Take the Liberty route in bad weather

Take care when driving as we head into the winter season, writes Trish Whelan. We've already had a taste of what may be to come with Ophelia, Brian, and last week's heavy rain.

The way for motorists to deal with it is basically  to use common sense. Which is what Liberty Insurance offers in its check-list for motorists on winter driving.

1. Be sure to stay up to date on minute by minute weather and traffic reports – that way you’ll anticipate and avoid dangerous roadways.

2. Strong winds may affect control of your vehicle, particularly high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists so allow extra space on the road. Make sure there is plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. This should be a minimum of four seconds in heavy rain.

3. Anticipate gusts. Take special care when driving through areas prone to strong winds or when weather reports predict severe weather.

4. Watch out for loose objects and fallen branches that may have been blown on to the road.

5. Use your demister to keep your windscreen clear.

6. Use dipped headlights at all times when driving.

7. Stock a Winter Emergency Kit. In the event that you do have to pull over during the storm or find yourself with a broken-down vehicle, be prepared with a winter emergency kit. Recommended items include: a flashlight and batteries, hand-warmers, blankets, drinking water, shovel and ice scraper, jumper cables, and standalone emergency lights or flares.

8. Finally, don’t panic! Home insurance and motor insurance policies apply as normal in a storm. Insurance cover is not impacted by the weather conditions.

Liberty Insurance customers can call them on 1850 858 530 to notify of a claim. Their Home Emergency and Breakdown Assistance Teams are also available to their customers.

(Photo by Kaique Rocha.)

Don't let your tyres fail your NCT — Continental Ireland

Tyres are the top reason for cars failing the NCT, writes Brian Byrne.

This comes from statistics released by the operator of the NCT in Ireland, Applus.

And the matter is mainly down to a 'high level of disregard' among Irish motorists to tyre care and safety, according to tyre maker Continental.

“The statistics about NCT failure causes are worrying on a number of levels,” says Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres (Ireland). “Firstly, it suggests that Irish motorists are simply not looking after their tyres; not checking them regularly and not having them fixed or replaced when they need to be. “These statistics also raise serious questions about the quality of tyre testing in so-called ‘pre-NCT’ checks.”

Mr Dennigan suggest that motorists should bring their cars in to a reputable tyre dealer in advance of an NCT test, in addition to any pre-NCT check they might be having done.

Call for road safety 'Leading Lights' nominations

Ireland’s Road Safety Authority is seeking nominations for its ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety 2017’ awards, now in its 10th year.

These awards recognise and honour the contribution made by people and organisations nationwide in reducing deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads.

In particular they have acknowledged remarkable contributions made by volunteers, teachers, students, businesses, journalists and community groups in making the roads safer for all.

Entries will be accepted in each of the following categories: Road Safety Officer of the Year; Education - Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, Special, Third Level/Further and Community Education; Public Sector; Emergency Services; Local Media; National Media; Business; Future Award; Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) of the Year; CPC Trainer of the Year; and CPC Training Organisation of the Year.

The winners in each of these categories will go forward and be in with a chance of becoming the winner of the Supreme Award for 2017.

Nominations are now open and more information on how to enter your nomination in the ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards are available on www.RSA.ie/LeadingLights.

Road deaths down, but cyclist fatalities rise

Overall road deaths are down, but the number of cyclists killed in traffic incidents so far this year has doubled to 10 compared to the same period in 2016, writes Brian Byrne.

The provisional figures for road fatalities for the first half of the year by RSA/Garda indicate a total of 77 deaths, among them 34 drivers of vehicles, 11 passengers and 16 pedestrians. Six motorcyclists have died.

The report projects that a further 78 people could die on Ireland's roads to the end of the year.

Of the 34 drivers killed, 29 were male and five were not wearing a seatbelt. Over half of fatalities happened from Saturday to Monday in 2017 and one third of fatalities occurred between 4pm-8pm.

Continental's tips for holidays with your car

For families planning a holiday with the car, either at home or abroad, Continental Tyres is advising that some simple car checks before heading off, could save a lot of trouble. Here are five simple vehicle safety checks that any driver can do to their car to help keep families safe during the annual migration.

