Examination of Witnesses (Questions 240-244)
MR DAVID
RADFORD, DR
STEWART THOMPSON
AND MR
JON SHORTLAND
WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2002
240. What about the police?
(Mr Radford) The police in Gloucestershire share the
same geographical area as the County Council and tend to share
the same accident reduction savings. I am not aware of any research
that the police do to show the cost benefits to the police service
work.
Helen Jackson: Perhaps some Government guidance
may help.
Chairman
241. Humps and cameras are all pretty expensive.
Would it be cheaper to have a satellite in the sky giving instructions
to cars as to what speed they could do on a particular road?
(Mr Radford) I understand that ISA Leeds have done
some experiments on that.
242. So we were told last week.
(Mr Radford) Yes, on control. I think the danger with
any form of automation is that it removes the driver from taking
responsibility for the driving task. With many of my colleagues
who are involved in education and training on speeds and road
safety work, we would prefer drivers to be more engaged in driving
their cars.
243. What about the car manufacturers? Should
they look to emphasising safety rather than speed in their advertising?
(Mr Radford) There is much to be done through technology
and it needs to be done in parallel with changing the attitudes
among drivers. That needs to assist the change in attitudes among
drivers and the number of serious car-occupant casualties have
been reduced as a result of passive safety features in cars such
as airbags and seatbelts. Emphasising and studying those benefits
in cars is a good idea, but sometimes they tend to mask the problem.
If one feels safe and secure in one's car, one perhaps pays less
attention to the safety of others around one.
244. Do you think that the arguments about encouraging
people to reduce speed are winning or do you think that people
reduce speed only when forced to?
(Mr Radford) I think we are winning. I think the general
acceptance among the general public of speed cameras is an indication
of that. Ten years ago I think it would have been difficult to
get speed cameras accepted because the attitude of the general
public was not quite ready for them. It is important to wait until
there is a readiness to accept such things. That is partly why
we have a very high seatbelt compliance in this country compared
with some other countries.
Chairman: On that note, I thank you very much
for your evidence.
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