The road safety industry has made great strides in the past century. Traffic lights, crossings and cycle paths have replaced the chaos of old and the few rules that governed street traffic. Technology has made vehicles and infrastructure safer.
What does the future bring? We could see an even greater revolution as autonomous driving becomes a reality.
Safer roads after frantic chaos
As streetcars rumble past in both directions, an animal and cart trundle across the street. As they rush about, pedestrians dart between trams, bicycles, and animals. Welcome to the chaotic city streets of the early 20th century. Mobility was changing rapidly at the dawn of the 20th century. Trams, buses, and cars were replacing horses. The traffic was getting heavier and faster. Accidents were becoming more frequent and serious.
The automotive industry quickly recognised this. The automotive industry helped create new laws and infrastructure to make roads safer for everyone. As cities grew, traffic lights and signs became common, along with police officers, who helped separate pedestrians from vehicles (and one another). In order to better communicate the driver’s intent, mechanical indicators were installed on cars. In 1909 Germany introduced the first national traffic laws in the world, along with a driving test and a licence.
The rules of the road are improving global road safety
In 1934, Germany introduced its first speed limit nationwide – 60 km/h for urban areas. In West Germany, this was abolished during the 1950s but reinstated five years later due to an increase in road traffic accidents.
Seatbelts, one of the most significant developments in road safety, were slow to take off. In the 1950s vehicle manufacturers started offering them as an optional extra, but their uptake was very low. Australia introduced the first mandatory seat belt law in 1970. Many countries did not make seat belts mandatory until the 1980s.
Digital technologies as a road to automation
The city streets today, though they may sometimes appear chaotic, are vastly different from the scenes that were common a century earlier. Traffic is carefully controlled and monitored, pedestrians stay on the sidewalks, and there are separate bike lanes and crosswalks. Find out more about the benefits of Chapter 8 chevrons by visiting https://www.pvluk.com/chapter-8-chevrons
Safety is still an issue. The population growth and the increasing number of vehicles on the road means that there are now more people than ever. Around 1.3 million road traffic accidents result in death each year (source: WHO). Over half of those killed are road users who are at greater risk, such as pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.