In light of the above statistics, it is clear that drastic action needs to be taken to improve road safety. In Health & Safety law, it is generally recognised that the key to a safe workplace is to manage the risks associated with human error, such as lapses in judgement or mistakes. Human error very often contributes to incidents in the workplace, and so the focus for employers is how to mitigate this. The same principles apply on our roads, with human error being the cause of the majority of road deaths and injuries. One way to effectively mitigate the risk of human error is to put technology in place which prevents these errors from occurring.
What is Life-Saving Technology?
Life-Saving Technology includes, but is not limited to, the following vehicle features: -
- Intelligent Speed Assistance - to alert drivers when they are exceeding the speed limit and automatically adjusting speed to stay within the limit.
- Advanced Emergency Braking - which can automatically brake a vehicle to avoid or reduce the impact of a collision.
- Evasive Steering Assist - to help avoid collisions by providing steering support when a driver initiates an evasive manoeuvre.
- Tiredness Detection - which monitors drivers' behaviour to detect when they are becoming tired.
- Cushioned bonnets - which is a safety feature that causes the bonnet to rise up in the event of a collision with a pedestrian.
These measures, if adopted, can help to prevent avoidable crashes and safeguard lives.
The Campaign
On the basis that advanced vehicle technology would likely significantly reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our roads. Brake, the road safety charity, is campaigning for this technology to be mandated for all new vehicles in the UK, in line with the position in Europe.
In July 2022, the European Union introduced Vehicle General Safety Regulations which provide for a range of mandatory driver assistance systems. These systems have improved road safety, offering better protection for passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists across the EU. If this regulation were fully applied in the UK, it is estimated that it could potentially prevent more than 1,700 deaths and 15,000 serious injuries over 16 years. This in turn would save healthcare providers up to £7 billion in health costs.
Of note, research by Brake in 2023 concluded that 41% of drivers had turned off safety features in their cars, such as lane-keeping assistance and reversing cameras or sensors. This highlights that any changes to the law will also need to be reinforced by public awareness campaigns promoting the benefits of this technology.
Given the alarming road death and injury statistics, Brake is campaigning for change in the UK. More than 50 organisations and individuals, including AXA UK, AA, RAC, Honda, and the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, are behind Brake's campaign urging the Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh MP, to prioritise vehicle safety. There is huge potential that if they were successful in changing the law, whilst there may not be an immediate impact, over time road safety should vastly improve.
MFMac is proud to be a member of Brake's Scottish legal panel. If you or a loved one are involved in a road traffic collision, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation to recover your losses and assist with your recovery. Our experienced team will take the time to assess your claim and help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us today on 0131 247 1000 for a free, confidential chat.
