UK Road deaths fall to record low

Despite an increase in road traffic of 60% since 1981, The Road Accidents of Great Britain 1998- the Casualty Report , released this September, has confirmed that the fatality count in 1998 was 3,421, the lowest number since records began in 1926 and the lowest road death rate amongst any of the major industrialised nations.Only Sweden and Iceland had lower figures per kilometer travelled.

Happiily there was a fall in drink-drive related deaths, and of child pedestrian fatalities. Lord Whitty, Minister for Roads who announced the figures, plans a new comprehensive strategy to lower road accidents further. The scheme will cover driving standards, speed limits, infrastructure, vehicle design, pedestrian protection ( the only area where we lag behind our peers), cycling and motorbike safety. This will be enhanced by enforcement of penalties, publicity and education.

There has been 60% traffic increase since 1981-85 when the baseline average of casualties was calculated by the then Secretary of State with the aim of reducing casualties by a third by the year 2000. Targets were reached for serious injuries in 1992 and for deaths in 1994. Furthermore there has been a 50% fall in motorbike fatalities. Positive breath-tests also fell from 103,500 to 94,700 in 1998 despite a record number of 815,500 drivers breathalised.

The excellent figures, for which we should be justifyably proud, demonstrate several points: Firstly that Britain's ' high limit, high discipline' drink-drive approach works. The UK BAC limit is .08, whereas in many EU countries the limit is .05. The Canadian Government has noted just this and has strenghtened its penalties rather than reduce the BAC limit .
Secondly, stricter enforcement of seatbelt law, front and rear as well as speed-check measures such as cameras have contributed enormously to the reduction in figures in the last decade. Speed remains the biggest killer on Britains roads and new digital 'machine vision' Speedcheck SVDD cameras, proved to be 99% effective on key roads should now reduce casualties further.

Areas for concern remain; half of child accidental deaths are due to road accidents which are also responsible for a startling two thirds of deaths of 15-19 year olds.This illustrates the need for targeted campaigns, which need to reach school children , students and their parents in particular.

Such campaigns should highlight the danger of speed, vehicle safety, aggression and the highway code, as outlined by Lord Whitty, as well as the more obvious risks involved in drink-driving.