- government publishes 2 year action
plan to improve safety of vulnerable road users
- funding boost for police use of video evidence, and new 15%
local infrastructure investment goal
- minister announces search for new
cycling and walking champion, to promote cycle and
pedestrian-friendly policies
A number of ground-breaking
initiatives have been announced as part of
a 2 year action plan to
improve road safety.
The 50 proposed new measures are part of the government’s plan to
combat road rage, encourage greater mutual respect between road
users and protect the most vulnerable.
Councils will be given powers to tackle dangerous parking in
mandatory cycle lanes, and will also be encouraged to spend
around 15% of their local transport infrastructure funding on
walking and cycling.
Cycling and Walking Minister said:
Greater road safety— and especially the protection of
vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians and horse
riders – is essential.
We want to improve air quality, encourage healthy exercise,
reduce obesity and boost our high streets and economic
productivity.
That means more support for cycling and walking, and that’s why
these new measures are designed to deliver.
As part of the action plan, a bespoke new back office unit will
be set up so that police can analyse video evidence submitted by
the public. This builds on the success of Operation Snap – a
successful programme first piloted by North Wales Police in 2016
– and will allow police to handle video and photographic evidence
submitted via dash cams.
The Department for Transport (DfT) will also appoint a new
cycling and walking champion, to ensure new policies meet the
needs of road users across the UK, and will host a new 2019 Bikeability
Summit encouraging businesses to promote cycling and walking
schemes to their employees.
Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at Brake, the road safety
charity, said:
People who choose to cycle or walk should be able to do so in a
safe and welcoming environment; active travel is not only great
for personal health but public health too. With cyclists and
pedestrians among the most vulnerable on our roads, safety, and
the perceptions of safety, need to be addressed to encourage
more people to leave their cars at home and get active. We
welcome the government’s action plan, which couldn’t be more
timely as people across the country are encouraged to be more
#BikeSmart for national Road Safety Week.
Joe Irvin, Chief Executive, Living Streets said:
Too often people walking pay the ultimate price on our roads.
This is unacceptable and we need opportunities like this to
make our roads safer.
Looking to improve the Highway Code for walking and cycling,
and appointing a cycling and walking champion can help make our
streets safer for everyone.
Lower speed limits in urban areas, more time to cross at
light-controlled crossings, better street maintenance and
constraints on pavement parking can all help encourage people
to choose these cleaner and healthier ways to travel.
The action plan will also assess whether insurance companies
could offer discounts to drivers and motorcyclists who have
passed Bikeability training. The DfT will work closely with
courier companies to explore incentives for drivers who undergo
training in driving safely alongside cyclists, pedestrians and
horse-riders.
The action plan builds upon the feedback of more than 14,000
people, including organisations such as Brake, Living Streets,
Cycling UK and the
British Horse Society – who responded to the Cycling and Walking
Investment Strategy Safety Review call for evidence.
We are seeking to make cycling and walking the natural choices
for shorter journeys, or as part of a longer journey, by 2040.
Since the strategy was published, councils and metro mayors have
allocated an additional £700 million to active travel
initiatives, with almost £2 billion being invested in this area
over this Parliament.
The government announced that it would review guidance in the
Highway Code on how road users should behave in relation
to cyclists and pedestrians, as well as other vulnerable road
users. The review will be conducted in consultation with all key
stakeholders, including those representing equestrians.
