IAM lobbies Labour for road casualty reduction targets

THE INSTITUTE of Advanced Motorists has called on the Labour Party to back the reintroduction of targets for reducing injuries and deaths on the road.

The road safety organisation renewed its calls for targets to be reintroduced at the political party's annual conference in Brighton.

An IAM survey of local councillors earlier this year showed that those affiliated with Labour were, in the IAM’s estimation, the most committed to road safety. The group reported that 74% of Labour councillors said it was a priority for them, while 78% opposed the removal of road safety targets.

However, it is standard form for a party in opposition to oppose an initiative put forward by the government, if only to force a proper system of checks and balances upon all new legislation.

The IAM also says that road safety targets are seen as best practice in countries across the world, and are used by most developed and developing countries.

In a press release the organisation added: “A target-led approach to road safety would allow the highest risk groups such as cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers on rural roads to be the focus of well-coordinated enforcement, engineering and educational campaigns.”

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Road safety targets work very effectively. In the past they joined up organisations. Local councils, the police, the NHS and safety camera partnerships used common targets to bring their policies together. And where there was a target, they always wanted to exceed it.”

By Press Association reporter