There is no such thing accidents, only collisions ! These happen because someone made a mistake or did something wrong.

Dictionary definitions of the term 'accident' suggest a mishap by chance, unforeseen and without apparent cause. Most accidental deaths occur on the public highway, the people dying in RTAs are on average 25 years younger than those dying from all other major causes.

Road safety experts would probably agree with the French philosopher, Voltaire who stated that 'there is no such thing as an accident. What we call by that name is the effect of some cause which we do not see'. If we can determine the cause of RTAs we will have a better chance of preventing them. Despite the fall in number of fatalities, the rate of RTAs is steadily increasing.

The problem isn't a single issue of bad car drivers. It embraces all forms of transport including pedestrians walking. During their rite of passage to independent transport, young road users are most vulnerable in their first years of changing to a new model of wheels. The risk years:

	Pedal cyclist	9 to 14 years
	Motorcyclists	17 to 20 years
	Car drivers	17 to 25 years

The road safety message and risk perception awareness cannot begin early enough. Newly qualified drivers, the majority of whom are young drivers are more crash-involved. They are particularly at risk after passing the driving test.

Drivers aged 17-21 comprise 4.4% of the driving population, 13% of all drivers involved in RTAs and 17% of all car drivers killed or seriously injured.

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