The Transport Committee has launched a new inquiry into road safety – and is keen to hear from road safety professionals and members of the public.
Announced on 11 March, the inquiry will scrutinise the Government’s approach to road safety and investigate which changes would be most effective at reducing the number and severity of road traffic collisions.
The Committee is calling for evidence on the following questions:
- How effective is the Government’s current approach to road safety?
- Are there any areas where the Government’s current approach to road safety could be improved?
- What interventions would be most effective at reducing the number and severity of road traffic accidents?
- What evidence is there on the effectiveness of these interventions?
- How can interventions to reduce the number and severity of road traffic accidents best be implemented?
Lilian Greenwood, chair of the Transport Committee, said: “In 2017, almost 1,800 people died in road traffic accidents on the UK’s roads. While there are far fewer fatalities than there were in 2007, that figure is still too high, and hasn’t fallen at all in the last five years.
“We want to know what should be done to bring down the number of accidents. We are keen to hear from everyone who feels our roads could be safer and has ideas on how to make it happen.
“Are you a road safety campaigner or a road user group? A local authority? Do you run a business which employs drivers? Or do you see your children off to school with concerns about their journey? We want to know what you think.
“Tell us how to make our roads safer. This could be anything from the use of technology to make cars and roads safer, to road safety around schools. Your input will help us to decide which issues we will investigate in more detail.
The Transport Committee says it will identify which areas it will investigate in more detail once the deadline for written submissions has passed on 18 April.
Perhaps it’s understandable that things have not improved or diminished over the last 5 or 10 years. The answer could be quite simply under our noses.
On one side we have the ’20 is Plenty Scheme’ involving itself on mainly residential streets which has no doubt saved lives and/or reduced the degree of injuries to pedestrians and I would assess that as being a reduction of about 5% of all stats over that period of time.
On the other hand we have promoted cycling in all its forms and increased use of cycles on our roads and as a result have seen an increase of deaths and injuries. Perhap to an increase of about 5% also.
So basically the two longest running interventions that we have undertaken in the last 5 or 10 years have cancelled themselves out.
Perhaps.
R.Craven
--1
Mass transportation of children to school on buses vs removal of this provision will keep school run traffic down & reduce emissions – ie maximise health and safety for road users and children alike.
Interestingly, Hampshire County Council are currently attempting to remove this mass transport provision for those <3 miles with very limited changes to a clearly unsafe route across unlit woodland, motorway and uncontrolled crossing point with cars travelling 40-60 mph with limited visibility. Ensuring this provision is retained for 450~ school children is an easy win.
Philippa Messenger, Hook
--5
“Tell us how to make our roads safer” An interesting topic for discussion on this forum possibly? I’m sure we’ve all got ideas.
Hugh Jones
+3