Accident Black Spots

An accident black spot is a part of the road network where there has been numerous road traffic accidents. If the local authority has recognised this road as a dangerous point then it will be signposted as an accident black spot.

According to the DfT In 2007 there were 2,946 road accidents deaths and 27,774 injuries with many of these happening at accident black spots.

History of Traffic Accidents

Extra care should be taken when travelling through this part of the road network as these signs mean that this area has had a history of road traffic accidents. This can be put down to a variety of reasons and features. It could be partly the fault of the actual road layout as there may be a hidden dip with a junction, a shard corner in what looks to be a fairly straight road.

It could also be that there is a concealed junction located in the middle of a bend. No matter what the hazard is extra care is needed when you come across an accident blackspot sign as it tell you everything you need to know about the particular part of road you are on – it has been and is still, a dangerous road.

Road safety campaigners want accident blackspots flagged, they want more signs at these points in the network to make motorists more aware of the problem. The groups are also campaigning for the signs to state on them on how many people have been killed on that particular point, the Republic of Ireland uses this as a road safety measure and it is said to help in changing motorists attitude to speed. The DfT (Department for Transport), on the other hand, disagrees with these claims, as it believes that these accident black spot signs would have little or no effect as a road safety measure.

The authorities in the UK favour different methods of road calming measures in areas where there has been a history of accidents. These measures can include road humps, narrowing’s and zones with a restricted speed limit.

Treatments

Other treatments on accident blackspots include improving the sight lines for drivers in both directions, and straighten dangerous bends. Some authorities have opted to cut the motorists speed in these areas by fixing permanent speed cameras or by having mobile cameras in place to slow traffic and make this part of the network safer.

Commons Transport Committee

According to the Commons Transport Committee road accidents are the largest single cause of death for people aged between five and 35, and accidents cost the economy an estimated 1.5% of GDP, or £18bn, every year. Even though road casualties are on the downward spiral the Commons Committee is quick to highlight that there has been a 26% rise in motorcycle deaths since the mid-1990s. Male drivers are also more prone to being involved in an RTA.