Former transport ministers have written to the current transport secretary Grant Shapps, calling on him to adopt a new package of vehicle safety measures – or face putting road users ‘at risk’.
The package of 15 integrated measures – including better direct vision in HGVs, automated emergency braking that detects pedestrians and cyclists, and intelligent speed adaptation – will become mandatory on new vehicles manufactured in the EU and Northern Ireland from July.
It has been described by TRL as the biggest advance in vehicle safety since the seat belt.
The UK actively supported these measures right up to the moment that it left the EU – two years ago this week.
The former ministers, including serving MP Sir Peter Bottomley, say the UK needs to adopt its own regulations, or put the safety of UK road users at risk.
They note that incorporating this package of measures will benefit the UK automotive sector, which exports most new cars to the EU – adding that the technology comes at minimal cost to the taxpayer or consumer.
They add that the measures will also help avoid serious and fatal crashes and injuries and improve safety for vulnerable road users.
David Davies, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), said: “There has been little progress in reducing road deaths and injuries over the past decade (apart from during the 2020 lockdown).
“Here is a package of measures that would kick start a new chapter. It comes at almost no cost to Government or the motorist.
“We support the call from former transport ministers for the Government to at least match the standards that will apply in Northern Ireland. It could demonstrate the UK’s new independence by going further and faster.”
Comment noted, Nick, and happy to explain. Basically, as you will well know, it is estimated that over 90% of crashes, some say 98% involve human error. Just having the philosophy of adding gizmos to vehicles does not hack it, so the attitude at the Parliamentary level (shall we say) of considering this is of the highest importance just seems typical of people who sit behind desks and have no real understanding of what really contributes to safety, or lack of it on the roads. I bounced this of a former police driving instructor who retired as head of his driving school, and he is in complete agreement with me. The Leeds philosophy (see other thread) and indeed the interesting over riding comment on the new HC H factors (See H1) is, ‘None of this detracts from the responsibility of ALL road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, to have regard for their own and other road users’ safety.’ In other words when all is said and done it is primarily up to the individual to keep a good look out for their own safety. So this ‘seismic change’ as promulgated by Leeds (and quite rightly) actually goes all the way back to 1906 when Lord Montague of Beaulieu wrote in his book, ‘The Art of Driving a Motor Car’ that, ‘It is your job, not the other man’s to avoid danger’. That fundamental principle is as true to day as it was then, if only so many in RS would understand it. For your interest (I hope) may I forward to you, via Ed, my article, written in January, called ‘A is for..’ which in its way actually covers both the threads I have commented on, even though they are diametrically opposite in their approach.
Nigel Albright, TAUNTON
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Nigel – I’m not sure I understand your comment below, and if I don’t then others may not either. Could you elaborate pls?
Nick Rawlings
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‘David Davies, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), said: “There has been little progress in reducing road deaths and injuries over the past decade (apart from during the 2020 lockdown).’
Typical of people who sit behind desks and think that the way to improve safety on the roads is to add more gizmos to vehicles when over 90% of crashes are estimated to involve human error.
Nigel Albright, TAUNTON
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