This Is Guernsey

With summer on its way, islanders are out and about on the roads more often. And while it is fun to turn up the tunes and enjoy the summer sun, it is important to consider all aspects of road safety before you hit the road. Here, pedestrian safety group Steps highlights a few key issues

Seat belts

It is said the ‘clunk click’ law has helped save 60,000 lives since it was introduced 25 years ago. Most of us realise that wearing a seat belt prevents serious injury if we’re unfortunate enough to be involved in a car crash. It’s probably only a matter of time before Guernsey makes it mandatory to belt up in the back of a car and Steps would support that.
We would have liked to have seen the P-plate legislation go through the States. One of the stipulations was that passengers in the back of the car of a novice driver must be belted.

Driving when tired

A recent survey has shown that driving when you’re tired can be as dangerous as drink-driving. Although we don’t have motorways where motorists drive long distances, driving in Guernsey can be very challenging with our narrow roads, blind bends and lack of street lighting. A sleep-deprived driver makes mistakes, which can lead to accidents.
The ‘post-lunch dip’ affects all drivers, whether in the UK or Guernsey.

Mobile phones

Although Guernsey has a law banning drivers from using a mobile phone, we all know that many motorists ignore it. For pedestrians, the law has caused even more problems as motorists now pull off the road and onto the pavement to answer their phones.

Overseas visitors

There needs to be a better system of ensuring that visitors who bring their vehicles on the ferry receive information on the differences of driving in Guernsey – yellow lines, filters, parking restrictions etc. The traffic division issues a leaflet, ‘The Highway Code Guernsey Laws’, which is available at its offices in Bulwer Avenue, but is this leaflet given to drivers as they board the ferry? We assume hire-car companies issue relevant information to visitors.

New/old drivers

Research shows that one in five new drivers has an accident in their first year of driving. A & E statistics in Guernsey show that the majority of islanders admitted to hospital as a result of an RTA are aged between 17 and 24. Steps supported the Environment Department’s P-plate policy letter. We believe new drivers should be put under a probationary period in order for them to build up experience of driving in all weather conditions.

Some elderly drivers can cause hazards, particularly if they are driving too slowly on Guernsey’s narrow roads. Drivers in a hurry will take risks trying to pass them and that can lead to a collision. We wouldn’t like to take away the independence of an elderly driver, but we think it would be sensible to retest them (say, when they are over 80) to ensure their eyesight and reactions are still OK.

Pedestrians and cyclists

Walking and cycling in Guernsey are full of challenges. Cyclists prefer to be on the road surface but are continually intimidated by drivers impatient to pass them. Pedestrians get a pretty raw deal on Guernsey’s roads, with not enough pavements or crossing points. Narrow roads mean pedestrians are often clipped by wing mirrors. Cyclists suffer from uneven road surfaces and motorists passing too close to them.

Where pedestrians and cyclists share a pathway, it works reasonably well. However, pedestrians (and particularly elderly ones) fear cyclists coming up behind them silently. Courtesy is crucial to safe sharing – cyclists should be encouraged to use their bells and pedestrians must look behind them before moving out of their allotted lane.

Carrying pets in cars

We believe anything that distracts a driver is a safety hazard – particularly in Guernsey, where you need full concentration to negotiate the narrow roads. So if an animal is not transported in a safe area of the car, there is a danger of an accident being caused.

Car child seats

Guernsey’s seat belt law came into force in August 2004. Children who are not restrained properly and who misbehave in the back of a car are a safety hazard, causing the driver to be distracted. Taking your eyes off the road for a split second can cause an accident and Steps feels there should be more spot checks by police to try to prevent this hazard.