New measures proposed by the Government to increase road safety and decrease fatal and serious collisions have been welcomed by the Police and Crime Commissioner of Lincolnshire, but he already says they do not go far enough.
PCC Marc Jones was commenting after the Department of Transport said its Road Safety Strategy launched on Wednesday (January 7), will save thousands of lives on the nation’s roads by tackling drink driving, improving training for young drivers, and introducing mandatory eye tests for older motorists.
The strategy sets out an ambitious plan to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65 per cent by 2035, with an even more stretching target of 70 per cent for children under 16.
The Government will consult on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe.
The DfT has proposed reducing the alcohol limit for novice motorists and those within their two-year probation period from 80mg per 100ml of blood to around 20mg. For all other drivers, the level would be lowered to around 50mg.
A consultation will explore the use of preventative technology, such as alcohol ‘interlocks’ and new powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving offences. This could mean that, in future, some drink drive offenders might be required to have one of these devices fitted to their vehicle as a condition of being allowed to drive again.
Another section of drivers seen to be most at risk is young and inexperienced drivers aged 17-24 who are involved in 24 per cent of fatal and serious collisions. To address this, the Government will consult on introducing a three or six month minimum learning period, giving learner drivers more time to develop their skills in varied conditions such as night driving, adverse weather, and heavy traffic.
A consultation on mandatory eyesight testing every three years for those over 70 will be launched. Drivers must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away, but currently do not have to prove this. NHS eye tests are free for over-60s. Meanwhile options for cognitive testing will also be developed to protect all road users.
New measures will also target the growing problem of illegal number plates, including ‘ghost’ plates designed to fool camera systems, while also cracking down on uninsured drivers and vehicles without a valid MOT.
Marc Jones is also the chair of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, and formally PCC national lead for road safety. He welcomed the Government’s commitment to cut road deaths and said the measures appear to be a step in the right direction.
However, he added: “I am already convinced the proposed measures do not go far enough and it seems unlikely they will have the 60 per cent reductions the Government are seeking. Many more substantive measures, already used across much of Europe and the wider world are not included in the strategy which is regrettable.
“I have long advocated the introduction of graduated driving licenses, for instance, which allocate certain driving privileges according to experience – like restricting the number of passengers under the age of 25 for new drivers. Sadly, that has not been included. I do, however, welcome the consideration of introducing alcohol ‘interlock’ devices and the potential for immediate suspension of licences for drivers over the drink or drug test limits.”
Mr Jones commented: “There is also a growing concern that the cost of driving lessons, the unreasonable waits for both theory and practical tests and the eye watering cost of insurance could lead to a growing number of young people making the potentially fatal decision to simple buy a cheap, potentially unsafe car and just take the risk of driving to get to work or college. More must be done to support young drivers and avoid this catastrophic risk.
“In addition, any new changes in law will require more resources for enforcement and that places additional strain on police forces, especially those of large rural counties such as ours – while necessary improvements to roads will not happen without the requisite funding for the county council. Money must flow back from central government to the local area to fund roads policing and support road safety initiatives in a far more meaningful way if we are to save lives.”
He added that there also needed to be investment in bus infrastructure to offer alternatives for non-drivers. “If people had viable alternatives to driving it would remove cars from the road and inevitably have a positive effect on the number of incidents on our roads and I support the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in her call for far more government investment into rural areas for this purpose.”
Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, said: “We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence. The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.”
Enforcement will be updated to include new powers to suspend the licences of people suspected of drink or drug driving until they appear in court.
Drivers could be given penalty points for not wearing a seatbelt, or for driving with children who are not wearing a seatbelt.
Tougher punishments are also planned for people who drive without insurance or an MOT, as well as people using “ghost” number plates which cannot be read by recognition cameras.
A new Road Safety Investigation Branch will analyse collision patterns and inform prevention strategies, drawing on linked police and healthcare data to identify root causes and target interventions more effectively.
The strategy also mandates 18 new vehicle safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.
Edmund King, Director of The AA Charitable Trust and AA president, said the move is “long overdue” and they hope will save the lives of thousands of people.
“Tackling drivers who drive under the influence of drink or drugs, people who don’t wear their seatbelts and those getting behind the wheel without insurance are key to reducing road deaths and serious injuries. We also endorse the mantra of road safety being a life-long education, not just when learning to ride or drive.”
The strategy includes consulting on reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licencing; and supporting trials to improve motorcycle safety on rural roads.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said: “An emphasis on younger drivers and motorcycle safety is particularly positive, considering these are some of our most vulnerable road users. We’re also pleased to see action being taken on drug driving, which is a growing menace and by giving police additional powers to take action against those caught at the roadside, it will serve notice that such dangerous behaviours will not be tolerated.” A National Work-Related Road Safety Charter pilot will establish a national standard for employers requiring people to drive or ride for work by promoting good practice, accountability, and compliance with existing legislation.
