Tougher tests and more traffic info would ease congestion, say MPs
The Transport Committee, comprising MPs from around the North of England, has returned with a series of objectives to help limit congestion on Britain’s roads.
Measures such as making the driving test more challenging, more effective use of real time traffic information, and better co-ordination between road management authorities would go some way towards a more free-flowing road network according to the report titled ‘Out of the jam: reducing congestion on our roads’.
With congestion hitting the economy for billions of pounds every year, Louise Ellman, who chairs the committee, believes a better understanding of the Highway Code from drivers would increase road safety and in turn reduce congestion.
“Improving the way we manage road space so that the network runs more smoothly is vital to the prosperity of the nation,” explained the Liverpool MP. “Pursuing this challenge should form a key plank of central government transport policy.
“The Department for Transport cannot simply devolve all responsibility for managing the road network to individual Highway Authorities.
“These organisations have a key role and duty for managing their local networks, but the DfT should actively support them in working together closely to fulfil that duty.”
Mrs Ellman added that delays could be avoided if road users were more clued up on their surrounding traffic situation and urged greater use of ‘intelligent traffic management’ systems.
She added: “Much more can also be done to improve co-ordination between highway authorities and organisations undertaking street works to ensure local authorities use the best available technology to co-ordinate their road or traffic management activities with other highways authorities.”
Red herring
Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research for the IAM, agreed that a tougher driving test was the way to go and the consequential experience would save lives.
“A more rigorous driving test with greater emphasis on driving in the real world would give new drivers the skills they need to help keep traffic moving,” he said.
On the side of the carriageway, AA President Edmund King believes more challenging tests would do little to reduce congestion.
“In terms of getting out of the jam, a tougher test is a red herring,” he told the Telegraph.
“Drivers tend to hog the middle lane because they are inconsiderate rather than because they don’t know the rules of the road. Some drivers get involved in road rage because they have anger management problems not because they don’t know the Highway Code.”
Malcolm Bingham, Head of Road Network Management Policy at the Freight Transport Association, said: “While gaps in knowledge on the strategic road network are mercifully few, there are gaping holes in local authority areas where operators also struggle to get the information they urgently need.”
He backed the recommendations adding: “Real-time information is critical if we are to ensure that deliveries are made on time and are not delayed because of congestion.”
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