IHT/CSS Route Safety Conference “Strategic Objectives for Road Safety” Tricia Hayes, Director, Road and Vehicle Safety and Standards Department for Transport

Three points to cover Current road safety strategy – achievements so far – pre Christmas review of 2008 Progress with developing a new road safety strategy How route safety might play in – should we announce a 4 th “e” Current road safety strategy – achievements so far – pre Christmas review of 2008 Progress with developing a new road safety strategy How route safety might play in – should we announce a 4 th “e”

Progress against our targets - overall

KSIs and deaths

Progress against our targets – children

Progress against our targets: slight casualties

2008 – what we did in the Spring Launched our consultation on driver learning and testing

Road deaths rates by 100,000 population Age distribution of road death

Key proposals in consultation document Create broader tests that give a more realistic assessment of whether someone is ready to drive on their own Develop more efficient learning so candidates are better prepared without necessarily increasing the costs of learning Offer better information on driving instructors and improve the training and development of instructors Develop new options for learning, to help develop well rounded drivers – including pre driver qualification developed with SQA which is now close to launch point Create broader tests that give a more realistic assessment of whether someone is ready to drive on their own Develop more efficient learning so candidates are better prepared without necessarily increasing the costs of learning Offer better information on driving instructors and improve the training and development of instructors Develop new options for learning, to help develop well rounded drivers – including pre driver qualification developed with SQA which is now close to launch point

2008 – what we did in the Autumn Consultation on road safety compliance drink-driving drug-driving speeding seatbelts careless driving remedial training Consultation on road safety compliance drink-driving drug-driving speeding seatbelts careless driving remedial training

Towards a new road safety strategy

Process of developing new strategy Informal consultation with road safety stakeholders (including groups of road safety engineers) TRL evaluating costs and benefits of national measures Cross-Whitehall steering group Formal consultation around March (after compliance consultation) New strategy published summer 2009 Informal consultation with road safety stakeholders (including groups of road safety engineers) TRL evaluating costs and benefits of national measures Cross-Whitehall steering group Formal consultation around March (after compliance consultation) New strategy published summer 2009

Start from the evidence - who is dying?

What are they doing?

Where are they dying?

Why are they dying?

Behaviour 460 people estimated to have been killed in a drink-drive accident careless or dangerous driving contributed to at least 400 road deaths estimated 350 fatalities annually are for want of wearing a seatbelt about 300 road fatalities result from drivers falling asleep at the wheel 460 people estimated to have been killed in a drink-drive accident careless or dangerous driving contributed to at least 400 road deaths estimated 350 fatalities annually are for want of wearing a seatbelt about 300 road fatalities result from drivers falling asleep at the wheel

So in our sights might be … men between the ages of 16 and 30 rural ‘A’ roads metropolitan pedestrians, particularly in deprived areas better protection of motorcyclists inappropriate and excessive speed improved driving standards men between the ages of 16 and 30 rural ‘A’ roads metropolitan pedestrians, particularly in deprived areas better protection of motorcyclists inappropriate and excessive speed improved driving standards

Route safety as an element of the new strategy

The geography of the remaining problem

What are professionals telling us about highway engineering and the new strategy? Highways engineering still has a long way to go in delivering road safety benefits But some differences of view among stakeholders among how much low hanging fruit are still on the tree As casualties fall, clusters of accidents are more difficult to identify Some authorities may need support in taking focused and data led decisions (hence Eurorap diagnostic work for DfT on A roads) But don’t try to impose one size fits all solutions to roads in different places and of different kinds Highways engineering still has a long way to go in delivering road safety benefits But some differences of view among stakeholders among how much low hanging fruit are still on the tree As casualties fall, clusters of accidents are more difficult to identify Some authorities may need support in taking focused and data led decisions (hence Eurorap diagnostic work for DfT on A roads) But don’t try to impose one size fits all solutions to roads in different places and of different kinds

How might route safety contribute to this approach? Trials of Mixed Priority Routes and new Rural Demonstration Projects had helped to promote development of these methodologies Next step is to improve evaluation mechanisms to ensure that we capture the actual outcomes and benefits gained from a wider variety of schemes We also need to improve knowledge management across the whole road safety sector to make sure that people who need knowledge can find it easily And we need to offer leadership and political support to help our fellow professionals in tackling barriers to good value local implementation Trials of Mixed Priority Routes and new Rural Demonstration Projects had helped to promote development of these methodologies Next step is to improve evaluation mechanisms to ensure that we capture the actual outcomes and benefits gained from a wider variety of schemes We also need to improve knowledge management across the whole road safety sector to make sure that people who need knowledge can find it easily And we need to offer leadership and political support to help our fellow professionals in tackling barriers to good value local implementation

Empowering the road safety profession – a possible fourth “e”? Road safety information management strategy - move focus from creating knowledge to sharing it Enhanced delivery team supporting local practitioners Promoting a culture of self help among local authorities (building on Time Bank concept) Mapping risk profile of all A roads Road safety information management strategy - move focus from creating knowledge to sharing it Enhanced delivery team supporting local practitioners Promoting a culture of self help among local authorities (building on Time Bank concept) Mapping risk profile of all A roads Partnership with professional bodies to champion skills initiatives and qualifications Publishing road safety maps to underpin a geographically intelligent approach Accident investigation and dissemination of lessons learned – comparison with other modes? Political advocacy and leadership – championing the profession

Questions? 25 November 2008