Give the car's interior a clean
The majority of motorists are not particularly careful about keeping their cars very clean  — inside or out. A recent Continental Tyres survey of 2,000 motorists showed that one in five claimed to tidy the inside of their car just once a year, generally when it is facing an NCT or garage visit. However, when you are embarking on a long journey such as heading off on holiday, it is important to have the cabin area of the car clear of the usual clutter that can accumulate. For example, an empty can, bottle or other piece of rubbish rolling under the brake pedal while driving could have very serious consequences.

Check the car's tyres
Quality tyres in good condition can mean the difference between avoiding trouble or having an accident. Continental Tyres recommends regular tyre safety checks to avoid such scenarios. For example the next time you fill up your car with fuel, check your tyres air pressures and inspect the tread depth of all four tyres, not forgetting the spare wheel, if you have one. If there are any bulges or cracks, take your car to a reputable tyre dealer to have them professionally checked. Tyres are your only point of contact with the road, so it is very important to regularly check on the condition of them.

Check the car's windscreen wipers
On holiday, we are all hoping for good weather but sometimes it doesn't always go according to plan, so be ready for some of those sudden, heavy summer downpours. So make sure to check the condition of your car's wiper blades. Lift the front and rear windscreen wipers away from the glass and check that their rubber blade isn't worn down or peeling away from its base. If they are not totally clearing the water, see about replacing them before you set off.

Check the car's lights
Driving with defective lights is both illegal and dangerous for you and for other road users. So take a couple of minutes to ask a family member or friend to walk around your car as you switch on the side lights, the headlights, operate the main beam and then check the indicators and brake lights. And don't forget the fog lamps and reversing lights. If you are travelling to the continent, don't forget to use headlamp converter stickers so that your headlights do not dazzle oncoming traffic.

Check the car's service schedule
Occasionally checking the level of oil in the engine is not enough to keep your car in good health. It should be serviced according to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended service schedule, which can be found in the car's handbook. During its service, important items such as the tyres, brakes, suspension, engine, exhaust, and transmission will all be inspected. And simple items such as the filters will be changed, important when you are embarking on a long drive, perhaps (hopefully!) in warm weather, so you don't want to circulate dirty air in the car or  — even worse  — risk a breakdown because an old fuel filter is clogged with debris.

The number of road accidents actually increases during the summer months as many more people take to the roads for holidays and outdoor activities. So above all, make sure to drive in a careful and courteous manner paying particular attention to more vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Speaking about taking the car on holiday, Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland says: “A motoring holiday is a great way to get away for families. The holiday starts the minute the family sets off and there is none of the hassle of airports, flight delays, air traffic controller strikes or luggage restrictions that have become the bane of summer flying in recent years. And with a small bit of preparation, the driver can ensure that the motoring element of the holiday can go off without a hitch”.

Continental Tyre Group is providing this advice to drivers as part of its Vision Zero strategy, a long-term initiative to reduce accidents through tyre technologies and innovative automotive systems. 

Safety awareness programme to be launched by sports stars

Motorsport Ireland and the Royal Irish Automobile Club is to launch a six-month road safety awareness campaign across Ireland on 17 June under the title #3500LIVES. It will be in partnership with FIA and international advertising agency JCDecaux.

The #3500LIVES campaign will promote ‘10 Golden Rules’ for safe driving on Ireland’s roads during the busy summer period. International sports stars including footballer Antoine Griezmann, tennis legend Rafael Nadal, and Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg have come on board to urge all road users, particularly young males, to adopt the guidelines.

The messages to promote safe driving will be on advertising billboards, street furniture and digital screens in Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Limerick, Waterford and Galway.

The ten rules are

1. Obey the speed limit
2. Use a child safety seat
3. Check your tyres
4. Buckle up
5. Don’t text and drive
6. Never drink and drive
7. Always pay attention
8. Stay bright
9. Wear a helmet
10. Stop when you are tired

Drink driving arrests up

Garda activity against drink-driving resulted in 18pc more arrests for the offence in April of this year compared to the same month last year, according to the Road Safety Authority.

