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We can improve road safety by undertaking many measures to do so, but they all require constant revision and updating. That is why it is necessary to assume the commitment as an urgent and long-term need, which should be addressed by road infrastructure companies as well as by the government and driver-users.
It is common knowledge that road accidents represent countless avoidable losses for any country or community. Today, crashes claim the lives of 1.3 million people per year, leaving millions seriously injured.
Defined as an “unacceptable tragedy” by the UN, a resolution was passed in September 2020 to proclaim the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 – 2030. The proposal aims to prevent at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
In this context, we cannot expect others to act for us to improve road safety. It is of utmost importance that we adopt a more conscious driving culture, committed to making road crashes no longer part of our normality.
Therefore, it is important for every actor in society to ask themselves this question: How can I improve road safety? In this article, we will analyze some measures and actions that we can begin to implement and to require from the government and private sectors.
What can infrastructure operators do to improve road safety?
The role of infrastructure operators in the safety of road users is fundamental. They must assume a position of constant and detailed attention, since improving road safety is not only a matter of specific actions but must be sustained over time.
In addition, they should not only be concerned about the material conditions of the infrastructure they manage, carrying out construction, improvement, conservation, and maintenance works on the roads, but they should also work to generate social awareness in this regard.
One step they can take is to set general objectives and measurable targets for road safety management. Just as targets should be set for major outcomes (such as reducing fatalities and serious injuries), it is necessary to measure intermediate outcomes through safety performance indicators.
In this way, these companies can diagnose problem areas and effectively design road safety policies and interventions such as resource allocation to improve road safety.
The importance of data collection and monitoring should also be emphasized. The variety of sources from which to obtain data is very wide: from the concessionaire’s own systems to records from hospitals, police, and other emergency systems.
Accident and incident data are extremely important for the company itself to improve road safety management. Thus, they can identify high accident frequency points to which particular attention needs to be paid.
The organization of the road by sections makes it possible to establish specific responsibilities and procedures within each section. A closer knowledge of the road conditions and a more precise organization of its maintenance can improve road safety in all its aspects: staff actions, communication, road conditions, number of controls, etc.
In order to ensure good road safety management, it is necessary to have staff trained in their tasks. It is essential that road safety training be given under the safe system approach. This implies that they should not focus exclusively on attending to contingencies, but also on preventing their occurrence.
Roadside shoulders and the entire clear zone also require maintenance by the concessionaires. They must also be provided with safety barriers and impact absorbers, whose design and installation must comply with current standards.
In addition, the lighting systems must remain in constant service and the supports must be clean, painted, or galvanized. The same applies to signage, which must provide visual information to help drivers improve predictability.
At the same time, they must have the necessary means to provide a quick and effective response to a road accident. In this way, they can address the problem in a comprehensive manner, not only to prevent accidents but also to be able to respond in case they occur.
Finally, infrastructure operators must allow the control and surveillance by the control bodies in the prevention and control of vehicular traffic. This includes speed and alcohol controls and compliance with all traffic regulations without exception.
All in all, we can see that a large part of the measures to be taken to improve road safety depend on communication, monitoring, training, and education. Next, we will see the important role played by users, who can become aware through instances that should be promoted by both the government and the private sector.
What can users do to improve road safety?
In any traffic accident, three factors are involved: humans, vehicles, and infrastructure. The vast majority of accidents occur because of the human factor. Therefore, it is crucial for road users to attend education and awareness programs that build an appropriate and careful driving culture.
For road users, the cultural change that will improve road safety in the long term requires road safety education for children and young people as well as adults. As the leading cause of death among young people, this content is essential for them to learn how to take care of themselves and be responsible drivers, whether they have a driver’s license or are not yet old enough to do so.
Likewise, it is the drivers who must assume certain responsibilities when driving. Let’s take a look at some basic issues that should be respected at all times to improve road safety:
- Drive at the appropriate speed, as this is the way to be prepared to react to any unforeseen event, caused by other cars or pedestrians, or even by our own vehicle’s failures. We can drive safely, but if we drive at a high speed we will not be able to respond to an obstacle or animal on the road, a car driving in the opposite direction, or even a traffic jam at the exit of a curve.
- In the case that we travel in two-wheeled vehicles, the helmet is essential, even though sometimes it can be a nuisance. The same applies to other passive safety elements such as seat belts and child restraints.
- Keep your headlights on all day long and not only when the sun goes down. In terms of visibility, when it is not yet completely dark but it is beginning to get dark when we are less visible and we must act accordingly.
- We should not drink alcohol or take other drugs while driving. In addition to being illegal, we will be putting our own and other people’s safety at risk. In this regard, it is important to emphasize the importance of police control. In case we take any medication before driving, we should consult the package leaflet for possible adverse effects.
- Warn in advance of any maneuver and make it with caution, without creating risks or affecting the flow of traffic, taking into account road safety measures.
- The driver should be concentrated and alert, anticipating potentially dangerous situations. This is especially important in high-risk situations, whether due to weather, road, traffic, etc.
- Be patient and tolerant of other drivers’ mistakes.
- Avoid distractions of all kinds: use of the telephone, loud music/radio, boisterous behavior with other passengers, personal grooming while driving, etc.
- Make stops and breaks on long trips so that the driver can rest and remain in optimal driving conditions.
As we can see, in order to improve road safety it is imperative that we work together, taking the issue with the seriousness and commitment it deserves. Fortunately, awareness of the issue is growing, and there are already sectors taking action on the matter.
Aleatica and its commitment to road safety
At Aleatica, the commitment to improve road safety has been present since the company’s founding lines. In fact, safety is a pillar that guides the long-term commitment and actions carried out by the company since its origins.
This is how we have achieved great progress in road safety, through strategies that address both the management sector, as well as communication and education for employees, suppliers, and communities where we have a presence. However, we are aware of all the room for growth there still is.
Since September 2022, the Aleatica Foundation for Road Safety has been a reality. From this, we seek to raise awareness of the importance of generating a Safe System Approach on high-performance roads.
The Safe System Approach defines that people, vehicles, and road infrastructure must interact in a way that ensures a high level of safety. It states that all actors involved in mobility and road traffic are co-responsible for creating conditions for the safety of road users.
As we have seen, in order to improve road safety, there are many measures to be undertaken simultaneously, and each of them involves the participation of different actors. It is up to all of us to make safety a priority, always.
