LARSOA welcomes 2003 casualty figures, but RoSPA expresses ‘considerable concern’

Two road safety organisations have reacted differently to the 2003 casualty figures published last Thursday by DfT.

LARSOA chair Steve Whitehouse was generally positive about the statistics. "LARSOA welcomes the continued improvement and downward trend towards achieving the 2010 casualty reduction targets," he said.

"We particularly note that the number of KSIs was 22 per cent below the 1994-98 baseline, the number of child KSIs was 40 per cent below the baseline, and the slight casualty rate was 17 per cent below the baseline."

He did, however, voice concern with regard to two wheel casualties. "We are concerned about the lack of significant improvement in the casualty figures for both pedal and powered two wheelers," he added. "We would welcome additional educational and promotional resources to target these vulnerable road user groups.

"While welcoming the forthcoming introduction of new national standards for cyclist training we must also ensure that the safety message is given as much prominence as the drive for modal shift to more sustainable forms of transport."

By contrast, RoSPA immediately issued a six-point action plan to ‘cut casualties on Britain's roads’.

"The figures are very disappointing and of considerable concern," said Kevin Clinton, RoSPA head of road safety. "It is the first time deaths have risen above 3,500 since 1997. The good news is that child and pedestrian casualties are down but there is clearly a serious problem with motorcyclists. And it is worrying that deaths in cars have gone up despite improvements in design."

RoSPA is campaigning for:
1. Measures to ensure motorcyclists get enough training and that they build up experience on smaller machines before progressing to bigger bikes.

2. The drink-drive limit to be lowered to 50mg and the introduction of random breath testing.

3. Motorists to be encouraged to take regular refresher training.

4. Employers and the HSE to do more to manage the risks faced and created by employees on the road.

5. A switch in the system of changing clocks in spring and autumn to give lighter evenings all year round.

6. Higher profile police presence to act as a deterrent to bad drivers.