Minimising & Preventing Teenage Road Deaths
The New Zealand Road Safety 'Speed-Limiter' Organisation completely endorses the issues presented.
Parents of teenage drivers should note; that as a remedy for reducing and preventing unnecessary fatalities, of teenagers in particular, there is unlikely to be a more (cost) effective initiative than legislation that limits the top-speeds of modern vehicles. Refer: Modern Speed-limiters.
Parents looking for answers to teenage drivers' vulnerability - to (use) excessive speeds - can find a good deal of the risk management details, at this website. For example, one Australian private sector authority, to its credit, has called for a 120km/h limit-- to help reduce fatalities. Parents of vulnerable teenage drivers ought be aware though, that the organisation in question does not provide the detail/s, pertaining to implementation, that we do; and that could enable/help "parents" to place significant pressure on government - to enact ESL legislation accordingly. Parents of 'at-risk' teenage drivers may like to lobby organisations such as www.Safe_Speeds_For_Teens... > using some of the information on this website.
It ought be of pertinent interest to all affected parents and teenage drivers that if you do a google search for headings such as "reducing excesive speeds for teenage drivers" you can find as many as 40 (fourty) websites containg a plethora of information and stats on excesive speed.
However, very few of these give any mention of the availability of ESL functions!
Advice for the parents grieving teenager's road fatality:
Parents of Teenage drivers could help to change some of the anachronistic attitude to top-speed limiting... < Teen-driver-hit-100mp/h... >.
I.e. Psychological Aspect: The male tendency to competitiveness to demonstrate self-worth via anthropomorphic association with a motor vehicle at speed, is demonstrated through reckless manoeuvres on open highways and in advertising to attract buyers to certain brands and models.
Are everyday road users being put at risk through a collusion between manufacturers and marketers - simply for the sake of profit? - and (by consequence) the ego-vulnerability of teenage drivers...
It is notable that Sweden has gone past the 'research' stage (for all-zone speed limiting...) and is now in the initial "deployment" phase. Refer to: < www.deployment/of/ISA_.../fleet/vehicles- >
It is encouraging to see some positive progress being made by FORD also; in regard to their 'MY_KEY' initiative -that can be programmed by parents, to limit the top speed of the vehicle.
see: www.MY_Key/limit/top/speed... > ...Its a pity however, that Ford didn't instigate this type of safety function back in (say) 1993 - when the technology, regarding top-speed restriction, became available. It could also be targeted for all age groups, not just teenagers.
Intriguingly though, if you carefully watch the video that goes with the MY Key advertisement, you will see the driver use the grossly incompetent "in-side-out-grip" when turning the steering wheel.
This method, of steering wheel manipulation, is seriously frowned upon by most driver educators the world over [that is; those who are not as un-coordinated as Mark Sainsbury]. It may seem trivial to some, but any research into organizations (driving schools worth their merit) that teach improved (proper and safe) skills, will show they have a lot to say about why this "in-side-out" grip is considered un-ergonomic and gives poor car control.
Refer: www.BMW/driving/school/nz/->< www.Bob/Bondurant/Police/training/... >and many others with similar competency regarding the important skill of correct steering-wheel operation.
Are some parents pathetically ill-informed...
Although the technology to electronically limit the maximum speed of the vehicle has been available in each vehicle since the 1990s there has (through the 90s especially!) been very little advocacy of its existence - as regards information to parents who have lost a teenage son or daughter. It has virtually been like a commercial 'secret' - "Don't tell them and they won't aslk for it" - with no regard for the losses suffered by these countless grieving families!
The advice for parents & families grieving a teenage road death through excessive speed is therefore straightforward- use the information on this website.
See-examples of losses: Families Cry out - <www.170km/h_car/into/tree... > ...Familys' grieve < www._Four/Teens/Die/- >... -<Indiana's-teenage-road-trauma...-A/Parents/-Worst/Nightmare...> <-Waihi-Teens-killed/crash-site-resembles-war/zone... > < Teen-driver-hit-170km/h...-fatal... > <-...Five-teens-killed-... >.
Intransigent Ignorance:- In terms of New Zealand families that have lost a loved one, it may be intrigueing to consider some further indication of the intransigent ignorance surrounding the issue:
In a letter to High schools, published on the NZTA-Safer-Journeys for Teen Drivers- website, education manager Jennie Gianotti writes; "Dear Principal, All too often Principals like you have to stand up in front of the school and announce a fatal car crash. We want to help you keep your students safe and make them responsible drivers. Car crashes are the greatest risk to their wellbeing.
www.safeteendriver.co.nz > (developed by NZ Transport Agency) is a new, free educational resource for parents and caregivers. It has been developed in collaboration with a parent/teen relationship psychologist and expert driving psychology.
All we ask is that you let the parents of students in years 10 to 13 know about it. ...You could use the draft letter provided... Feel free to ..... .....etc .... ...Parents and caregivers can still be a positive influence on their teenager. So, whenever you can, please encourage them to stay involved untill their teen's Full Licence is safely in hand.
This is important because many parents let go when their teen gets their Restricted Licence. But this is the time young drivers are much more likely to be involved in serious or fatal crashes.
Thank you for your time. Please contact us if you have any comments or ideas".
Yours faithfully, . . . Jennie Gianotti.
Critique: Although there are some very good points made about the importance of parents 'staying in touch with teens during their vulnerable stages' of Restricted Licence, it is a pity that since the letter was posted on line, many New Zealand teens have been killed in crashes primaraly resulting from the vehicle/s reaching excesive top-speeds.
If Jennie Gianotti was properly informed on availible remedies, she would know about, and be advocating for, the immediate application of top-speed limiter functions to be sensibly regulated!!
Australin College of Surgeons comment??... On the 9 May 2007 Associate Professor Rob Atkinson from Royal Australian College of Surgeons was being intervied on Radio about concerns he had for the future of Teen crash prevention etc. He told host Bill Ralston that the driving age in NBew Zealand was too low and that by raising it, the poor statistics for drivers aged 15 to 20 could be greatly improved. A significant point he wanted to stress was that raising the age would provide "vulnerable" teenage drivers with "LEGISLATION" that would enable them to drive within their limits.
Meaning that the raise in age would (somehow) reduce their risk of being influenced by adverse peer pressure also.
However; when he was made aware that another effective way to provide these Vulnerable teen drivers with protective "legislation" would be to impliment legislation to have all vehicles on public roads speed limited to a sensible top-speed, he ignored the suggestion, why?
NB: website that advertises "apps/..." for controlling top speed: < http://www.injuryclaimcoach.com/road-safety-apps.html >
Further information & content pending . . .