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

  • HGV cab catches almost 2,700 dangerous drivers on England’s roads
    October 6, 2016
    Irresponsible drivers have been caught breaking the law and endangering lives in a new safety initiative. Over the past 16 months, almost 2,700 drivers have been stopped for unsafe driving by a HGV cab, loaned by Highways England to police forces across England. The elevated position of the cab allows police officers to film unsafe driving behaviour. Drivers are then pulled over by police cars following behind.
  • HGV cab catches almost 2,700 dangerous drivers on England’s roads
    October 6, 2016
    Irresponsible drivers have been caught breaking the law and endangering lives in a new safety initiative. Over the past 16 months, almost 2,700 drivers have been stopped for unsafe driving by a HGV cab, loaned by Highways England to police forces across England. The elevated position of the cab allows police officers to film unsafe driving behaviour. Drivers are then pulled over by police cars following behind.
  • IAM calls for more visible policing as speeding offences rise
    October 1, 2015
    Figures obtained by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) show that, over the last decade, speeding is still the biggest motoring-related offence where the defendant is found guilty in court. The numbers of those found guilty have risen sharply in the past 12 months – from 115,935 to 148,426, an increase of 28 per cent, the highest number since 2005. The 2014 figures were two per cent greater than 2004. The next highest offence where defendants were found guilty was vehicle insurance-related crime
  • 1 in 14 motorists admit to taking 'selfies' while driving
    March 20, 2014
    Research by price comparison website Confused.com shows that 1 in 14 motorists (seven per cent) admit to having taken a photograph while driving, and four per cent also use the social media app of the moment, Snapchat, to send photos to friends while at the wheel. In addition, 36 per cent of motorists admit to using their mobile phone when driving, mainly to make or answer calls (75 per cent) and send or check texts (43 per cent). Yet, despite so many flouting the law, only eight per cent say they have