The statement was made at yesterday’s RSA-sponsored Road Safety Conference in Dublin, the theme of which was drink-driving.

The Conference also heard that alcohol was present 30pc of the victims of road traffic fatalities in 2013 and 2014.

More than four in ten of those fatalities also had at least one other drug in their system as well as alcohol.

Meanwhile, a total of 63 people have died on the roads to date in 2016, this is a reduction of 13 up to the same period last year.

Tyre offences enforcement criticised

A criticism of the enforcement of tyre-related offences has been made by Continental Tyres Ireland, writes Brian Byrne.

Following an analysis of the penalty points applied for such offences since they came into force last May, Continental’s Tom Dennigan said the company was ‘very disappointed’ at the ‘extremely low level of enforcement’.

The analysis showed that there were just 853 fixed penalty notices issued for tyre condition offences, compared to 27,755 notices issued in 2016 for mobile phone offences.

“Our own analysis of replacement tyres at tyre depots around the country has shown that vehicles running on dangerous or illegal tyres are extremely common,” Mr Dennigan said. “We would therefore have expected the number of tyre-related penalty point notices to be much higher than the recorded figure.”

That investigation showed that badly worn and damaged tyres uncovered in the analysis included a full range of faults including tread depth worn to below the legal limit of 1.6mm and in some cases, worn right down so that the wire carcass of the tyre can be seen.

Lumps, bulges and holes in tyres again showing the wire ‘carcass’ of the tyre were also found, and uneven wear with one side of the tyre worn down to dangerous levels due to incorrect balancing and tyre tracking.

Pictured is a tyre from a BMW 5 Series in Carlow, showing a dangerously degraded tyre with the wire showing. The driver of this car would be liable for penalty points under the tyre safety penalty points regime.

Puncture on the roadside? Stay safe ...

Motorists should study how to use their tyre inflator kits before they have to use them, writes Brian Byrne.

That’s one of the points in a list of advice to motorists who suffer a puncture while out on the road, from the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA).

Many recent model cars don’t come with a spare wheel, and few owners take the time to read the instructions on the inflator kit until they need it.

The ITIA has launched an initiative to help keep tyre repair personnel safe while working on a roadside puncture.

The Roadside Emergency Action Concerning Tyres (REACT) involves commercial tyre technicians undergoing a specialist training day, on foot of which they are accredited with a REACT card, which the ITIA would like to see become mandatory for roadside fitters.

Meanwhile, the organisation also wants motorists to take their own precautions when faced with a flat on a busy road. “The motorist needs to be always mindful of the vulnerable position they may find themselves in when they experience a flat tyre on a motorway,” says Donal Dempsey, the new Chief Executive of the ITIA.

The advice includes

1. Park as near to the left-hand edge of the hard shoulder as possible. If you cannot do this, warn other drivers by switching on your hazard warning lights

2. If available, use the roadside phone to contact the Garda as this lets them know your exact location. Note many insurance policies now come with a breakdown assistance service.

3. Do not place any warning device such as a triangle on the motorway.

4. Wear a high visibility vest, ideally one with sleeves (always carry one in your car).

5. Do not walk on the motorway. Leave your car through the left-hand door and make sure your passengers do the same. Leave animals in the vehicle or, in an emergency, keep them under control on the verge.

6. Await help on the embankment side of the motorway, well behind any crash barrier.

7. Most new vehicles come with an inflator kit instead of a spare wheel — make sure you know who to use it!

UN Global Road Safety Week is on

What can be done to deal with the speed risk factor is the focus of the fourth UN Global Road Safety Week, which started yesterday, writes Brian Byrne.

In Ireland, the event is being organised on an all-island level, in a joint operation by the Road Safety Authority and the NI Department for Infrastructure.

The endeavour will include visits to communities and schools by the RSA National Road Safety Officers, and spreading the dangers of speed message through social media by the DoI in Northern Ireland.

A total of 54 people have lost their lives on the roads in the Republic of Ireland to date in 2017. This is nine fewer up to the same period in 2016. A total of 19 people have lost their lives on the roads in Northern Ireland to date in 2017. This is the same as up to the same period in 2016 and five fewer than at the same time in 2015.

