This short article describes the changes in United Kingdom legislation concerning dangerous or drunken driving recommended by the road traffic law review, chaired by Mr P. North (see IRRD 811567). The review recognises the importance to public health of road accident trauma and the extent to which this is caused by unsafe driver behaviour. Changes in the law which increase the likelihood of an offender being convicted of dangerous or drunken driving are recommended, as are ones that increase the likelihood of high penalties for those people who cause death by drunken driving. Suggestions are also made about the methods to augment and speed up procedures for catching offenders, such as the use of photography and video cameras. Breath testing drivers as they leave public houses or hotels is also recommended. In some cases suspects should be barred from driving until their case is heard in court. A case is also made for a trial retraining programme in order to ascertain whether the attitude of offenders can be influenced by such methods.
Abstract