RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

June 14, 2001
DEATHS FALL - BUT “SELFISH” DRIVERS STILL A MENACE

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today welcomed news that deaths on Britain’s roads had fallen to a record low – but said there were still far too many selfish drivers who put people’s lives at risk.

Figures from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions show road deaths in 2000 down by 14 to 3,409, serious injuries falling by two per cent to 38,155 and slight injuries almost static at 278,719.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said: “Driving is a high risk activity and yet many people treat the roads with a lack of respect. There are far too many motorists who drive selfishly, putting their own interests above the safety of other road users.

“If the figures are to continue to fall, we have to improve the standard of driving in this country, and in particular we must persuade people to slow down and take more time.

“Speed cameras may be unpopular, but they prevent accidents. If people do not like them, there is a simple solution – drive more slowly.”

Companies could play a part by managing the risks faced by their employees while at the wheel, he said. Company car and van drivers have a poor accident record and it has been estimated that more than a quarter of Britain’s road deaths may involve people driving for work. Organisations need to invest in driver training, set realistic schedules and monitor the hours their drivers spend on the road. They should also ban the use of mobile phones while driving.

The rise in the number of motorcycle accidents was worrying at a time when there has been a fall in two-wheeled vehicle traffic, Kevin Clinton said. Some of the increase could be as a result of older riders – “born again bikers” – returning to the roads on machines that were far more powerful than they had ridden before.

RoSPA sees the fall in pedestrian (down two per cent) and pedal cycle (down 10 per cent) casualties as particularly encouraging. The motor industry can help these groups further by introducing safer fronts on vehicles so that they do less damage to vulnerable road users in accidents. RoSPA would like to see design changes to protect pedestrians and cyclists made compulsory rather than the voluntary code currently proposed in Europe.