Local authorities 'need to identify new approaches to road safety'

Date: 27/8/2010

Councils face the challenge of finding new ways of thinking in order to maintain a high level of road safety.

That is the view of Duncan Vernon, Road Safety Manager for England at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, who was commenting on the organisation's Road Safety Congress set to be held in February 2011.

At the event, researchers, practitioners and policymakers will examine the impact of public spending cuts on the prevention of road accidents.

Mr Vernon said the number of road casualties has been successfully decreased over the last 20 years, due, in part, to evidence-led strategies.

The next ten-year road safety policy, however - which is expected to be revealed by the coalition later this year - will be affected by reduced public spending, he explained.

Mr Vernon commented: "Acting on road safety remains a statutory duty for local authorities and the challenge is … to identify new approaches, new thinking and new partners to ensure further casualty reductions are achieved."

Earlier this month, the Department for Transport announced drink-drive fatalities fell by five per cent in 2009.

Posted by Sarah Bailey