Nissan prototypes cutoff box for handheld temptation

Nissan has revealed a prototype device to discourage drivers from using their handheld phones while driving, writes Brian Byrne.

The Nissan Safety Shield is an under-armrest compartment which is lined by a Faraday cage-type mesh that blocks electromagnetic fields.

cellular, Bluetooth and wifi connections would be unable to work once the phone is placed in the compartment. That would also mean no notifications or alerts beeping from the phone.

Since 26pc of drivers in the UK in a survey said they still use handhelds to check texts, emails, and social media while driving, so getting into the habit of using a shielded compartment would reduce temptation to answer alerts.

It has been illegal to use handlhelds while driving in the UK for 17 years.

Faraday cages are named after the English scientist Michael Faraday, who invented them in 1836.

Drugs and alcohol checkpoints on busiest weekend

Gardai will be focusing on drugs and drink driving over the May Bank Holiday weekend, writes Brian Byrne, with Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoints being operated across the country.

Gardai have powers to carry out preliminary checks for drugs in the systems of drivers since 13 April, taking oral swabs and doing a roadside test for the presence of cannabis, cocaine, opiates such as heroin and morphine, and benzodiazepines like Valium.

Over the last five years, 14 people have died in May Bank Holiday collisions.

Meanwhile, AA Ireland is anticipating having to deal with up to 300 breakdowns a day over what is one of the busiest weekends of the year on Irish roads. That’s 50pc more than on a normal weekend.

The organisation urges motorists to take a good look around their car before setting out on a long journey, to spot defects which can be easily fixed before driving.

AA Ireland also asks motorists to be on the lookout for vulnerable roads users such as cyclists, and for other motorists who may not be familiar with the area they’re driving in.

X-Rays for crash testing being devised

Monitoring of crash tests using high-speed X-Rays is being trialled by the Vehicle Safety unit at Daimler AG, makers of Mercedes-Benz cars, writes Brian Byrne.

The initiative allows for very close examination of the interiors of components as they deform in crashes. The information gained will also be used to improve computer simulation of crash tests.

It is in association with partners Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI from Freiburg from the i-protect Tech Center established last year by a number of partners, including the University of Stuttgart.

The group is also examining how occupant restraint systems will have to be evolved as more automated driving develops and more sophisticated monitoring of occupants in such an environment.

Roadside Drugs Testing now in Ireland

Motorists in Ireland can now be tested at the roadside for the presence of drugs in their system which would influence their driving, writes Brian Byrne.

Transport minister Shane Ross TD has signed the drug driving provisions of the Road Traffic Act 2016.

New testing devices on the roadside and in Garda stations can check for the presence of cannabis, cocaine, opiates such as heroin and morphine, and benzodiazepines like valium.

Of 3,020 specimens of blood and urine that were received in 2016 by the Medical Bureau for Road Safety, 24pc confirmed positive for drugs other than alcohol. Of these, 91pc were specimens from male drivers, most of whom were in the 17-44 year age range.

Cannabis was the most prevalent drug detected, followed by benzodiazepines.

Preliminary Drug Testing will be carried out by An Garda Síochána using the Dräger DrugTest® 5000, an easy to use mobile drug screening system that uses oral fluid to test for some of the most commonly abused drugs.

A media campaign will include videos which demonstrate how the drug tests will be administered on the road side and the consequences should a driver be detected driving under the influence of drugs. The awareness campaign will run on social media, radio and digital platforms.

A third of dead drivers in 2014 'had consumed alcohol'

More than three in ten people killed in road traffic incidents in 2014 had consumed alcohol, writes Brian Byrne.

According to a new report issued by the Road Safety Authority today, a third of car drivers and motorcycle riders killed in crashes had alcohol in their system. And 96pc of them were male, with a median age of 38 years.

Four in ten motorcycle fatalities were alcohol-positive, while 28pc of pedestrians were.

The average alcohol level for deceased car drivers was 192mg, and for motorcyclists killed it was 104mg, against a national 50mg limit.

