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

  • US DOT awards funding for Maryland Purple Line Project
    August 29, 2017
    The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a US$900 million federal grant agreement for the Maryland Purple Line Light Rail Project. The light rail line will make travel across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties faster and more reliable, improving access to major business and activity centres in the state’s most populated counties. The 16.2-mile Maryland Purple Line will connect major activity centres in Bethesda, Silver Spring, Takoma-Langley Park, College
    Read More
  • New junction on London’s Cycle Superhighway offers safety measures for cyclists
    August 25, 2015
    Britain’s first junction designed to avoid cyclists being hit by left-turning traffic is unveiled today, the beginning of a new wave of such junctions on London’s busiest main roads. Cyclists and turning motor traffic will move in separate phases, with left-turning vehicles held back to allow cyclists to move without risk, and cyclists held when vehicles are turning left. There will also be a new ‘two-stage right turn’ to let cyclists make right turns in safety. For straight-ahead traffic, early-release
    Read More
  • Double penalties for motorists using mobiles
    March 2, 2017
    From 1 March 2017, UK drivers caught using a phone while driving will face tougher penalties. Under new legislation announced by the Department for Transport, offenders will receive six penalty points on their licence and a £200 fine, up from the previous three points and £100 penalty.
    Read More
  • Driver aids make inroads on improving safety
    November 12, 2015
    In-vehicle anti-collision systems continue to evolve and could eliminate some incidents altogether. John Kendall rounds up the current developments. A few weeks ago, I watched a driver reverse a car from a parking bay at right angles to the road, straight into a car driving along the road. The accident happened at walking pace, no-one was hurt and both cars had body panels that regain their shape after a low speed shunt.
    Read More

Highlighted Content