Ulykker på motorveje - HVU

• Increased police control and visibility are considered to be an effective
remedy for a high-risk behaviour.
• Targeted research into high-risk behaviour is recommended, to gain more
insight into measures to prevent accidents in which this type of driver is
involved.
Alcohol and drugs
Nearly one in four accidents involved drivers under the influence of alcohol
or drugs (one driver was influenced by drugs and one by medication). A few
drivers had very high blood alcohol levels. Nearly all of these accidents were
single-driver accidents with young, less experienced drivers, and all of those
influenced by alcohol were engaged in non-work related driving.
• The fact that nearly all drivers in accidents involving alcohol and drugs were
young adults and that they all were engaged in non-work related driving,
illustrates where and when the police should concentrate their resources.
Seatbelts
11 out of the 16 persons killed would have survived had they used seatbelts.
It is alarming to note that in some cases drivers stated that their non-use of
a seatbelt was a bad habit, particularly where the majority claimed they knew
of the importance of using seatbelts. Several of the survivors, after inspection
of the damage to their vehicles, mistakenly believed that it had been an
advantage that they were not wearing a seatbelt.
• More effort should be put into legislative and technical solutions that will
contribute to increasing the use of seatbelts, observing the speed limits,
reducing drink driving and improving road stability in vehicles.
• Information, campaigns and increased police presence should contribute
to motorists observing simple rules for driving on motorways. The Danish
Accident Investigation Board has formulated ‘10 recommendations for
motorway users’ as an example of the road traffic rules that motorists
should adhere to. If these 10 rules had been observed, none of the 39
casualties in the accidents studied would have occurred.
Physical conditions outside the carriageway area
Drivers who entered the central reserves overreacted when trying to return to
the carriageway, if one wheel pair was on a rugged and sloping surface. The
central reserves are nearly always designed in accordance with regulations,
but drivers find that it is a problem getting out of them, which leads to
incorrect responses. This caused drivers to lose control of their vehicles, even
though they later stated that they knew how they should have reacted.
One in three accidents involved an unprotected solid object or ditch too close
to the carriageway. Collision with these increased the severity of damage or
injury, even where drivers had observed the speed limits. Out of 16 persons
involved in collisions with a solid object or slope, 8 were killed.
Temarapport • ULYKKER PÅ MOTORVEJE
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