Government criticised for road safety record
The publication of a damming report into the Government’s management of road safety has been met with disgust by charity, Brake.
‘Ending the Scandal of Complacency: Road Safety beyond 2010’, published today by Parliament’s Transport Select Committee, included written evidence provided by Brake. Brake has announced that they welcome the Committee’s recommendations which included:
• wider use of 20mph limits
• increased enforcement of drink-drive offences
• developing roadside drug-test kits to help police identify drugged drivers
• introducing a graduated licensing scheme, including restrictions on novice drivers carrying teenage passengers between the hours of 11pm and 5am
• setting a national target for reducing deaths, separate from any targets for reducing serious or slight injuries
• creating a new road safety vision for beyond 2010 which incorporates reducing road casualties with other policy objectives such as sustainable transport, economic efficiency, climate change, social inclusion and physical health
Cathy Keeler, Brake’s deputy chief executive, said: “Once again, the Transport Select Committee has uncovered significant Government failings in its duty to protect the public on UK roads. While the Government is on track to meet its casualty reduction targets for 2010, the ‘scandal of complacency’ outlined by the Committee has resulted in a failure to implement proven road safety measures. There is no room for the Government to sit back and rest on its laurels when road crashes tear apart families and inflict devastating injuries every day. Brake urges the Government to implement the recommendations outlined in this report.”
The forthcoming ‘Road Safety Week’, co-ordinated by Brake, takes place 10-16 November.
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