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1. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, Traffic Standing Committee has produced a Road Policing Strategy which has been adopted by all forces. The title "Road Policing" offers a more comprehensive description of police activity than "Road Traffic".
Accident Statistics
2. Forces, in conjunction with local authorities maintained their efforts during 1998/99 in support of the Government's target of reducing road accident casualties by one-third from the 1981-85 average level by the year 2000. Figures for 1998 indicate that 385 people were killed in road accidents in Scotland - the fourth lowest figure for 50 years and 40% below the 1981-85 average. There were 4,067 people recorded as seriously injured. This is the third lowest figure since records began in 1950 and is 51% below the 1981-85 average. The total number of road accident casualties in 1998 was 22,457 and this represents 17% below the 1981-85 average and the fourth lowest figure in the past 40 years.
3. Recognising the need to keep up momentum and build on the improving figures, the Government issued, in August 1996, the consultation paper "Road Safety Casualty Reduction - Targeting The Future" which sought views on the type of road safety target that could be adopted for the period after the year 2000 when the present target of a one-third reduction ends. After fully considering the representations received in response to the consultation the Government announced that there would be a new national target set for reducing casualties by the year 2010. It was also agreed that there should be one sub-target for fatal and serious casualties, about which there is most concern, and another for slight casualties. The new targets are to be set in the autumn of 1999 within an outline strategy for achieving them.
Road Safety
4. The Scottish Road Safety Campaign (SRSC), which is funded by the Scottish Executive, is the main co-ordinating body for road safety, education and publicity activities in Scotland. Since the launch of the Children's Traffic Club in Scotland (CTCS), which offers road safety training for all 3 and 4 year old children in Scotland, various publicity initiatives have taken place to encourage parents to enroll their children in the CTCS. Currently the membership take-up rate is 61%, representing some 128,000 members. An evaluation of the CTCS was completed in November 1998, as a result of which the format of the Club and its materials is being reviewed.
5. The SRSC has been working on the development of a strategy aimed at changing driver behaviour, the primary objective of which is to reduce inappropriate and excessive speed on Scotland's roads. The strategy will be pursued by means of "Foolsspeed", a long-term, structured publicity campaign which challenges driver beliefs about speed. "Foolsspeed", which is based on a psychological theory for behaviour change, was launched in November 1998.
Speeding
6. The SRSC works closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland in mounting joint publicity and enforcement campaigns against speeding and drinking and driving. Speed is a recognised factor in about one-third of road accidents. Often local uniformed officers are trained in the use of hand-held speed detection devices and undertake the enforcement of speed restrictions at areas of concern to local communities.
7. The integrated transport White Papers published in 1998 committed the Government to undertake a nationwide review of speed policy. The review, which is now underway, is expected to be completed in the Autumn of 1999. It is looking in detail at the relationships between traffic speeds and road safety, vehicle emissions and other environmental issues such as noise levels. It is also examining the balance between controlling speeds and the efficient movement of traffic, both private and public, with associated economic costs. The review is examining how existing best practice in engineering, enforcement, education and publicity can be developed and extended. It covers all types of roads in Great Britain, both in town and in the country.
8. With the aim of making it easier for local authorities to introduce 20 mph speed limits in residential areas and around schools, the Scottish Executive has worked with the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland on trials of 20 mph schemes which are not supported by comprehensive traffic calming. Advisory 20-mph zones were established during the summer of 1998 at 75 pilot sites throughout Scotland. The pilot sites are in residential areas with little or no through traffic. The effectiveness of the trial sites, which depends on the support of the people who live there, is being monitored and evaluated.
9. Separately, the Government consulted on the removal of the requirement for local authorities to obtain the consent of the Secretary of State for the introduction of 20-mph speed limits. The proposals would give local authorities freedom to determine 20-mph speed limits in the light of local needs and circumstances. Following careful consideration of the consultation responses it has been decided to proceed with the proposals, which are subject to consideration by Parliament.
Drink Driving
10. The number of motorists detected as driving or in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs, or with breath/blood alcohol levels above the prescribed limits, decreased by 5% between 1997/98 and 1998/99: from 11,118 in 1997/98 to 10,581 in 1998/99 and is now at the lowest level for 10 years. The following table illustrates the trend over the last decade.
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs
|
Year |
Total |
Year |
Total |
|
1989 |
10,916 |
1994 |
10,835 |
|
1990 |
11,443 |
1995/96 |
11,052 |
|
1991 |
10,959 |
1996/97 |
11,771 |
|
1992 |
11,260 |
1997/98 |
11,118 |
|
1993 |
10,905 |
1998/99 |
10,581 |
11. Drinking and driving is a problem which is actively addressed through combined enforcement and publicity campaigns organised by ACPOS and the Scottish Road Safety Campaign. During the 1998-99 ACPOS Festive Season Campaign, 1025 motorists failed or refused a breath test, an increase of 0.6% on the previous year. There were 103 drink-related accidents during this period, compared with 143 during a similar period in 1997-98.
12. Considerable progress has been made over the years in reducing the number of drink related road accidents. In recent years, however, there has been little change in the number of casualties. The Government consulted in 1998 on a package of measures to further reduce drink-drive casualties. The proposals, which cover enforcement, offences and penalties and education, publicity and information, include the lowering of the drink-drive limit from 80mg to 50mg of blood alcohol. The Government's conclusions will be announced in autumn 1999.
13. If the public's attitudinal change to drinking and driving, evidenced over 10 years, could be harnessed in respect of tackling excessive speed then there is every reason to believe casualty and crash rates would fall. Work continues to find an efficient and effective process for identifying persons driving under the influence of drugs. Specific training has been given in some forces and testing kits are commercially available but policy, practice and an appropriate legal framework needs further development. Given the usage of drugs evidenced in Chapter 3 the importance of progress is obvious.
Initiatives
14. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of road safety initiatives constantly need to be improved and research allows various programmes and objectives to be assessed with a view to determining how they might be strengthened. The Scottish Executive Development Department, in conjunction with the Central Research Unit and the SRSC, has an ongoing road safety research programme. Projects in 1998-99 included:
15. The Government continues to attach a high priority to the development of cycling and will continue to build on the work of the Scottish Cycle Forum and ensure that Scotland continues to play a key part in the development of the National Cycle Strategy. Members of the Scottish Cycling Liaison Group, chaired by the Department, also meet regularly to discuss the more technical aspects of developing an increase in cycling in Scotland. Funding of some £553,000 was paid during 1998-99 under the Scottish Cycle Challenge Initiative to 35 local innovative projects, aimed at encouraging an increase in cycle use.
16. The Scottish Road Safety Campaign has completed a review of the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme. The review recommended the establishment of better links between cycle training and the school curriculum, the inclusion of theory relating to sustainable transport and revising the course materials to make the Scheme suitable for adult trainees as well as children. As a result of the review, the written training materials are being revised and a new training video has been made.
17. The Government consulted last year on proposals to clarify and extend the powers of school crossing patrols to stop traffic to enable children of all ages and adults to cross the road and to allow local authorities to provide patrols at appropriate times. The majority of responses to the consultation were favourable and the Government decided to promote the necessary changes to primary legislation. It will be for the Scottish Executive to take this matter forward in Scotland.
18. During Inspections particular attention is given to the policy and practice in place to tackle road casualty levels. Forces do give this aspect priority attention, routinely and through specific initiatives. It will be a tough challenge to continue the level of improvement seen in the past decade but forces recognise the importance of the task. Partnership, change to driver behaviour through awareness campaigns and maximum use of technology will all have a part in reaching the targets.
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