Road safety facts you should know

Test your knowledge on safer driving

When you’re rushing from A – B, it can be easy to let bad habits creep in. But safer driving benefits all of us - pedestrians, cyclists and car users alike – so we’ve compiled some important facts that you should know before you get behind the wheel.

As of September 2023, there were 41.3 million licensed vehicles in the UK (an increase of 1.4% from the year before).

That’s a lot of cars. And it means our roads are busy – and only getting busier. Being as diligent as possible while you’re out and about goes a long way in helping to avoid road traffic incidents or disruptions.

Stopping distances

You’re travelling at speed, there’s a lot of traffic on the road – and people are pulling out into small gaps to try and get in between lanes.

We’ve all been there.

Sometimes, it can feel like a bit of a free for all. And, after all, if you can get out into the fast lane, isn’t it worth it?

The reality is that most cars don’t leave enough space between the cars in front or behind them to account for any abrupt stops. And the consequences of this can be fatal.

Driving penalties

Whether you’ve been driving for years, or you’re new to the roads, it’s good to refresh yourself on why you shouldn’t speed or drink and drive.

And the possible repercussions if you do.

Driving under the influence

Estimates for 2021 show that between 240 and 280 people were killed as the result of a collision where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit, with the total casualties sitting at 6,740.

And, if you’re caught being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit to drive through drink, you could also get:

• 3 months’ imprisonment
• Up to £2,500 fine
• A possible driving ban

Speeding fines

The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your licence. Clock up more than 12 points within three years, and you could be disqualified from driving.

If the police stop you, they can either give you a verbal warning, a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) or order you to go to court. If you are sent an FPN, either from the police or after being caught by a camera, and you plead guilty, you may be given the opportunity to attend a speed awareness course.

New driver?

If you’ve passed your test within the last two years, your driving licence will be revoked if you build up 6 or more penalty points.

And – contrary to what you might have heard before – money raised from the fines doled out by speed cameras is given to the Treasury.

So, local authorities have no incentive to place cameras on roads other than to improve road safety and hopefully reduce the number of people speeding in the first place.,

Mobile phones and other devices

Using a device in your hand, including phones, sat navs and tablets, is illegal while driving.

This means you can't text, make calls, take photos or browse the internet. And the law still stands if you're stopped at lights or in traffic, if you're supervising a learner driver, or using a device in offline mode.

You can use your phone if you're making a contactless payment in a drive thru, or if you need to ring 999 and it's unsafe to stop. And you can use devices with hands-free access to make calls or follow directions, as long as you don't hold it and it doesn't block your view of the road ahead.

If you do get caught holding and using a phone or other device, you can get 6 penalty points and a £200 fine. If you've passed your driving test in the last two years, you'll lose your licence. 

And with a total of 133 fatalities and 446 serious incidents involving mobile phone use between 2014 and 2019, it's more important than ever to keep your phones switched of while you're driving.

Road traffic incidents

Biggest causes of road traffic incidents

In 2020, the biggest number of collisions (38%) were caused by the driver failing to look properly, with 20% attributed to the driver failing to judge the other persons path or speed.

Speeding was a factor in 22% of all fatal collisions in 2022, with 303 people killed in incidents involving someone exceeding the speed limit, with a further 2,180 people seriously injured. Another 131 people were killed by someone travelling too fast for the conditions.

Motorways vs country roads

Did you know that pedestrians who are hit by a vehicle on a rural road are nearly three times as likely to be killed as pedestrians who are hit by a vehicle on an urban road?

And more than a quarter (26%) of drivers surveyed admitted to ‘regularly’ speeding in areas designed to keep children and other road users safe.

It’s always important that we drive in accordance to the roads and conditions we’re on and in.

Breaking the speeding limit or travelling too fast for the current conditions was recorded as a contributory factor to 13% of collisions in 2020.

So, just because a rural country road is national speed limit, it doesn’t always mean you should drive at that speed.

Limits are just that – limits. Not targets.

Choose your colour wisely

Studies have shown that black cars are more likely to be involved in road traffic collisions than any other colour.

Not surprisingly, the cars considered safest are white, gold or yellow – so something like a gleaming white Genesis GV70 lease will keep you safe and stylish.

(Just in case you were wondering, Cornwall contains the highest concentration of yellow cars registered in the UK. Must be all that sunshine!)

The seasons

Road casualties increase when there’s bad weather and darker evenings.

Winter, in other words.

In particular, there’s a notable peak in rush hour casualties in the four weeks after the clocks change each October. The rush hour commute is unavoidable for most of us, so make sure you take yo0ur time – and do your best to prep your car for winter driving before you go.