Fleet News secured exclusive interviews with the three most important political figures for fleets – transport minister Paul Clark, Conservative shadow transport minister Theresa Villiers and Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker.

With the election just months away, we quizzed them about their policies on key transport issues and what they have in store for fleets. Here we reveal their policies on one of the most critical issues for fleets - road safety.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Play AudioFleet News Audio Links

  1. Paul Clark, Labour Transport Minister talks about Road Safety and Speed Cameras (two audio files)
  2. Theresa Villiers, Shadow Transport Minister for the Conservatives talks about Road Safety
  3. Norman Baker, Shadow Transport Spokeman for the Liberal Democrats talks about Road Safety 
     

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Undeniably, the Government’s 10-year road safety strategy which ends this year (the new one will be published in April) has achieved some significant successes. 

Road deaths and serious injuries are now at their lowest levels since 1926 with just over 2,500 people killed each year. It’s a success all three parties want to continue. 

“Road safety is cross-party,” says Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker. 

“The objective the Government has set is one we share.”
But how will the three parties’ ambitions to reduce road deaths and injuries further impact on fleets and their drivers, who are involved in one-in-three road crashes?

One idea gathering momentum is a vocational qualification for business drivers. It is already compulsory for HGV and PSV drivers, but there are plans to bring this qualification to van and possibly company car drivers. 

“I am a supporter of that, but it would have to be voluntary,” says Baker. “I don’t want to further load business costs.”

The Tories agree. “There is already an increasing trend towards continuous driver training,” says shadow transport minister Theresa Villiers. 

“But in terms of a work-based qualification I think we have to be careful of anything that involves compulsion – that would mean more red tape and more costs to businesses.”
Labour has already explored the idea of a business driver qualification but, as transport minister Paul Clark says, there has not been a decision on a compulsory element.

“I want to see Britain ending up with the safest roads in the world,” he says. “At this stage what we are seeing is how the various programmes we have got are working within this area. Let’s continue to see whether the programmes that particularly focus on those who drive for work deliver.”

Will there be a compulsory element though? “I would never rule anything out – I would be silly to do that,” said Clark. “It is not on the agenda now, but it is not something we would rule out.”

Pre-election Special - Road Safety

Click on the following links for more in-depth interviews with these key politicians, which also include mroe audio downloads: