Drivers list their own safety ideas

FED up with increasingly repressive road safety measures, a drivers’ group has come up with its own list of ideas to save lives on the roads – and say that the moves could avoid nearly 2,000 deaths.

The group 40 Millions d'Automobilistes collected the ideas from a survey of more than 5,000 road-users from Corsica to Calais and through suggestions on its website Raconte Moi ta Route.

Its estimate of the number of lives saved echoes that of Interior Minister Manuel Valls who said 2,000 lives could be saved through reducing the national speed limit from 90kph to 80kph.

Split into five sectors, the list aims to reduce the main causes of road deaths, improve security on roads, protect the most vulnerable road users, improve driver training and end the present reliance on sanctions to improve drivers’ behaviour.

It includes tougher drink-driving controls, rumble-strips on motorways and main roads to wake up sleepy drivers, more police on the roads to stop the growth of speed cameras, more vehicles to be fitted with Bluetooth for hands-free use of mobile phones, anti-start alcohol tests before known drink drivers can drive, and improved driver training.

Other suggestions include:

• non-rebound walls between motorway carriageways
• cut motorway tolls to encourage drivers to use the autoroutes, which are safer
• cutting down on street signage and turning off advertising hoardings at night
• adapting speed limits to the driving conditions
• installing screens in front of roadside obstructions to save motorcyclists
• improving speed information at roads blackspots
• setting up “siesta bars” where sleepy drivers could have a nap
• fitting reflective markings on pedestrian crossings and installing count-down timers until the next “green man”.

Titled Les Bonnes Idées des Français pour Sauver des Vies, the list of two dozen ideas has been sent to President Hollande and other members of the government including Mr Valls.

Last year 3,465 people died on the roads and Pierre Chasseray, general secretary of 40 Millions d'Automobilistes, said that the ideas would save the 2,000 lives that Mr Valls wanted.
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