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Reducing the chance of being in a road traffic accident (RTA)

At Your Cover, our primary interest is in giving you complete control over your car insurance, so that the cover you have is perfectly matched to the way you and your family use your car.

Like any responsible organisation within the motor industry, Your Cover also cares about making our roads safer places for everyone, whether they are using them as drivers or as pedestrians.

Your Cover is underwritten by Allianz Insurance plc, which is a part of the global Allianz Group who deal with the aftermath of a large number of road traffic accidents (RTAs), and come into daily contact with people whose lives have been changed dramatically as a consequence.

How many people are involved in accidents each year?	Around 230,000 people were hurt on the roads in 2008, the most recent year for which authoritative figures are available. Encouragingly, about 88% suffered only minor injuries and whilst this may well have left the victims shaken up, they would have recovered fully within a few days. Sadly, around 1% were killed, but the number this represents was, at least, down 14% on the previous year. Overall, the figures are improving, with total injuries to drivers, motor cyclists, cyclists and pedestrians down 7% on the previous year.

How many people are involved in accidents each year?

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Around 230,000 people were hurt on the roads in 2008, the most recent year for which authoritative figures are available. Encouragingly, about 88% suffered only minor injuries and whilst this may well have left the victims shaken up, they would have recovered fully within a few days. Sadly, around 1% were killed, but the number this represents was, at least, down 14% on the previous year.

Overall, the figures are improving, with total injuries to drivers, motor cyclists, cyclists and pedestrians down 7% on the previous year.

Road traffic accidents. The causes and how to avoid them	The principal causes of road traffic accidents on our roads are: Alcohol 6% of all road casualties in 2008 involved a driver who was over the legal limit for alcohol in the bloodstream. Yet these same incidents accounted for 17% of all fatalities. You are permitted by law to drive with no more than 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of your blood. This is sometimes quoted as being equal to about two pints of ordinary strength beer for an average weight man. However, it is impossible for anyone to predict accurately how much of the drink in their hand they could drink before being over the limit. Even if you are technically below the 80mg/100ml concentration, you can still be charged with driving or attempting to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, and a level close to 80mg is very likely to be counted as an aggravating factor by the Court if charges are brought against you for causing an accident. The wisest course of action is to avoid drinking completely when you’re driving. Leave your car at home if you are going to pubs, restaurants or parties. The cost of taking a cab in both directions, if you cannot make use of public transport, is tiny compared to the expense, remorse and difficulties that can be caused by a drink-related road traffic accident. If you will be driving home from a situation in which you would normally drink, it’s a good idea to teach yourself to ask for a soft drink with sufficient conviction to overcome objections from friends. Many people find it easier to have a drink-free evening, than to stop after one. Do not encourage friends or relatives, whom you know to be driving, to drink. Do not agree to be a passenger in a car being driven by someone you even suspect has been drinking. Poor observation, reaction or control by a driver Over one third of all road traffic accidents in 2008 had failure to look properly as a contributing factor. Driver error or reactions accounted for four of the five most frequently reported causes of road traffic accidents, and nearly a third of all fatal accidents involved some kind of loss of control by the driver. Driving is a complex mental and physical process. You must be able to concentrate and stay alert. If you are tired, or feel yourself becoming tired, open your window, and pull over at the first opportunity. Even a short nap can revive you so you can set off again safely. Using a mobile phone while you are driving, even with a hands-free kit, distracts you both mentally and physically. The subject of the conversation will often continue to distract you even after the call ends. If you must have your hands-free phone on while driving, avoid initiating calls, and end incoming calls as swiftly as possible. Call back once you arrive safely at your destination. Set music players and radios at the start of your journey, and avoid fumbling with controls while you drive. Remember, it is an offence to use a handheld phone whilst driving. Do not eat or drink while you drive. If your journey overlaps meal or break times, leave early enough to be able to stop and eat either in a service station, or, if you wish to eat in your vehicle, while parked up. Speed 14% of all accidents involved cars driving either above the speed limit, or too fast for the road or weather conditions. Shockingly, excessive speed played a part in 25% of all fatal accidents. Familarise yourself with speed limits in the areas in which you drive regularly. A surprising number of motorists simply do not know what speed they are allowed to drive at. Cars in street lit areas 30mph with caravan/trailer 30mph Cars on single carriageways 60mph with caravan/trailer 50mph Cars on dual carriageways 60mph with caravan/trailer 60mph Cars on motorways 70mph with caravan/trailer 60mph Keep alert for local signs advising you of restriction to the speed limit because of roadworks or other topical situations. Make proper allowance for wet, icy or other hazardous road conditions that mean your car takes longer to brake. Leave enough time for your journey do not put pressure on yourself to push the speed limit unnecessarily.

