We would like to share an email received from a visitor to the Arrive Alive road safety website:
“I am glad to inform that La PRI ( www.lapri.info) , a fifty year old international road safety organisation has discussed my simple suggestions during their General Meeting held at Bucharest, Romaina on 22-Oct-2010, and accepted the suggestions for implementation.
See below the five numbers of simple, zero cost and easily implementable road safety suggestions capable of thousands of lives each year.
( Some of the points may not be valid in developed countries. Poor road / traffic conditions , poor law enforcement in under developed / developing countries should be kep in mn\ind while evaluating the suggestions. The suggestions are capable of saving thousand of lives, each year. )
Simple suggestion No. 1 : Use bright color for containers.
The color of most of the Containers is very dull. Hence container carriers are likely to cause crash when parked near road side, especially under low light conditions. This point has more relevance in India, under developed / developing nations where law enforcement, parking and lighting conditions are poor compared to developed nations. Yellow or bright color should be promoted for containers, internationally.
Simple suggestion No. 2 : TV Commercials involving dangerous driving / riding should be banned.
Advertisements by automobile companies which include scenes of dangerous and risky riding or driving should be banned. Youngsters are likely to imitate the same. Small kids watching such advertisements may decide “I will also do like this when I grow up” and they will do this for sure when they grow up. Statutory warnings will not help. It may be noted that small kids cannot read such warning. Such advertisements will result in irreparable character formation regarding riding and driving in kids and children. Such children may cause accidents in future.
Following link is an excellent example of such ads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caOInhi5e8c
Simple suggestion No.3 : Black vehicles should be discouraged.
Black vehicles are more likely to be involved in accidents because of its low visibility. According to the Vehicle Color Study by Monash University Accident Research Centre of Melbourne, black cars are less visible and are 12 % more likely to be involved in an accident. Black vehicles consume more fuel also to maintain the air conditioner cooling, as black color absorbs more heat from atmosphere.
Hence black vehicles, especially cars and motor cycles should be discouraged by educating people about the higher crash risk and higher fuel consumption. If future production of black vehicle can be banned, well and good.
By discouraging black vehicle we can save lives, save fuel, reduce carbon emission. Even if the fuel saving is as low as a single drop per kilometer, the total fuel savings for the globe is going to be enormous.
Simple suggestion No.4 : Use bright colored uniform for school children.
Next point is also more relevant in under developed nations. Bright colored dresses should be promoted for Children. Dark and dull colors should not be the prominent shade of school uniforms. All schools should be asked to change to bright colored uniform as early as possible. This should be implemented slowly with a notice of one or two years, without causing any financial burden for the parents. Public also should be educated not to use dark shades for dresses. Individuals from developed countries may find these ideas ridiculous, but I am sure that such simple ideas will help to save many lives without any additional cost.
Simple suggestion No. 5 : Black color should not be used for cycles also.
Black color should not be permitted for Cycles also. Black colored cycles are more likely to be involved in accidents, when used under low light conditions or when used by immature children. Drunkard, careless, safety unaware cyclists who enter the main road suddenly can cause accidents. Some of these accidents could be averted, if the color of the cycle were yellow or other easily visible shade. Default color for Cycles should be changed to Yellow. Public should be educated about this point. Automobile and cycle manufacturers should be asked to stop producing black and dark vehicles. Yellow or other bright colored vehicles should be produced instead.
Please bring the points to the attention of authorities in your area / country.
Thanks for your precious time.
Please make use of the suggestion to achieve the goals set in DECADE OF ACTION.
Hope to hear from you.
Kind Regards
C.J.Johnson,
Cherupunathil House,
Asoka Road,
Kaloor, Cochin 682017,
Kerala, INDIA.”