Personal Injury Solicitors

Road safety campaign THINK! has launched a new campaign to encourage drivers to brake before they reach a bend, rather than on the bend.

The campaign aims to reduce the number of road traffic accidents on country roads, as one-third of road traffic accident fatalities occur on bends.

THINK! says that young drivers who cut corners and overtake on blind bends are most likely to be involved in a road accident on a country lane while navigating a bend.

However, nearly one-quarter of road users surveyed admit to braking too late on bends – and two-fifths (41%) of those questioned claim to have swerved to avoid something in the road.

New figures from the Department for Transport reveal that country roads are the deadliest, however – with an average of three people dying on them every day in 2014.

In total, 1,040 people were killed and 9,051 seriously injured on country roads in 2014 – with one-third (348) of fatalities occurring on a bend.

Among younger drivers, one-third confessed to braking too late before a bend – and more than one in ten admitted to “taking the racing line” by crossing into the opposite side of the road to take the turn faster.

Young drivers are also the most likely age group to overtake on a bend without a clear road ahead, the figures show.

In response, THINK! has partnered with a farmer to turn potential road hazards into impossible-to-ignore warning signs.

The Helpful Hazards campaign features animals and vehicles sprayed with helpful signs prompting drivers to slow down, anticipate hazards – and brake before the bend, not on it.

Road Safety Minister, Andrew Jones, said:

“Every injury and death on our roads is a tragedy and that is why the new THINK! country roads campaign is so important.

“We want the public to anticipate potential hazards on the road when driving in the countryside, to watch their speed and take care when approaching a bend.

Former England rugby player and countryside resident Phil Vickery said in support of the campaign:

“As someone who lives in the countryside, I do a lot of driving on winding country roads every day.

“I’m often shocked at the lack of care other drivers take when driving around blind bends – both my wife and I have been involved in several near misses and minor incidents, so this is something very close to my heart.

“You never know what might be around the corner – from cyclists, horse riders and wildlife, to debris and slow-moving vehicles.

“We all have a duty of care to be respectful to all users of the countryside and keep each other safe.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Road Traffic Accident Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those injured in road traffic accidents as a result of another road user’s negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for road traffic accident compensation.

Road traffic accident claims have to be made with three years of injury – low- value claims are fast-tracked through the Road Traffic Accident Claims Portal.

Duncan Lewis also advises on claims involving high-value compensation claims and catastrophic injury, as well as advising bereaved families on claiming for fatal injury of a loved one in a road traffic accident caused by negligence.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Road Traffic Accident Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 033 3772 0409.