Skip to main content

Make traffic policing and casualty reduction a priority, says charity

A report released this week by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line has revealed that nearly half of UK drivers (49 per cent) admit to breaking traffic laws. Of those, half say they do so through inattention, while the other half admit to doing so deliberately, because they think they can get away with it or do not agree with the laws. When asked what unsafe driving behaviour they witnessed most, 71 per cent cited distraction such as from mobile phones, followed by tailgating speeding (67 per ce
April 29, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
RSSA report released this week by road safety charity 4235 Brake and 4236 Direct Line has revealed that nearly half of UK drivers (49 per cent) admit to breaking traffic laws.

Of those, half say they do so through inattention, while the other half admit to doing so deliberately, because they think they can get away with it or do not agree with the laws.

When asked what unsafe driving behaviour they witnessed most, 71 per cent cited distraction such as from mobile phones, followed by tailgating speeding (67 per cent) and risky overtaking (66 per cent) topped the list of UK drivers’ concerns.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: “As these figures make clear, law breaking on our roads is not just down to a minority but endemic. For whatever reason, many seem to feel they are beyond the law or that traffic laws are somehow optional. This represents a failure by government to ensure traffic policing is receiving adequate priority and to make clear the importance and legitimacy of traffic laws.

“Whoever takes power after 7 May needs to make traffic policing a national policing priority, to ensure there is a strong deterrent against risky law-breaking on roads.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Sensys Traffic moves into growth phase with new CEO
    March 24, 2015
    Sensys Traffic is moving into what it calls a new phase with the appointment of a new CEO. Torbjörn Sandberg, currently a member of the company’s Board of Directors, is replacing Johan Frilund, who will assume responsibility for strategic business development following this change. Having established itself in the market, the company is now entering a new phase in which the focus is on growth, both organic and through acquisitions, continued internationalisation and business development. After seven years a
  • Incoming chair of ITS America looks at the road ahead for ITS
    June 3, 2015
    Jill Ingrassia, incoming chair of ITS America, on the exciting and challenging road ahead. Question: You have been a member of the Board of ITS America since 2008. What, for you, have been the top few standout achievements in that time? Answer: Hosting the 2014 ITS World Congress in Detroit is a clear standout. The meeting was a great convergence of the right people, in the right place, at the right time. The newsworthy events at the World Congress created energy and excitement about ITS America and the fut
  • New range extenders for hybrid electric vehicles in 2015
    March 6, 2015
    According to the IDTechEx report Range Extenders for Electric Vehicles Land, Water & Air 2015-2025, over eight million hybrid cars will be made in 2025, with a range extender, the additional power source that distinguishes them from pure-electric. They will also be in buses, military vehicles and boats: a major new market overall. Today's range extenders consist of little more than off-the-shelf internal combustion engines. They are being replaced by second-generation range extenders - piston engines design
  • Techniques to improve fuel economy by 18.7% in public transit fleets
    April 2, 2012
    SmartDrive Systems, a specialist in fleet safety and operational efficiency, has announced the results of its Public Transit Fuel Efficiency Study, which reveals that transit fleets can reduce fuel consumption on average as much as 18.7 per cent, saving nearly US$3,400 per vehicle annually, by engaging in fuel-efficient, eco-driving best practices.