A Split Second

‘A Split Second’ is a Hertfordshire Constabulary led road safety campaign that aims to raise awareness of the leading causes of serious injury and death on UK roads.

It takes split second to make a decision while driving that could change your life and the lives of others forever.

This campaign focuses on the ‘Fatal Five’ driving behaviours: careless driving, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone or other hand-held devices and speeding.

1. Careless driving

This includes behaviours like driving too close to the vehicle in front, undertaking or overtaking too fast or recklessly, misusing lanes or failing to give way.

2. Drink and drug driving

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol could lead to yours or someone else’s death.

It also has serious criminal consequences such as driving bans, a criminal record, in some cases a conviction on your licence (that will be visible to employers if you drive for work) and potentially time in prison.

• Make a plan in advance on how you are going to get home if you’re going out and plan to have a drink.
• Don’t accept alcoholic drinks from others if you’re planning to drive and don’t offer alcoholic drinks to someone you know will be driving later.
• Do not get a lift with someone you know has been drinking.
• The only way to be truly safe when driving is to not drink at all. Also be aware that the morning after drinking the night before you could still be over the drink-drive limit.

3. Not wearing a seatbelt

It is against the law to not wear a seatbelt in vehicles where they are fitted.

4. Using a mobile phone or other hand-held devices

It only takes a brief glance at your phone for an accident to happen.

• When driving put your phone out of sight.
• Switch off your phone or device before you set off.
• For Apple iPhones – go to settings, Control Centre and tap ‘Do not disturb while driving’.
• For Android users – download the Live2Txt app. This allows you to block calls and texts while on the road.
• Even though hand-held device kits are legal, they can be dangerously distracting. Operating SatNavs while driving is also unsafe behaviour.

5. Speeding

Tips to help you stick to the speed limit:

• Make a habit of checking your speedometer regularly.
• Look for road signs, especially at junctions.
• Remember – streetlights mean 30mph until signs tell you otherwise.
• There may be times when you should drive slower than the maximum speed limit depending on the road conditions and surroundings.
• Road users who commit one of the Fatal Five offences are far more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than those who do not.