Are cars today safer? The answer depends on whether you're in the vehicle when an accident occurs or an unlucky pedestrian or cyclist. If you're inside the vehicle, then the risks of severe injury are less than ever. Belts, bags, side impact bars, crumple zones all mean that you're being looked after by some impressive engineering. However, if you are a pedestrian then a ton of metal is a ton of metal. Apart from fewer sharp objects to deal with, the impressive engineering that protects drivers inside does not extend to protecting pedestrians outside.

Safer cars are good news (and it is worth finding out how your car will perform in a crash), but for everyone's sake we need safer drivers. The safest car on the road is one that doesn't crash. All the in-car engineering available will not save you from death or injury if you lose control at high speed.

And safer drivers also mean safer pedestrians.

What's Devon County Council doing to help?

• We offer driver education for young people before they get their provisional licence - helping to develop safer attitudes, behaviour and skills
• We work to reduce speeds on all our roads - perhaps the biggest single opportunity for everyone to play their part in a safer future
• We can re-train drivers who have had accidents
• We offer company driver training and advice on the safe and efficient management of fleets at Devon Drivers' Centre
• We offer awareness schemes for older drivers to improve skills and knowledge of our most experienced yet vulnerable drivers at Devon Drivers' Centre

What can you do to help?

• THINK!
• Drive more slowly - probably the biggest single contribution you can make to your safety and those around you
• Encourage your children to learn and extend their training to our Pass Plus scheme for newly qualified drivers at Devon Drivers' Centre
• THINK! about extra training you may need to improve your existing skills - we'll be happy to advise you
• If you have employees who drive for you, speak to us about improving their skills
• Check the crash test results of any new car you are thinking of buying

For more information about driving safely, visit the web sites below:

• Highway Code On-Line
• The Courier Code
• UK visitors - know the rules
• Mobile Phones
• Older Drivers
• Tyre Safety
• Winter Driving
• Bridges and High Sided Vehicles
• Novice Driver (780KB - pdf help)

For information about safer driving in Devon see the archived press releases below:

• Devon Drivers Urged To Take Care On Winter Roads (114KB - pdf help) (21/12/01)
• Road Safety Surgeries Launched In Exeter (111KB - pdf help) (01/05/01)
• Drivers Urged To Take Action Over Road Deaths In Devon (104KB - pdf help) (04/01/01)
• Devon Drivers' Centre Wins Regional Safety Award (112KB - pdf help) (12/12/00)
• Traffic Management Takes To The Road in the South Hams (142KB - pdf help)
• Chilling mobile phone warning to fleet drivers (100KB - pdf help)