Common causes of road crashes
THE most common causes of road crashes in Halton have been revealed. Data published by the Department For Transport (DfT) totted up the factors involved in collisions in 2017 for which a police officer has attended.
The top reason was ‘driver or rider failing to look’, which was counted 77 times in 2017.
This was followed by drivers and riders failing to judge another’s course or speed on 38, followed by a ‘poor turn or manoeuvre’ on 23 occasions.
Driver or rider being ‘careless or in a hurry’ was next, occurring in 19 collisions, and in fifth placewas slippery roads, at 17.
The full list of factors covers a diverse range of issues from drivers dazzled by the sun to animals in the road. The numbers of times they were logged during 2017 is as follows:
Failing to look, 77; Failing to judge another’s path or speed, 38; Poor turn or manoeuvre, 23; Being careless or in a hurry, 19; Slippery road, 17; Loss of control, 15; Pedestrian failed to look properly, 15; Driver or rider impaired by alcohol, 10; Speeding, 9; Travelling too fast for conditions, 9; Learner or inexperienced driver, 9; Disobeyed automatic traffic signal, 8; Junction overshoot, 8; Disobeyed give way or stop sign, 8; Illness or disability, mental or ● physical, 6; Deposit on road such as oil, mud, chippings, 5; Failed to signal, 5; Moving off from junction, 5; Other, 5; Temporary road layout, 4; Cyclist entering road from pavement, 4; Tailgating, 4; Stationary or parked vehicle, 4; Crossing road masked by stationary or parked vehicle, 4; Pedestrian failed to judge path or speed, 4; Animal or object in carriageway, 3; Rain, sleet, snow or fog, 3; Pedestrian careless or hurrying, 3; Sudden braking, 3; Swerved, 2; Distraction in vehicle, 2; Pedestrian impaired by drugs or medicine, 2; Distraction outside vehicle, 2; Dangerous action in road such as playing, 2; Poor or defective surface, 2; Defective brakes, 2; Vehicle travelling on pavement, 2; Disobeyed double white line, 2; Illegal turn or direction of travel, 2; Dazzling sun, 2; Road layout such as bend, winding road or hill crest, 2; Blind spot, 2; Defective traffic signals, 1; Road layout - e.g. bend, hill, narrow road, 1; Emergency vehicle on a call, 1; Too close to cyclist, horse, pedestrian etc, 1; Defective steering or suspension, 1; Aggressive driving, 1; Disobeyed pedestrian crossing, 1; Buildings, roads, street furniture, 1.
Factors recorded in years prior to 2017 included causes such as the vehicle being used in crime, stolen vehicle, vehicle door opened negligently, dangerous action, inexperience of driving on the left, driver nervous or uncertain of path, rider wearing dark clothing, fatigue, impaired by drug or medicine, illegal or defective tyres, inadequate road markings or masked signs, pedestrian in dark clothing, pedestrian impaired by alcohol, pedestrian illness or disability and traffic calming.