Road casualties have become normal in Britain. But there is another way
Road casualties have become normal in Britain. But there is another way
A parliamentary group has compiled 10 recommendations to make our roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists
“Poll after poll has shown that the biggest reason for people not wanting to cycle is perceived danger. And anyone who has dared to ride a bike on unprotected roads will soon discover that a large part of this danger comes from pure illegality, not least the vast proportion of drivers who speed, especially on residential roads.
This neatly leads us to the other factor highlighted by the report, and its reaction to it: the howls of outrage if people politely suggest that people could perhaps be less of a danger to others when they drive.
Before the report’s launch, the only one of 10 recommendations highlighted in the media was the idea of removing the so-called tolerances in speeding offences, whereby you can currently go about 10% plus 2mph above a limit and not be penalised.”
The link to the parliamentary group report (.pdf file) is here.
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Here are the 10 recommendations (there's a lot of text surrounding these explaining and justifying them which I've trimmed out):
A1) the Government consider the introduction of escalating penalties for repeat traffic offences.
A2) the Government seek consistency by requiring re-testing for anyone wishing to drive following any period of disqualification.
A3a) the Government increase the maximum sentence for dangerous driving to four years.
A3b) the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) guide police forces to bail drivers whom they arrest for dangerous driving with a condition not to drive.
A4) the Sentencing Council revisit its 2020 guidance on the totting-up disqualification, to reinforce that exceptional hardship should only be granted in truly exceptional circumstances.
A5) tolerances in the enforcement of speeding be removed.
B1) the development of guidance based on best practice, with the intention that it is adopted as widely as possible by Police forces.
B2) the implementation of a standardised system across police forces for submission and processing of third-party reporting, based on best practice and supported by adequate resourcing.
B3) the Government appoint a UK Commissioner for Road-Danger Reduction.
B4) Police and Crime Commissioners should consider all crash victims as victims of crime.
B5) the Government launch a very extensive and ongoing communications campaign designed to increase greatly both understanding of and compliance with the changesJust the first of these would be massive. If after your 9 points wear off and you are back to 0 any further offence instantly is 9 points instead of 3 for 5 years then you aren't going to speed are you.