A NEW 10-year target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 40% to about 17,500 a year has been set by the Government in its new road safety strategy. In acknowledging that Great Britain has the best road safety record in Europe, after Sweden, the Government recognises its record for child road safety is 'relatively poor' and therefore in its road safety strategy sets a new target of reducing road-related child deaths and injuries by 50%.

The third target is a 10% reduction in the 'slight' casualty rate. These targets will be achieved, the Government says, through working in partnership with local authorities, the police, voluntary groups and road user associations, motor manufacturers and road users, who will come together in a Road Safety Advisory Panel, which will be created immediately. 'We will evaluate progress on our strategy and targets formally every three years. If we can do better, we will, especially if we are able to increase resources,' the strategy says.

Main points of the strategy:

  • Local authorities required to plan specific measures to cut child deaths and injuries as part of their local transport plans. Total money available for local transport plans to be raised from £755 million in 2000/01 to £1 billion in 2001/02.
  • Creation of more 20mph zones around schools and residential areas.
  • Greater use of speed cameras.
  • Home Office and DETR to carry out a major review of road traffic offences and penalties. Raising the maximum penalty for careless driving, greater efforts to tackle drink and drug driving and consultation on mandatory retesting for serious driving offences.
  • Ploughing income from speeding fines into catching speeders.
  • A crackdown on irresponsible car advertising.