Government unveils new measures to further improve road safety

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has unveiled a raft of measures to improve the safety of Britain’s roads, including US$3 million for research into driver education, including the possibility of giving learner drivers motorway experience with an instructor before taking their test.
December 22, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

The UK 1837 Department for Transport (DfT) has unveiled a raft of measures to improve the safety of Britain’s roads, including US$3 million for research into driver education, including the possibility of giving learner drivers motorway experience with an instructor before taking their test.

Other measures include a US$968,000 grant for police forces in England and Wales will fund more officers with drug recognition and impairment testing skills to enable more effective and targeted enforcement.

A grant of US$74 million over the next four years will support Bikeability cycle training in schools, helping to increase children’s road awareness, encouraging children to be healthy and active.

The government will also consult on changes to improve cycle safety to ensure sideguards are not removed from HGVs but remain permanently fitted. Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) for learner motorcyclists will be strengthened and there will be a consultation on a range of further proposals to support safer motorcycling.

Motorists who endanger lives by using hand held mobile phones while driving will face an increase from the current three penalty points to 4, while the fixed penalty notice will rise from US$140 to US$223. For larger vehicles such as HGVs where the consequences of an accident can be much more severe, the penalty will increase from the current three points to six and the fixed penalty notice will rise from US$140 to US$223.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Britain has some of the safest roads in the world but we are always looking to improve that record. Today we are delivering common sense proposals that balance tougher penalties for dangerous drivers with practical steps to help youngsters and other more vulnerable groups stay safe on our roads.”

The 6983 Freight Transport Association (FTA) has reacted positively to the proposals. Commenting on the statement, Christopher Snelling, FTA’s head of National & Regional Policy, commented: “Overall this appears to be a sensible range of measures that should further improve the UK’s comparatively good road safety record.”
 
Snelling concluded: “It is incremental improvements such as these, along with the hard work of road freight operators that have contributed to the fact that half as many HGVs are involved in fatal incidents today as compared with 10 years ago.”

A series of consultations on the specific proposals announced today will follow in 2016.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • TfL’s ‘Cycling Grants London’ scheme is open
    August 24, 2015
    Community groups and not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for cycling grants, to help them promote pedal power through initiatives such as cycle training, bike maintenance and guided rides. Cycling Grants London is a new programme funded by Transport for London (TfL) and managed by the environmental regeneration charity, Groundwork. It offers funding to community groups such as residents’ associations, charities and youth groups for projects that encourage people of all ages and backgroun
    Read More
  • The red light camera choice: 60 killed or save US$231 million a year
    June 5, 2015
    David Crawford investigates new cost-benefit analysis of red light cameras. US states can now realistically calculate the economic benefits of using red light safety cameras, alone or in combination with other measures, to cut road traffic accident levels. The results could be of material value in making the case for the cameras as a number of state legislatures continue to debate their acceptability.
    Read More
  • TfL policy to ensure private hire remains safe and convenient
    February 19, 2018
    Transport for London (TfL) has launched a policy statement in response to changes in the private hire industry and new services available. It aims to keep the capital at the forefront of regulating taxi and private hire services while maintaining the safety of passengers. As part of a series of changes to increase industry standards, TfL is advancing regulations to assess private hire drivers and applicants on safeguarding, disability, equality and knowledge of private hire vehicle (PHV) legislation as
    Read More
  • UK's Hindhead tunnel pushes the boundaries of traffic management
    January 23, 2012
    The new Hindhead Tunnel is the first in the UK to use radar-based incident detection. Paul Arnold, project manager with the Highways Agency, talks about the project. The comparatively remote location of the A3 Hindhead Tunnel has resulted in it becoming one of the most sophisticated in the UK in terms of monitoring and control systems, according to Paul Arnold, project manager for the Highways Agency (HA), which manages strategic roads in England and Wales. It is the first tunnel in the UK to use radar for
    Read More

Highlighted Content