This paper summarises official policy on accident reduction and road safety in the UK. Several aspects are mentioned. Child protection involves making drivers more aware of children, creating lower speed areas, and improving road use training for children. Driver training emphasises better education and experience for pre-test drivers and improving safety for people who drive as part of their work. Driver impairment remains a serious problem and legislation is to be strengthened in the area of testing for alcohol and drugs; publicity is to be improved for this and for fatigue impairment. Safety must be built into the design of roads, including safety for pedestrians. Speed limits need better enforcement and a more effective method of imposing limits based on road functions. Improved vehicle protection continues to promise safety benefits and should be encouraged. Motorcycle training needs to be made more effective and other drivers made more aware of the vulnerability of motorcyclists. Road safety publicity will be developed on a more strategic approach.
Abstract