is in good working order and carries all the equipment you require in case something goes wrong
Drive defensively – be alert, level-headed, patient and aware when driving
Appropriate tyres – ensure you follow local requirements in regard to the tyres you use
Wear seat belts

Resources

Thousands of avoidable deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes: new reports urge joint action, Press Release EURO/02/04, Copenhagen, Rome, 6 April 2004 – WHO Europe
Road traffic injuries in the WHO European Region: the population groups and countries most affected, Fact Sheet EURO/03/04, Copenhagen, Rome, 6 April 2004 (PDF) – WHO Europe
Veitrafikkulykker med personskade, endelige årstall – Statistisk Sentralbyrå (Statistics Norway)
Forskrift om forenklet forelegg i vegtrafikksaker – lovdata.no