by Joe Jeffrey
Road safety organisation calls for more government focus in attempt to cut down on road fatalities
Leading UK road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has called on the government to provide more effort in highlighting drink-drive campaigns and rehabilitation, as well as better focus on the enforcement of driving standards and increased education on road safety in an attempt to reduce the statistics surrounding stagnant road casualty numbers revealed by the Department for Transport (DFT) last week (4 August).
The charity said that after decades of good progress, the past five years have seen a disappointing plateau which is not acceptable.
The figures published have revealed there has been no reduction in drink-drive deaths since 2010 – remaining at 240 deaths a year; there has been no reduction in total road deaths and a two per cent increase in serious casualties in the past 12 months (to 31 March 2016).
Tim Shallcross, head of technical policy at IAM RoadSmart, said of the results: “The government must get to grips with five years of disappointing figures now. It needs to show stronger leadership to really drive down road deaths and serious injuries in the future.
“Road deaths are a serious issue; 35 people a week die in crashes throughout the country. In any other sphere, 35 deaths would provoke national outrage, rule the headlines for months and provoke urgent government action. It happens week in week out on our roads and it merits barely a mention.
“More action on drink driving, more on-road enforcement of driving standards and more publicity and education are urgently needed if we are to return to the gains made before 2010.
“IAM Roadsmart urges the government to take back the initiative and put forward credible plans to address this vital issue.”
What do you think about the figures published? Do you feel the government could do more in an attempt to cut down on road casualties? Let us know in the comments below.