There were 193 road fatalities recorded by the RSA in 2014.

Meanwhile, the RSA also says there has been a 17pc increase in arrests for driving under the influence so far in 2017, compared to the same period last year.

Don’t get the ‘killer look’, ladies

Ladies, seatbelts don’t work if you wear them under your arm instead of over the shoulder, writes Trish Whelan.

Right, that sounds like common sense. Except that too many of our gender seem to toss that out the window of the car when they buckle up. For reasons as insane as not wanting to upset their tan or crease their clothing.

Truth is, you’re likely to suffer horrific injuries if you’re in a crash with your belt this way. Placing the shoulder strap of the seatbelt under their arm leaves your upper torso — including your neck, face and head - completely unrestrained during a collision.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has launched a new digital road safety campaign focusing on the misuse of seatbelts by women. The campaign is entitled ‘Don't get this season’s killer look’.

A study of 300 women aged 17 to 34, undertaken in 2016 on behalf of the RSA, found that some 28pc admitted to misusing a seatbelt by wearing it under the arm, rising to 35pc among younger women. The study also found that 53pc of those interviewed said that their friends wore the seatbelt in this way.

The main reasons cited for wearing the seatbelt under the arm were to relieve neck tension and for general comfort. However, 9pc said it was to protect their tan and 7pc said it was to protect clothing.

The belt should be worn diagonally across the wearer’s chest on their shoulder and never under the arm. If it feels uncomfortable, adjust the height of the belt on the anchor point on the door frame, or adjust the seat position and height. Most importantly of all, avoid getting ‘This season’s killer look’ because you didn’t wear your seatbelt properly.

The RSA sought the input of Gerry Lane, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Letterkenny General Hospital in Donegal, in developing the campaign.

The campaign, will also be promoted on the RSA social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram with the campaign’s official hashtag #KillerLook.

While seatbelt compliance is consistently very strong among young females, it’s not universal. For instance, 23pc don’t always wear a seat belt as a rear passenger.

Injuries to body following improper seatbelt use:
Head: Collision with windscreen can result in severe facial scarring, and in some cases blindness. Brain injury, neck spinal injury.

Mouth: Impact with the steering column or dashboard of a vehicle can cause severe damage to teeth, leading to victims needing extensive dental repair. May knock teeth down throat, shatter jaw, block airway.

Neck:  Being thrown violently forward in a collision can cause serious injury to the neck and head, and may require surgical repair. May result in paralysis and/or partial or total paralysis.

Torso: Spinal damage caused by impact requires the wearing of a full-body cast (not always, only in "minor cases"), and may result in partial or total paralysis, life changing injuries. 

Abdomen: Internal lacerations caused by improper seatbelt use can require extensive surgical repair, and may involve the victim requiring a colostomy bag for life.

Arm: Extreme fractures may need to be surgically repaired with metal rods and pins. 
 

Leg: Extreme fractures may need to be surgically repaired with metal rods and pins.

Now, can we get back to common sense instead of vanity?

Be Safe, Be Seen, on shortest day of the year ... and every day

Tomorrow, 21 December, is the annual ‘National Be Safe Be Seen Day’ organised by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and ESB Networks. It’s the shortest and darkest day of the year.

With fewer hours of daylight and deteriorating weather conditions during the winter months, the Day aims to remind all road-users how important it is to be seen by wearing high visibility material when out walking, cycling or motorcycling, and to use dipped headlights when driving.

To date this year, 182 people have died on Irish roads, 32 more than this time last year. Vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, accounted for over a third of these deaths, with 34 pedestrians, 10 cyclists and 20 motorcyclists having died on Irish roads so far this year.

Road Safety Awards presented

A Donegal-based road safety programme aimed at rehabilitating dangerous drivers has won the National Supreme Award at this year’s Road Safety Authority (RSA) ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards.

Run by Gary Doggett and supported by Judge Paul Kelly and Garda Inspector Michael Harrison, the Pro-Social Drivers Programme is a driver rehabilitation programme which was established in 2012 to address the high instances of anti-social driving in Co Donegal.

