SPECS 'flaw' highlighted
A 'massive flaw' in the SPECS safety camera system means motorists can avoid fines and points on their licence simply by changing lanes, according to a report in the Mail on Sunday.

The report says that the Home Office has admitted that drivers can avoid being caught by SPECS cameras, which calculate a car's average speed over a long distance.

The cameras are designed to catch motorists who slow down in front of a camera, and then drive above the speed limit until they reach the next one. But, under Home Office rules governing camera equipment, prosecutions are only valid if a driver is filmed in the same lane at the start and finish of each section by a linked pair of cameras.

Med Hughes, ACPO's head of roads policing, said it would be 'irresponsible' and dangerous for drivers to change lanes in a bid to avoid detection - adding that motorists would 'not be able to guarantee' they could avoid being penalised if they changed lanes.

For the full story go to: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk

Instructors to face criminal checks
Driving instructors will undergo criminal history checks if plans to improve the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) are given the go-ahead.

The Agency has compiled a package of measures to improve the way it operates, which was published last week on the DSA website, dsa.gov.uk. People have until 11 January 2007 to make their views known.

Chief executive, Rosemary Thew, said: "Most driving instruction takes place on a one to one basis, and often the driver is a teenager. We feel it is appropriate that instructors undergo criminal history checks in the same way as other professionals who work with young people."

For further information contact the DSA's press office on 0115 901 2851/2.

Devon offers insight into Drivers' Centre

Devon's road safety team is offering access to the Devon Drivers' Centre (DDC) as part of its Beacon Open Day during November.

The Drivers' Centre has been providing safety training since 1990 and now offers instruction to around 7000 people each year. ''DDC remains a unique facility and we're offering the opportunity to see how the Centre was funded and built, the range of services we offer and what we are planning for its future,'' said Jeremy Phillips, operations manager.

The Open Day will take place on 7 November and will cover Devon's approach to partnership working, policy and delivery of road safety; how to engage the ADI profession in core business; hard to reach groups; initiatives for motorcyclists; youth training and offenders and effective leadership for a road safety culture.  Access to the Drivers' Centre will be on the afternoon of 6 November.

"Formal presentations will be kept to a minimum and delegates will enjoy free access to key personnel and partners - the people who do the work and who have contributed most to Devon's position as one of the safest shire counties in England,'' Jeremy Philips added.

Click here for further information and booking details.

MP campaigns for 'Drugalizer' testing
A Dorset MP is calling on people to get behind his bid to treat drug drivers like drink drivers.

An amendment to the Road Safety Bill moved by Chris Chope, the former Conservative transport minister, was thrown out of the Commons. It would have resulted in drivers found to have drugs in their system being penalised more heavily.

Mr Chope said: "We do not tolerate train drivers who have illegal substances in their body when they are driving trains or airline pilots who have illegal substances in their body when they are at the controls of an aircraft. Yet the law seems to be much more relaxed about those who take the controls of motor vehicles, some of which are very large lorries."

Mr Chope explained that new technology used in other parts of the world means that drivers suspected of having taken illegal drugs can be tested with 'drugalizers' and the results obtained within minutes.

"There is technology available from a company in this country. It's a hand-held device that can detect cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine from a swab of saliva," he said. "It can test for one drug in 90 seconds and for a more complex cocktail in six minutes. The law should be changed now that technology allows roadside testing to take place."

For the full story go to: http://www.thisisdorset.net

Day of remembrance plans unveiled
RoadPeace, the UK charity dedicated to supporting road crash victims, has unveiled plans for the 2006 World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims, which will take place on Sunday 19 November in London and more than 30 other locations around the UK.

RoadPeace says the event, which was first introduced in 1993, 'responds to the need of road crash victims for public recognition, which is so readily given to victims of other types of disaster'. It also acknowledges the work of all those involved in the aftermath of a crash - fire, police, ambulance personnel, doctors, nurses and counsellors.

Services will be held across the UK in cathedrals and other places of worship of all denominations. Many schools and community groups will also mark the occasion. 

The London service will take place at St James' Church, Piccadilly, WC2, at 2.30pm on 19 November. In addition, the annual RoadPeace Concert, which will feature music and poetry performed by the WarmTouch Group, will take place on Friday 17 November at 7.30 pm at the Amadeus Centre, 50 Shirland Road, London  SW9. Funds raised from this concert will go towards the charity's helpline service.

For further information about all World Day of Remembrance events around the UK go to  www.roadpeace.org , or contact Agnes Saudrais-Hough on 0208 838 5102.

'Lawless' London, czar says

London's roads are 'lawless', according to the Mayor's road safety czar.

Jenny Jones said the 'massive drop' in the number of traffic police in the capital was 'disastrous' and that the Metropolitan Police had become 'heavily over-reliant' on technology such as safety and traffic light cameras - and that it was no longer able to police the rising number of motorists not licensing their vehicles.

Ms Jones has called for the deployment of 50 more officers a year over the next three years.

She said: "Too many drivers have been getting away with speeding and other motoring offences for too long. While the number of cameras has gone up, the number of officers has gone down. What cameras can't do is trace the large number of illegal drivers - to do that you need skilled officers on the ground.

"There is now a culture in London where people feel they can get away with driving dangerously."

For the full story go to: http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/

Call for drivers to take test every 10 years
A magistrate has called for all motorists to retake their driving test every decade in a bid to make the roads safer.

David White-Jones said 'inflexible' punishments by safety cameras were doing nothing to improve road safety or respect for the law. In a letter to this month's edition of Magistrate magazine, the JP said he wanted more emphasis on educating bad drivers.

"Perhaps one way to achieve it is to make the driving licence time limited and enforce a retest every, say, 10 years," he said. "Perhaps then drivers will become better educated and our roads safer places to be."

The magistrate, who sits on the Merseyside bench and is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "The reason motorists feel persecuted is that too many speed limits are inconsistently applied and enforced in a manner that breeds resentment."

Villages raise speed camera cash

Five villages in Northumberland have clubbed together to buy their own mobile safety camera following concerns that speeding drivers are putting lives at risk on rural roads.

Hepscot, Mitford, Hebron, Ulgham and Widdrington Village Parish Councils joined forces to come up with the cash for the device, which will be operated by police in the Morpeth area.

Northumberland County Councillor James Grant, who represents Ulgham ward, said: "This is the first time parish councils and the police have come together like this to tackle the rural speeding problem. We hope that other areas will follow our initiative and take the same proactive approach we have. After all, things only happen if you make them happen."

For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk

Minister launches new style test centres
Transport Minister, Stephen Ladyman officially opened the DSA's first first multi-purpose test centre in Gloucester on 19 October.

The Gloucester centre is one of around 60 being developed as a national network throughout Britain. The centres - introduced as a road safety measure to cut biking accidents - will cater for the new motorcycle test due to be introduced in 2008.

Rosemary Thew, DSA chief executive, said: "The new centres fit into our overall vision of 'safe driving for life'."

M6 'most boring road'
The M6 has been voted Britain's most boring road.

The motorway stretching from Rugby to Carlisle is 230 miles long and copes with 180,000 vehicles each day.

The A30 in the South West came second, while the 200-mile M1 came in third place.

Around 3,000 motorists were polled in a survey by Cornhill Direct.