Weelz News

Some safety campaigners want them removed

Every year over 3,400 people are killed on the UK's roads. That's an average of almost 10 per day

Understandably the relatives of the victims regularly create roadside shrines in memory of their loved ones

Some of these shrines are tended to and added to for months or years afterwar the fatal collision

One little boy in Newcastle had a roadside shrine created in his honour, and the shrine was attended to for the 2 years following his tragic death

"It was nice to know that people were thinking of us. It was nice to know that he was a popular little boy

"It was nice that people were remembering him this way - and that other drivers know an accident's happened

If people took notice of the speed and the way they were driving, they'd be no need need for these shrines"

But do these roadside shrines make drivers safer on the roads, or do they just create another distraction that could cause another death nearby?

Recent polls have shown that many drivers do slow down . . . but is this always for the right reason?

"I only slow down because I can't see exactly what's going on. I never really slow down because I think the area is dangerous" said one driver near to a roadside shrine in Sheffield

Here are just some of the facts about traffic collisions:

• Every year over 3,400 people are killed on our roads
• In 2003 there were 171 children killed on the UK roads
• We have a 1 in 200 chance of dying on the roads
• We are more likely to be killed while crossing a road than in a plane crash
• Half the people who die on the road are in cars
• Men are three times more likely to be killed on the roads than women

Source: BRAKE

One Local Authority in the North of England is considering allowing permanent memorials at the roadside to allow families to remember their loved ones

Not everyone agrees that this is a good idea, not even some of the families of the victims

One mother said " I don't think that this would be a good idea. The site would be open to vandalism and I don't believe that it slows drivers down anyway"

So, what do you think?

Do you think that these roadside shrines should be allowed? or do you think that they should be made a permanant roadside feature? Or you may think that they should never be there in the first place?

Let us know your comments using the form below, and if you want to please feel free to take part in our on-line poll

Road deaths and injuries - cause for concern

There are more people killed in road accidents than through any other cause, except old age or illness. This trend is likely to continue and could get even worse as the number of cars on the road grows

Every single year, over 3,000 people are killed and 260,000 are injured on UK roads. The Police refer to the figure of "KSI's", which refers to the numbers Killed or Seriously Injured

A serving Police Traffic Sergeant in West Yorkshire recently told Weelz

"The numbers of KSI's are increasing year on year. We don't even refer to accidents as 'accidents' anymore . . . the new guidlines are to refer to them as 'collisions'

The word 'accident' tends to give people a comfort zone that the circumstances in which someone died were totally unavoidable

About to take your test? Breathe a sigh of relief!

New drivers are not going to have any restrictions on their licences after
passing the driving test following a government decision to reject evidence that imposing limits for the first year would save lives

Calls from road safety groups and the Commons
Transport Select Committee for a lower alcohol limit for novice drivers, and a ban on them carrying young passengers late at night, have also been disregarded

Instead, the new consultation paper will propose that professional instruction for learner
drivers should be mandatory, and that they should prove that they have acquired key skills before taking the practical test

But just what are the details?

The government and the DSA have recently announced 'sweeping changes' to the driving test for learner drivers

Ministers are adamant that the numbers of deaths on the roads caused by newly qualified drivers must be reduced

At present, those who passed their driving test in the previous 12 months account for a very high percentage of those killed or seriously injured on UK roads

Higher fuel costs could mean higher lesson costs . . .

Average petrol prices are expected to reach more than £1.12 per litre next month as suppliers pass on the costs of global oil price rises

The AA have published that the cost of filling a 50-litre petrol tank yesterday was £54.44, up £7.82 on a year ago for the same vehicle
Diesel, which was £1.19p yesterday, could rise to £1.23p soon

Check with the DSA, but turn up for your test

The Driving Standards Agency is urging test candidates booked to take a test on Thursday 24 April to turn up, regardless of the threat of strike action by examiners

Driving Standards Agency’s Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said:

Many local authorities across the UK have introduced DSA driving test for anyone who wants to become a professional taxi driver

Welcome to the brand new and completely redesigned Weelz Driving School web site

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