Lawford Kidd's Blog

As many as one in seven (15%) drivers who use a sat-nav admit making illegal or risky manoeuvres to correct mistakes when following sat-nav instructions, putting themselves and other road users at risk of a devastating crash.

The survey by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line also found that:

• one in 14 (7%) drivers have had a near miss, having to swerve or brake suddenly to avoid a hazard, because they were distracted by a sat-nav (rising to one in 10 (11%) among young drivers (17-24);
• one in 14 (7%) drivers also admit to having a similar near miss because they were fiddling with their stereo (rising to one in 10 (11%) among young drivers (17-24)).

Through its drive smart campaign, Brake is calling on all drivers to make a new year’s resolution to stay alert and keep their mind and eyes on the road. Research shows almost everyone is unable to multi-task at the wheel without driving performance being badly affected. Carry out a secondary activity and you’re two to three times more likely to crash: more for complex activities like talking on a phone or texting.

Recent figures from the Department for Transport have revealed a fall of 2% in the number of road deaths in 2013, compared to 2012. Figures are apparently now at their lowest level since national records began in 1926.

According to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), the figures show that in 2013:

• 1,713 people were killed in road accidents.
• The number of people seriously injured decreased by 6% to 21,657, compared to 2012.
• The total number of casualties in road accidents reported to the police in 2013 was 183,670, down 6% from 2012.
• Pedal cyclists’ deaths decreased by 8% to 109 in 2013, compared to 118 in 2012.
• Fatalities on motorways increased by 14%, from 88 to 100.
• Vans and LGVs fatalities increased by 12%, from 33 to 37.
• Motorcycle fatalities on motorways increased by 250% from 4 to 14.
• Child pedestrian fatalities increased by 3%, from 20 to 26.
• Killed and serious injuries for all road users in deprived areas increased by 5%.

“We welcome the overall decrease in road deaths although the long term trends show improvements are slowing down,” commented IAM director of policy of research Neil Greig.

The serious risks to health faced by many workers in Scotland have been highlighted by recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures showing that 22 workers were killed while at work in 2012/13. This figure represents an alarming rise over the 19 deaths that took place over the previous year.

A further 1,914 workers sustained a major injury in 2012/13, down on the 2,215 major injuries that occurred during the previous year.

Employers urged to focus on safety

HSE has published these figures as part of a fresh appeal that calls on employers to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their workforce is a top priority for 2014 and to not put lives at risk.