Introduction - Are UK roads safe?

Why hello there! Welcome to my new blog on road safety in the United Kingdom. I'm Albo1125, known as a YouTuber focussing on roleplaying the emergency services and avid GTA5 modder. I've always been particularly interested in the many aspects of road safety and roads policing, as well as the UK justice system and Department for Transport. In this blog, I'll be highlighting some of my perceived problems and shortcomings and offer solutions and improvements I myself see as being particularly favourable. This will be based on statistical evidence, experiences from other countries as well as a touch of personal opinion.

While the Department for Transport (DfT) love claiming the UK has some of the safest roads in the world in just about every press release they put out, that's just about the only good news they've been able to offer in recent years. Road deaths and serious injuries in the UK are on the rise and the Government are among those heavily criticized for this in a report they themselves commissioned. The Department for Transport has become complacent and there appears to be a severe lack of willingness to take policy-related measures to further reduce road deaths and serious injuries in the UK. Worryingly, some of this appears to be partly because of resistance and lobbying from certain multi-million-pound industries.

One of the few times I'll mention police funding cuts and why this matters so much

That is not to mention the devasting funding cuts that have been borne by the police forces in the past 8 years, of course. While one of the most effective ways to reduce road traffic collisions is through enforcement, the number of dedicated traffic police officers has taken a large hit since Theresa May became Home Secretary. Needless to say, this has had a devastating impact on road safety, despite May, Lewis and Rudd trying to sell the public that it is 'not about numbers'. Regardless, that is not the main point of this blog - I will be focussing primarily on policy related changes that can quite easily be made for a fraction of the cost of restoring the 20,000+ lost frontline officers. However, it is important to remember that enforcement is key to the success of any legislation and I will probably touch on this when it becomes of particular relevance. Effective enforcement through both high-visibility and covert tactics remain of utmost importance. If motorists are not afraid of being caught breaking the law, they will not respect the law. It is as simple as that. The Government is incredibly hypocritical in its apparent position of this being incorrect by facilitating the placement of many speed cameras on UK roads... to deter speeding. Indeed, if one fears being caught, they - probably - will not speed. Police funding cuts have bitten deep and fuelled a huge increase in reported crime, but that in itself is another matter for another blog.

Let's look at some official statistics

Looking at the most recent, official DfT statistics, there were a total of 1,792 deaths on UK roads in 2016. This is an increase of 4% when compared to 2015, and the highest number since 2011. While the DfT were quick to dismiss this as a statistically insignificant increase, it truly reflects an abrupt ending to decades of this figure decreasing. From the DfT's rather lacking response, one may well argue they are not taking this stagnation seriously enough. They appear to have become complacent with the false belief the number of road deaths has reached a saturation point and that no realistic further decrease of road deaths is possible. I suppose it's well worth noting that the DfT 'can always do more', in their own words. I agree with them - but rather than simply stating that they can, I urge them to actually do so. Every road death is one too many.

Many more people were seriously injured on UK roads in 2016. In fact, a total of 24,101 people tragically contributed to fuelling this alarming statistic. In fact, road traffic collisions are one of the most common external causes of death and serious injury, particularly for young adults. The shockingly harsh reality is that over 70 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads every single day in 2016. This reality is a lot closer to you than you may think - even if you don't drive or cycle regularly, pedestrian deaths rose by a staggering 10% from 2015-2016.

It would be pathetic to simply accept these many roads deaths as a part of UK life. While the road to zero is a long one, there are plenty of wide-open goals the Government and indeed the DfT can score to help resume the decline in road deaths seen over the past decades. Throughout this blog, you can expect me to highlight what I believe the Government can do to facilitate this. Occasionally, I'll also talk about some general motoring and road safety topics.

Comments, thoughts, praise and criticism are all very welcome and I will happily engage in polite discussion if any interesting points are raised.