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Week
Commencing 29 April 2002
Drink-Drive
limit to remain unchanged
Transport
minister David Jamieson has announced that the Government has no
plans to change the drink-drive limit. The limit will stay at 80
milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. "The
penalties for drinking and driving in Britain are among the toughest
in Europe," Mr Jamieson said. "Our approach of publicity
and enforcement backed by strong penalties has achieved a two-thirds
reduction in drink drive deaths since the 1970s."
Commenting on the decision, Rob Gifford of PACTS, said: "This
is a very disappointing decision. Publicity campaigns, however well
intentioned and however well targeted, will never be enough to reduce
the number of people killed and injured through drinking and driving.
The Government seems to have ignored the recent increases in drink-drive
deaths. It has also ignored the research evidence that shows that
impairment rises and the ability to drive falls sharply above the
50mg level. This is another example of Government ignoring research
and caving in to vested interests such as the drinks industry and
alleged public opinion," Mr Gifford concluded. D
More @ http://www.pacts.org.uk
Two new initiatives announced to encourage cycling
DTLR is to set up a team to encourage public and private sector organisations
to promote cycling more actively. The 20 strong team is being established
by Stephen Norris, chairman of the National Cycling Strategy Board
and will be expected to forge links with organisation such as councils,
health trusts and tourist boards.
In a separate initiative, London mayor Ken Livingstone has launched
a series of 19 free cycle maps to encourage cycling in London. Copies
of the maps can be obtained by telephoning 020 7222 1234.
Local Transport Today, 25 April
New
Highway Code website launched
DTLR has launched
a new Highway Code website. The site makes it clear that the Highway
Code applies to all road users and that many of the rules in the
Code are legal requirements - and states that road users who ignore
or disobey these rule are committing a criminal offence.
More @ http://www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadsafety/hc
Pedestrian
crossing to be tested on 70mph dual carriageway
The Highways
Agency is to trial a pedestrian crossing on a dual carriageway with
a 70mph limit in Staffordshire. Pedestrian crossings are not normally
permitted on roads where the speed limit is in excess of 40mph. The
experiment will see a Puffin crossing installed on the A50 close to
a roundabout near Uttoxeter. The speed limit will be reduced to 40mph
in the vicinity of the crossing.
Local Transport Today, 25 April
Dates
announced for child casualties conference
Hampshire
County Council and PACTS are to jointly stage a conference on the
theme of child casualties in June 2002. Speakers will include Sandy
Bishop, head of road safety at DTLR, Karl Hallam of the IPPR (Institute
of Public Policy Research), Katrina Phillips, chief executive of CAPT
and Peter Archer, managing director of Britax-Excelsior. The conference
will be held on Thursday 27th June in Winchester. For further details
or to book a place contact Sally Verkaik at PACTS on 020 7922 8112
More @ http://www.pacts.org.uk.
Consultants
appointed for £30m Home Zones Challenge
DTLR has appointed Babtie Group to manage the implementation of the
£30m Home Zones Challenge, which will fund 61 street improvement
schemes across 57 local authorities in England. The four year contract
includes organising an annual conference and publishing regular updates
on a website.
Local Transport Today, 25 April
Cameras
pilot raises £5.3m
The seven partnerships
that participated in the speed cameras netting off pilot raised
£5.3m in fines during 2000/2001, according to recently released
Government figures. Thames Valley raised the highest amount (£1.4m)
followed by Essex (£1.3m) and Northamptonshire (£1.15m).
The revenues raised under the scheme must be reinvested in camera
enforcement and publicity.
Local Transport Today, 25 April
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