Road Safety

Safety advice for drivers and pedestrians

Fatal 4

Most serious collisions on our roads are caused by what is known as the Fatal 4 — the four most common and dangerous driving behaviours that lead to deaths and life‑changing injuries.

  1. Drink and Drug Driving
    Driving under the influence slows reactions, impairs judgement, and drastically increases the chance of a serious collision.
  2. Distraction at the Wheel
    Driver distraction — including mobile phone use — is one of the leading causes of road traffic collisions. Even a moment’s lapse in attention can have devastating consequences.
  3. Speeding
    Driving above the speed limit or too fast for the conditions reduces the time you have to react and makes any collision far more severe.
  4. Not Wearing a Seatbelt
    Seatbelts save lives. Failing to wear one remains a major factor in road fatalities.

Together, these four behaviours account for the majority of preventable incidents on our roads. By recognising the risks and making safer choices, drivers and pedestrians can help keep themselves — and others — safe.

Driving in Winter: 

Winter is usually the time when we experience the most dangerous conditions.  Information on disruptions, closures and warnings can be found on Durham County Council's website www.durham.gov.uk/article/1921/Winter-service-information and Darlington Borough Council's site www.darlington.gov.uk/transport-and-streets

Speed is one of the biggest factors in fatal road crashes. Speed limits are there for a reason – it's 30 for a reason. For more information visit the THINK website