The Best Solution for Safer Roads

With all the talk of speed cameras to reduce road deaths, wider roads to alleviate traffic congestion and bloated, massively complicated cars to improve collision safety, I think it's really disappointing for the government chooses to say or do nothing about dramatically improving triver training, and social attitudes toward driving.

If people could be made to understand just how important it is to drive with consideration for other road users, proper lane discipline, and a heightened sense overall awareness of what's going on around them while they're driving, I think a huge number of the safety, traffic and anti-social driving issues would disappear from our roads entirely. In my mind there's no better solution for these problems than instilling new drivers with proper driving techniques.

Is it that the Transport Ministry doesn't think better training will work, or that it simply isn't a money spinner?

Driving - The best thing you can do with your clothes on

This is my first ever blog, and it feels niiiiice.

I really enjoy driving. So much so that I've created a web site all about it at http://www.raadius.co.uk . For someone who loves twisty roads and swapping gears and throttle-adjustable steering, I don't get to go out and enjoy it as much as I should. When I do go out though, I try and learn as much as I can about my driving, my car, and how I can get better at it.

For me, driving isn't about a lot of power (not that that's a bad thing) but about how you use your skill. It's about how you use the steering, throttle, brakes and most importantly, your ability to read what's happening though your hands and under you bum to get the most performance out of the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension and tires.

What I drive isn't as important as how I drive it, and how it interfaces with the driver. I think a front-wheel-drive, 1600cc Ford Focus (UK spec) is far more entertaining and engaging than a brand-new Jaguar X-Type with a V6 and four-wheel-drive, simply because of the way the Focus's controls make you feel so connected to the chassis when your really pushing it.

For me, driving is also about being aware, courteous, and focused. I really like to push hard, but not when other people might be at risk because of what I'm doing. I believe if people who love their driving can move through traffic smoothly, without being intimidating, unpredictable or reckless, it gives law enforcement and over-zealous safety campaigners that much less of an excuse to give us a hard time over our enthusiasm. If we want to drive swiftly, that should be our business, but not when it puts other people's lives or porperty at risk.

I'm all about learning new things about driving (techniques, information, resources), and listening to or sharing points of view. If any drivers have anything to say on the topic, I'd love to read about it.

Driving Issues

This is the first posting so I am using it as a test.