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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OVERVIEW
1 The consultation on the "Scottish Road Safety Strategy" was published by the Scottish Government on 1 February 2008 and ran until 25 April 2008, although responses were accepted up to 9 May 2008.
2 Findings from the analysis of consultation responses will be considered alongside other available evidence to identify measures to be included in the proposed Road Safety Strategy for Scotland.
3 The consultation invited views on 5 themes:
- What should our priorities be?
- How should we address these priorities?
- How should road safety be organised to deliver?
- How could road safety be funded more effectively?
- What can we learn from others?
OVERVIEW OF CONSULTEES
4 A total of 94 responses to the consultation were received, comprising 20 responses from individuals and 70 from organisations; one of the organisational responses was from 5 different organisations and has, therefore, been counted as 5 responses for data analysis purposes. Among organisational responses, the largest number of responses received was from local authorities. Given the primarily self-selecting nature of any consultation exercise, it should be noted that the statistics quoted in this report cannot be extrapolated to a wider population outwith the consultation population.
OVERVIEW OF RESPONSES
5 Some responses contained detailed suggestions and comments on a variety of themes while others focused on a single area of interest. Although there were some themes common across the consultation, it was agreed that the report should be written on a section by section basis following the themes from the consultation document.
6 The main themes emerging across the consultation were:
- Young Drivers
- Speed Limits
- Rural Roads
- Reducing Casualties and Collisions
- Drink-Driving
- Education
- Enforcement
- Engineering
- Multi-agency approach
- Funding
- Examples of Best Practice
YOUNG DRIVERS
7 In response to the question, ' What should our priorities be?' 52% of consultees made reference to young drivers. There was agreement among consultees that young drivers (those under the age of 25) are still over-represented in road traffic accidents. A small number of consultees noted the number of young drivers or passengers killed or injured on rural roads specifically.
SPEED LIMITS
8 Almost half of the consultees (49%) felt speed limits should be made a priority or target. There was acknowledgement that drivers in Scotland are driving at inappropriate speeds. To overcome this, the key focus was on speed management and a need for the strategy to make a clear statement regarding what must be a key objective, namely, to get all road users to obey speed limits at all times. Speeding on rural roads specifically was highlighted as a major source of accidents and consideration should be given to reducing the speed limit on these roads.
REDUCE CASUALTIES AND COLLISIONS
9 Reducing casualties/collisions was suggested as a priority by 45% of consultees. Reducing casualties among car users (in particular young drivers) and pedestrians in urban areas was the main focus. Alongside this, there were also comments on the need for available and up-to-date crash and casualty statistics; a need for a focus on the prevention of casualties/collisions; and the need to improve road infrastructures.
RURAL ROADS
10 One of the key themes in the responses was the danger of travelling on rural roads and this was linked to young drivers and speed limits. Overall, 43% of consultees felt that rural roads should be a priority, as these roads present many unforeseen hazards. Comments also suggested that little by way of improvements has been made to these roads to suit the needs of modern traffic.
DRINK-DRIVING
11 Drink-driving was considered a priority by 40% of consultees. Responses on this issue referred to the incidence of deaths and serious injury caused by drink-driving; the need to change legislation to establish a lower drink drive limit; the need for drink drive education/campaigns; the need to increase penalties for drink-driving convictions; the need for random roadside breath tests and the promotion of public transport.
EDUCATION
12 In response to the question, ' How should we address these priorities?' 86% highlighted education.
Post-test continuing driver education
13 It was felt the current driving test is not challenging enough and does not cover all driving situations. In the responses there were calls for post-test continuing driver education for drivers of all ages, but primarily young men. Schemes such as the Pass Plus training scheme and Safe Drive Stay Alive were also highlighted as well as advanced driver training courses. Some consultees referred to the need for graduated licensing schemes.
Change driver behaviour/driver responsibilities
14 One in 4 (24%) consultees commented that education was needed to change driver behaviour and encourage drivers to take responsibility for their actions. Drink or drug driving, travelling at excessive speed (particularly young male drivers), awareness of other road users (including pedestrians and cyclists), tiredness and child safety were highlighted as key areas for action.
