Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt Mike Waters' blog: 25 February 2011 - No hiding place for bad drivers
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Mike Waters' blog: 25 February 2011 - No hiding place for bad drivers

Date: 25 February 2011

Mike Waters is senior insight & consultancy manager at Arval, the leading vehicle leasing and fleet management company.

We've all fallen victim at some point to bad driving. Those motorists that feel they have a divine right to drive outside of the law or without consideration for other road users. It may be that they undertake you, they may be travelling at excessive speeds, they may cut you up, or in some cases you could be on the receiving end of a load of abuse.

It's frustrating and inconsiderate which is why technology is taking over in some cases to expose these drivers and hopefully make them accountable for their actions. In the same way that CCTV in a town centre will capture shop lifting or violent crime, advances in technology mean that it's harder to get away with aggressive driving.

While speed cameras were one of the first tools to capture irresponsible driving (even when no one else was around) things are moving on as aeroplane style black boxes are becoming more common in modern cars. They will record information including the vehicle speed, direction, steering and the level of braking applied.

In the event of an accident, this information will go a long way towards helping the Police and insurance companies decide who is at fault in the event of a collision. This means that it is no longer one driver's word against another's' and that wreckless drivers have nowhere to hide.

Plus new technology isn't exclusive to four-wheeled forms of transport. As a keen cyclist I have been on the wrong end of aggressive drivers who feel perfectly safe within their vehicle but don't consider the risks posed to those road users that aren't protected by a metal shell and airbags.

However, with more cyclists wearing helmet cams to record motorists poor or dangerous driving, those drivers are more accountable for their actions. I hear many examples of cyclists that have been cut up, sworn at or even attacked by passing drivers and while the camera isn't a form of protection, it can provide a level of justice.

People don't tolerate crimes away from the road and now with technology to assist there is less need to accept crimes on the road. So with this new level of transparency, drive considerately or risk the repercussions.

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