RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
June 29 , 2006
CALL FOR MORE SAFETY MEASURES AS CYCLE DEATHS RISE
RoSPA today welcomed another fall in the number of fatalities on Britain’s roads, but said it was deeply concerned that deaths among pedal cyclists had risen again.
The Society published a list of measures to make the country’s roads safer.
Figures released today by the Department for Transport showed a one per cent drop in the number of people killed in road accidents from 3,221 in 2004 to 3,201 in 2005. Cyclist deaths increased by 10 per cent to 148 in 2005.
Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “While we are pleased that the overall number of deaths has fallen again, we are deeply disturbed that more pedal cyclists have died.
“We hope that the extra funding announced this week for cycle training and cycle routes to schools will help to stem this trend. We want to encourage cycling and we don’t want parents to be put off by these figures. Training is essential and can have benefits for years to come.
“It is also worrying to see a slight increase in deaths among car users – up by four to 1,675 in 2005. This is despite improvements in car design and advances in medical science.
“New child car seat laws being introduced in September may help with this, but there are many other measures which could further reduce deaths and injuries on our roads.”
RoSPA wants:
· The drink-drive limit cut from 80mg to 50mg, which could save 65 lives and 230 serious injuries a year.
· A new system for changing the clocks in spring and autumn to bring lighter evenings all-year-round and save around 450 deaths and serious injuries annually.
· Clearer messages from courts that dangerous driving will not be tolerated.
· All drivers taking some type of refresher or advanced training.
· More speed management schemes, including 20mph zones.
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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