The cynic in me wonders why they are publishing these 'statistics' now...
I live on the A9 which is the main road through Scotland and there has been a campaign for many years to 'duallise' the road from Perth to Inverness with a lot of staunch campaigners who are resolute that this is the only solution. (The road is mainly single carriageway with stretches of dual carriageway every now and again.)
They keep spouting figures that statistically this is the most dangerous road in Scotland with the highest number of fatalities etc... What they fail to mention is that it is not the most dangerous road PER MILE and also the fact that statistically the dual carriageway sections have more accidents on them than the single carriageway sections (according to Police figures).
Unfortunately the sheep just consume whatever the newspapers tell them and convince themselves it is the truth...
They are also trying to introduce DUI laws onto the UK waterways. Somehow, they have produced a statistic stating that alcohol was 'likely' to have caused 1000 incidents in the UK this year.... examining that figure closely, it relates to all UK registered craft but includes those sailing in foreign waters...
PLUS the pilots were never tested for alcohol so it is pure speculation....
Statistics? PAH!!!
And contributory factors in cases involving older drivers were more likely to be related to vision and judgment.
"Judgment" is a pretty vague concept... need more data ;o)
But vision... well... I don't know why we don't have compulsory eyesight tests in order to maintain our drivers licences. I really believe that eye tests should be compulsory for all, particularly for those who drive/ride.
Those of us who already wear glasses understand the importance of regular eye checks, but your eyesight tends to deteriorate slowly over time and it's only when you START wearing glasses that you realise just how bad your sight had become!
Fact - 1 in 5 drivers drive with defective vision. (if u believe the motorcycle press).
So when they say "SMIDSY" - they really mean it.
What is the government doing about it?
Nothing - they would rather lose lives than votes.
But what they actually ought to say is "Sorry mate, I never bothered looking, I just got fed up of sitting in the traffic jam so decided to pull out without so much as a glance in the mirrors, let alone looking over my shoulder."
Know wot u mean, Wannabe.
But what's the point in them checking their mirrors, when they can't even see their mirrors, let alone what's reflected in them.
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