Road traffic accidents. The causes and how to avoid them

The principal causes of road traffic accidents on our roads are:

Alcohol

6% of all road casualties in 2008 involved a driver who was over the legal limit for alcohol in the bloodstream. Yet these same incidents accounted for 17% of all fatalities.

You are permitted by law to drive with no more than 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of your blood. This is sometimes quoted as being equal to about two pints of ordinary strength beer for an average weight man. However, it is impossible for anyone to predict accurately how much of the drink in their hand they could drink before being over the limit.

Even if you are technically below the 80mg/100ml concentration, you can still be charged with driving or attempting to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, and a level close to 80mg is very likely to be counted as an aggravating factor by the Court if charges are brought against you for causing an accident.

The wisest course of action is to avoid drinking completely when you’re driving. Leave your car at home if you are going to pubs, restaurants or parties. The cost of taking a cab in both directions, if you cannot make use of public transport, is tiny compared to the expense, remorse and difficulties that can be caused by a drink-related road traffic accident.

If you will be driving home from a situation in which you would normally drink, it’s a good idea to teach yourself to ask for a soft drink with sufficient conviction to overcome objections from friends. Many people find it easier to have a drink-free evening, than to stop after one.

Do not encourage friends or relatives, whom you know to be driving, to drink. Do not agree to be a passenger in a car being driven by someone you even suspect has been drinking.

Poor observation, reaction or control by a driver

Over one third of all road traffic accidents in 2008 had failure to look properly as a contributing factor. Driver error or reactions accounted for four of the five most frequently reported causes of road traffic accidents, and nearly a third of all fatal accidents involved some kind of loss of control by the driver.

Driving is a complex mental and physical process. You must be able to concentrate and stay alert. If you are tired, or feel yourself becoming tired, open your window, and pull over at the first opportunity. Even a short nap can revive you so you can set off again safely.

Using a mobile phone while you are driving, even with a hands-free kit, distracts you both mentally and physically. The subject of the conversation will often continue to distract you even after the call ends. If you must have your hands-free phone on while driving, avoid initiating calls, and end incoming calls as swiftly as possible. Call back once you arrive safely at your destination. Set music players and radios at the start of your journey, and avoid fumbling with controls while you drive. Remember, it is an offence to use a handheld phone whilst driving.

Do not eat or drink while you drive. If your journey overlaps meal or break times, leave early enough to be able to stop and eat either in a service station, or, if you wish to eat in your vehicle, while parked up.

Speed

14% of all accidents involved cars driving either above the speed limit, or too fast for the road or weather conditions. Shockingly, excessive speed played a part in 25% of all fatal accidents.

Familarise yourself with speed limits in the areas in which you drive regularly. A surprising number of motorists simply do not know what speed they are allowed to drive at.

Cars in street lit areas 30mph

with caravan/trailer 30mph

Cars on single carriageways 60mph

with caravan/trailer 50mph

Cars on dual carriageways 60mph

with caravan/trailer 60mph

Cars on motorways 70mph

with caravan/trailer 60mph

Keep alert for local signs advising you of restriction to the speed limit because of roadworks or other topical situations.

Make proper allowance for wet, icy or other hazardous road conditions that mean your car takes longer to brake.

Leave enough time for your journey do not put pressure on yourself to push the speed limit unnecessarily.

Terms and conditions contained in the policy documentation apply. Download the policy documentation here.

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General items to keep in your car at all times:

Notepad and pen

First aid kit

Mobile phone charger

Torch

Tow-rope

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Reducing the chance of being in a road traffic accident (RTA)

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