Press Release

3 April 2005

Shock at proposal to bulk-process offences for criminal conduct that is life threatening

Proposed slap on the hands for law breaking drivers is a slap in the face for victims

RoadPeace, UK's charity for road crash victims, is shocked at government's proposal to bulk-process 'low level' motoring offences, including speeding. It is these 'low level' moving violations that too often result in a death or disability to a road user. This is the latest slap in the face for road victims. Today sees the launch of the Government's Code for Victim Services, which excludes the majority of victims of road crashes, even when crimes have been involved. The Road Safety Minister, Stephen Ladyman, has recently announced a 'deal' for motorists, whereby the use of safety cameras would continue to require deaths and serious injuries to occur first.

The bulk-processing proposal came a day after the Home Office released the latest statistics on motoring offences, showing them at a new high. Yet with the number of cars and drivers increasing, the rise in motoring offences should come as no surprise. Moreover, almost two thirds involved parking offences, which increased greatly since being decriminalised.

Overstaying a parking place does not kill anyone, unlike speeding, which is the single greatest contributory factor in violent deaths. Over half of all deaths and injuries occur on 30 mph roads, where over half of drivers choose to speed when given the chance. Under the government's new proposal, such life threatening and law breaking behaviour will no longer be heard in a court but be administered instead like a parking offence.

Amy Aeron-Thomas, RoadPeace Research & Policy Advisor, said:

"This proposal sends out the wrong message to drivers. Once again, the government refuses to take death and injury on the road seriously, despite road deaths outnumbering murders by over 4 to 1. This represents decriminalisation through the back door - a zero deterrence approach instead of the zero tolerance policy much needed.

Will the government be proposing to bulk-process domestic violence or racist offences or any other common criminal conduct? Will this be the new approach with anti social behaviour?"

Brigitte Chaudhry, RoadPeace Founder & President, said:

"Such a proposal seems incredible at a time when the Road Safety Bill, which is going through Parliament at present, is meant to bring improvements to the way road traffic offences involving bad driving are treated in law, and at a time when the global rise of road deaths and injuries is forecast to overtake HIV/Aids without a more serious attitude to the 'Global road safety crisis' (UN)."

While much of the media has focused on the new high of motoring offences or the over-involvement of young male drivers, RoadPeace believes the key findings include:

• Majority of causing death by dangerous driving involve older male drivers
• It is not possible to know the number of drivers convicted of careless driving after a fatal or serious injury crash as these data are not collected.
• The average motoring fine in magistrates' courts was only £129.
• Speed limit offences accounted for 36% of all offences

Contacts: RoadPeace office 020 8838 5102 Rita Taylor 01963 359 044

Brigitte Chaudhry 020 8964 1800

Notes to Editors:

'Road deaths and injuries shatter lives'

In the UK, from 1940 - 2000 (60 years - a person's lifetime), 17,586.625 million people were reported injured and killed on UK's roads - if we take under-reporting and the effect on families into account, then more than half the population is affected by road death and injury in their lifetime. On the world's roads, 3000 people are killed daily - a daily 9/11 disaster!

At present, out of the 3500 deaths on Britain's roads, only some 250 are followed by a prosecution, which mentions the death in the charge. It is rare for even summary charges being brought in cases of injury.

War on the Roads: casualty statistics

In London

• 300 lives lost every year
• 2 in every 5 deaths is a pedestrian
• One child is killed every two weeks
• Motorcycle fatalities are increasing
• Target is 40% reduction in KSI

In the UK

• 10 people are killed every day
• Most victims are young men
• Road crashes are the leading cause of death/disability for those under 40.
• Poor children are five times more likely to be killed or injured than better off children
• There is a 1 in 200 chance of dying in a road crash
• Pedestrians and cyclists account for 1 in 3 road deaths
• Half of all 'accidental child deaths' occur on the road
• A 20 mph limit in residential areas would reduce child road deaths and serious injuries by 67%!
• Over half of road safety expenditure is for hospital treatment of casualties