The programme consists of four modules — Emotional Control, Social Responsibility, Driving Under the Influence and Consequences. Referrals to the programme come from the Courts Service, the probation service, solicitors, concerned parents and individuals who recognise the need for training in this area. To date, 18 programmes have been completed with a total of 180 participants.

A total of 37 individuals and organisations were honoured for their commitment and dedication to road safety at the ninth annual ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards which were presented by RSA Chairperson Liz O’Donnell and RSA Chief Executive Moyagh Murdock in Farmleigh today.

Awards were presented in categories including media, education, business, emergency services and public sector.

Main Awards
Business – Sixt Rent a Car, Dublin; Education (Community) – Pro Social Drivers Programme, Co Donegal; Education (Pre-School) – Kilcloon Preschool, Co Meath; Education (Primary) – St Benin's Girls National School, Duleek; Education (Secondary) – Take Care Be Internationally Aware, Coláiste Treasa Secondary School, Cork;  Education (Third Level) – University of Limerick – Smarter Travel; Education (Special) – Sophie's Journey Foundation; Emergency Services –  Community Policing Unit, Roxboro Road Garda Station, Co Limerick; Local Media – Give Your Phone the Boot - South East Radio;  National Media – RTÉ Documentary on One, We Decide Who Lives or Dies; Road Safety Ambassador – Gillian & Ronan Treacy;  Road Safety Officer – Declan Keogh, Kildare County Council; Public Sector – Cork City Fire Department; CPC Training Organisation of the Year – Flexibus, Co Meath; CPC Trainer of the Year – Jerry Meredith, Ice Training Solutions, Dublin; Judges Award in Technology and Innovation in Road Safety – Andrew Irwin, Drive Safe App' Approved Driving Instructor (Car) – James Malone; Approved Driving Instructor (Bus) – Joseph Lally; and Approved Driving Instructor (Motorcycle) – Brian Mc Gonagle.

Special Recognition Awards
Forbes Vigors, Transport Infrastructure Ireland; Learn Early Montessori Academy and Crèche; James Jones; The DRIVE Programme, Southill Outreach; Dr Ashraf Butt, Cavan & Monaghan Hospital; Inspector Edmund Golden; Michael Reade Show, LMFM Radio; Shaun Doherty Show, Highland Radio; Clodagh White; Fiona Brennan; and Live to Play, Ulster GAA.

Crashed Lives Awards
Christy Kelly; Gary Finlay; Patrice O'Connell; Emmet & Ciarán O'Mahony; Sgt Dave Lynam; Laois Fire & Rescue; and Mary Joyce.

Light up for daytime safety

Owners of older vehicles, not fitted with daytime running lights, are being urged to leave their dipped headlights on during daytime, writes Brian Byrne.

This advice is triggered by Continental Tyres Ireland, noting that the shortest day of the year is approaching on 21 December.

"A lot of newer cars come with day-time running lights as standard," says Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland. "This means they have lights on once the engine is running even during daylight time. This is a huge boost to road safety as the old adage for pedestrian safety: 'Be safe, be seen'! is equally true for motorists and other road-users.

"However, there is a significant amount of older vehicles on our roads and many of these cars and vans do not have daytime running lights, so for the drivers of those vehicles our advice is to drive with dipped headlights all day long.  If motorists take this small step of always driving with their lights on, day and night, we believe it would be a great improvement for road safety this Christmas and into the New Year."

Three top performers in EuroNCAP tests

Three cars achieved a 5-star rating in the last round of Euro ENCAP crash tests for 2016, writes Brian Byrne.

They are the Ford Edge, the Audi Q2 and the Hyundai Ioniq, each of which achieved the maximum score with standard equipment.

The SsangYong Tivoli (below) and its longer sibling the XLV each received a base 3-star rating with standard equipment, and four stars when tested with their optional safety pack.

Suzuki’s new Ignis was awarded a 3-star rating when tested with its standard equipment and reached a 5-star rating when tested with a safety pack.

The dual rating scheme helps small manufacturers where price positioning doesn’t allow for advanced technologies to be standard equipment.

(All photos © Euro NCAP.)