The conference closed with the now traditional Question Time – with five panellists taking questions from the audience.
The panellists were David Davies (PACTS), Sam Merison (Road Safety GB), ACC Steve Barry (DfT & NPCC), Simon D’Vali (West Yorkshire Safer Roads) and independent road safety campaigner Meera Naran. The session was expertly chaired by Edward Seaman, editor of Road Safety News.
Question: If you were Secretary of State arriving in role what would be your priority areas and focus for road safety?
David Davies – an unequivocal statement that it is unacceptable to kill and injure thousands of people every year on the roads
Sam Merison – targets would be a big step forward
Simon D’Vali – need a ‘top down’ approach, with more leadership from DfT
Meera Naran – the Road Safety Framework launched ASAP, targets to be introduced, need more commitment to road safety, we should no longer accept loss of life on the roads
ACC Steve Barry – from a police perspective, roads policing to be included in the strategic policing requirements. From DfT’s perspective there is a real need for continuity.
How can we influence politicians to prioritise reducing KSIs on roads?
David Davies – media can influence them.
Simon D’Vali – We are seeing buy in from senior local politicians in West Yorkshire.
Sam Merison – at a local level councillors are influenced by local issues
Steve Barry – politicians can be influenced by the emotional back story of road traffic victims
Meera Navan – politicians do care, but there is often a communications issue.
Is there a case for a National Standard for road safety education and training?
Sam Merison – there are so many facets to road safety education, still a postcode lottery. We are probably in the best moment we’ve ever been in to see the introduction of a national standard for school aged children.
Should safe road user education be part of curriculum?
Sam Merison – yes
Simon D’Vali – we write to governors if schools in high risk areas don’t accept road safety education – it is morally wrong that schools behave in this way
What is the panel’s views on the introduction of a default 20mph limit in Wales?
Simon D’Vali – needs to be evidence led
David Davies – PACTS supports 20mph, but is not advocating default limits in areas where they are not ready for it.
Sam Merison – speeds have come down dramatically in areas where 20mph has been introduced in the two London boroughs where he works.
Do you see All Lane Running as being an integral part of Smart Motorways, or can the two be looked at independently in terms of risk?
Meera Naran – ALR will fall under the smart motorway umbrella going forward. With regard to smart motorways going forward, it is important to recognise there are deaths on conventional motorway hard shoulder. We need to understand what are the good parts of all roads, what is going to reduce road deaths overall. For example, it may be that smart motorway technology could be used to reduce deaths on other roads (rural etc).
Steve Barry – variable speed limits are working. From a police perspective, smart motorways are not a good idea because it is hard to stop vehicles safely. It’s about preventability – we should be doing everything that is affordable to prevent collisions.
Rural roads and speed limits
Simon D’Vali – 60mph limit is not appropriate on rural roads
David Davies – admires the work being done by Surrey CC on rural roads, which involves measuring existing average speed and then setting limits just below the average speed.
Steve Barry – average speed cameras could have a role to play on rural roads
Highway Code – is it time for a mandatory check test
Meera Naran – yes. 10-year check for drivers (maybe online) to cover things like basic car care, crash scene management etc
Sam Merison – why can’t we have CPD for drivers rather than voluntary things like Biker Down! etc
David Davies – no Secretary of State is going to back mandatory driver retraining
Steve Barry – no one thinks their driving is a problem. It is a cultural issue
Should eyesight tests be compulsory for drivers?
David Davies – yes, for drivers aged 60+, not sure about younger age groups
Steve Barry – the current eyesight test is a bit of a joke
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