LOCAL authorities have been told by the Institute of Advanced Motorists to give high priority to road safety schemes and pay more attention to driver education when they draw up local transport plans.

Every authority is required to prepare an LTP, a key element of the Government's Integrated Transport White Paper, for submission by July and which will run for five years.

The IAM has welcomed the Government's commitment to a road safety strategy, but says it does not want to see 'the usual diet of speed humps and fines'.

Chief examiner Bryan Lunn said: 'Improving the standard of driving is about education, not just engineering or reinforcement.

'So-called road accidents are usually the result of error. Local transport chiefs should remember that the traffic in their area is only as safe as the worst driver at any given moment. Let's see genuine bids to raise driving standards.'