Commons Transport Committee launch inquiry to review Government’s approach to road safety
- 25.03.2019
- JessicaMG
- Personal-injury, Personal-injury
The Commons Transport Committee is launching an inquiry ‘to scrutinise the Government’s approach to road safety’ over growing concern that progress on the issue of road safety has come to a halt.
Between 2007 and 2012, the number of fatal road traffic accidents in the UK reduced by over 40%. However, in the five years that followed, the number of fatal road traffic accidents continued at a steady rate.
The committee aims to review the Government’s approach, which was last set out in its 2015 road safety statement, investigating which changes would be most effective at reducing both the number and severity of road traffic accidents.
Launching the inquiry, Chair of the Committee, Lilian Greenwood MP, said: ‘In 2017, almost 1,800 people died in road traffic accidents on the UK’s roads. While there are far fewer fatalities than there were in 2007, that figure is still too high, and hasn’t fallen at all in the last five years.
‘We want to know what should be done to bring down the number of accidents. We are keen to hear from everyone who feels our roads could be safer and has ideas on how to make it happen.'
Ms Greenwood added that the committee was seeking input and evidence from local authorities, businesses that employ drivers, road user groups, road safety campaigners and those who see their children off to school with concerns about their journey.
The Committee is calling for evidence on the following questions:
- How effective is the Government’s current approach to road safety?
- Are there any areas where the Government’s current approach to road safety could be improved?
- What interventions would be most effective at reducing the number and severity of road traffic accidents?
- What evidence is there on the effectiveness of these interventions?
- How can interventions to reduce the number and severity of road traffic accidents best be implemented?
Evidence can be submitted through the committee’s web portal here. The deadline for written submissions is 18 April 2019. Once the deadline has passed, the committee will identify which areas it will investigate in more detail.
Nicola Mepstead, Senior Personal Injury Solicitor here at PRD, comments:
It’s astonishing to hear there has been no progress in reducing the number of fatalities due to road traffic accidents in the last 5 years and presumably there has been a similar stalemate in reducing serious injuries. We often see the devastating effects of these accidents on the injured person and their families so the inquiry is welcome and hopefully it will be given the priority it deserves and any recommendations can acted on quickly.
Nicola Mepstead is a Senior Personal Injury Solicitor here at Potter Rees Dolan. Should you have any queries about Personal Injury issues, or indeed any other aspect of this article, and wish to speak to Nicola or any other member of the team please contact us on 0161 237 5888 or email Nicola directly.