Road safety training/Marketing events and training
15 Education was considered important and key to improving road safety, and 20% of consultees wanted to see road safety training for everyone. The importance of parental involvement when educating children and young people on road safety was also highlighted. It was acknowledged that publicity and training events, such as targeted educational programmes or advertising campaigns, can assist in influencing road user behaviour and reduce casualties. However, how to get the message across and the expense of marketing campaigns were noted.
Road safety as part of the curriculum
16 Seventeen percent of consultees considered it essential that road safety be part of the school curriculum. There were suggestions that this should start at nursery age and continue right through secondary school.
ENFORCEMENT
17 Three in 4 consultees (75%) specified enforcement in response to the question, 'How should we address these priorities? A number of themes emerged:
Greater police presence/traffic enforcement
18 Consultees would like to see a greater police presence on Scotland's roads and an increase in the number of police officers available to enforce road traffic legislation.
Enforcement of speed limits/20mph speed limits
19 Seventeen percent of consultees were of the view that enforcement is a key tool in addressing speed limits. Methods suggested were the increased use of speed indication devices in urban areas; enforcement of current speed limits and a review of their appropriateness; and a review of penalties. In addition, 18% of consultees commented that the speed limit should be lowered to 20mph in school/residential areas. While responses focused primarily on enforcement, some consultees also noted that education through driver behaviour and greater use of media campaigns were needed to reinforce these messages.
Review speed limits
20 There should be a review of speed limits (17%) in order to assess the appropriateness of existing speed limits and adjust speed limits accordingly to cater for different times of the day or traffic conditions. Various other suggestions included specific reference to Heavy Goods Vehicles ( HGVs), a 20mph speed limit in residential areas and a need to review legislation.
ENGINEERING
21 Just over 7 in 10 consultees (71%) made reference to engineering in response to the question 'How should we address these priorities?'
Improved road design/engineering
22 Around two-thirds of consultees referred to improved road design/engineering when asked 'How should we address these priorities?' Engineering was recognised as having an important part to play in road safety. When discussing how to address this issue, the majority of comments tended to focus on traffic calming measures (such as 20mph limits in residential areas); the condition and maintenance of roads (especially rural roads) and the need for funding.
Engineering technology advances
23 Twenty percent of consultees believed priorities can be addressed by making use of engineering technology advances and specific reference was made to the use of technology to deter speeding, red light running and parking offenders.
Need for the identification of hotpots/problem areas and roads
24 A total of 17% suggested priorities can be met by identifying and improving hotspots/problem areas and roads. Those who commented on this issue, referred to funding/investment of engineering solutions; the increase of traffic on roads due to the school run; the importance of continuing road improvement at locations where more severe crashes take place; the reduction of single track roads and the identification of crash hotspots.
More average speed cameras/flexibility in placing speed cameras
25 Sixteen percent of consultees felt priorities can be met by increasing the number of speed cameras, especially in areas where accidents have occurred. The Scottish Government's commitment to the Safety Camera Programme was praised, although there were suggestions that rules for the placing of equipment are very prescriptive and there should be more local flexibility.
A CO-ORDINATED MULTI-AGENCY APPROACH
26 As the consultation document implies, a wide range of organisations are actively involved in road safety in Scotland. When asked 'How should road safety be organised to deliver?' 55% of consultees mentioned a need for the development of consistent multi-agency approaches for the promotion of road safety, to ensure maximisation of existing expertise and resources. Consultees wanted to see partnership working undertaken in a co-ordinated manner; that there needs to be good/effective communication between various partnerships and that partnerships should recognise the expertise that each organisation has and avoid duplication.
FUNDING
27 In response to the question, 'How can road safety be funded more effectively?' consultees felt that this should be administered by the Scottish Government. A variety of comments were received from consultees on the issue of ring-fenced resources and there were suggestions that ring-fencing should not be removed. Across different organisation types, consultees expressed their concern that the concordat between central and local government will lead to difficulties in the allocation of road safety funding across Scotland by the local authorities.
EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICE
28 'What can we learn from others?' was the final theme in the consultation document. Twenty-one percent of consultees suggested Scotland can learn from other countries' initiatives on road safety and a variety were cited. However, some consultees noted that these initiatives have been developed to address specific problems prevalent in that particular country and that consideration must be given as to whether or not the same initiative suits Scotland.
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