Improving roads could save lives and money, report claims
Discussion
Telegraph said:
Improving roads could save lives and money, report claims
Improving roads could save 6,000 lives and billions of pounds over the next decade, according to a report published today.
The Road Safety Foundation and RAC Foundation have urged the Government to spend “just a fraction” of the money lost to Britain because of crashes.
It calculated that accidents cost the British economy up to £30billion a year.
Much of the Bill is picked up by the National Health Service while ordinary drivers are finding themselves out of pocket as insurance premiums soar
The report ‘'Saving Lives, Saving Money: the costs and benefits of achieving safe roads'’ calls for an investment of £8 billion over the next decade.
Among the recommendations is a call for a star rating system for roads, with the toughest standards being set for motorways.
“Given that Britons are more likely to die on the roads than in any other daily activity, this report should make us first angry, and then determined to act to see more lives saved – at little or no extra cost,” said Prof Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation.
“We will never prevent all road accidents but we can do a considerable amount to reduce their effects simply by improving the road environment and making it as forgiving as possible.
“We understand road risks well enough to know how to cut this grim toll of death and injury, yet we fail to implement cheap and effective measures to combat them.
“Why do we continue to tolerate unsafe roads when the cost of bringing the network up to minimum standards is within what we already spend on our roads? It beggars belief that we are not redirecting resources to where they are most beneficial.”
The campaigners have criticised the Government for cutting local authorities’ road safety budgets.
It has led to a number of councils, police forces and road safety partnerships switching off speed cameras.
There Institute of Advanced Motorists called for better training to tackle the problem.
“The IAM wants to see incentives for all drivers to improve their skills so that they are well prepared to cope with the wide variety of road conditions highlighted in this report,” said Neil Greig, the director of policy and research.
“Drivers cause most crashes, not roads or cars. Basic advanced driving skills – anticipation, positioning, speed and control – are at their most valuable on Britain’s highest risk roads.
“On rural roads the margins for error are minimal and the punishment for mistakes often tragic. Rural driving must become part of the driving test as soon as possible.”
LinkImproving roads could save 6,000 lives and billions of pounds over the next decade, according to a report published today.
The Road Safety Foundation and RAC Foundation have urged the Government to spend “just a fraction” of the money lost to Britain because of crashes.
It calculated that accidents cost the British economy up to £30billion a year.
Much of the Bill is picked up by the National Health Service while ordinary drivers are finding themselves out of pocket as insurance premiums soar
The report ‘'Saving Lives, Saving Money: the costs and benefits of achieving safe roads'’ calls for an investment of £8 billion over the next decade.
Among the recommendations is a call for a star rating system for roads, with the toughest standards being set for motorways.
“Given that Britons are more likely to die on the roads than in any other daily activity, this report should make us first angry, and then determined to act to see more lives saved – at little or no extra cost,” said Prof Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation.
“We will never prevent all road accidents but we can do a considerable amount to reduce their effects simply by improving the road environment and making it as forgiving as possible.
“We understand road risks well enough to know how to cut this grim toll of death and injury, yet we fail to implement cheap and effective measures to combat them.
“Why do we continue to tolerate unsafe roads when the cost of bringing the network up to minimum standards is within what we already spend on our roads? It beggars belief that we are not redirecting resources to where they are most beneficial.”
The campaigners have criticised the Government for cutting local authorities’ road safety budgets.
It has led to a number of councils, police forces and road safety partnerships switching off speed cameras.
There Institute of Advanced Motorists called for better training to tackle the problem.
“The IAM wants to see incentives for all drivers to improve their skills so that they are well prepared to cope with the wide variety of road conditions highlighted in this report,” said Neil Greig, the director of policy and research.
“Drivers cause most crashes, not roads or cars. Basic advanced driving skills – anticipation, positioning, speed and control – are at their most valuable on Britain’s highest risk roads.
“On rural roads the margins for error are minimal and the punishment for mistakes often tragic. Rural driving must become part of the driving test as soon as possible.”
"Shock as RAC Foundation talks sense"
Telegraph said:
“Given that Britons are more likely to die on the roads than in any other daily activity, this report should make us first angry, and then determined to act to see more lives saved – at little or no extra cost,” said Prof Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation.
That's a very interestingly worded factIs it true?
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