MS LORNA PEARCE, DR JEREMY BROUGHTON, MR NEAL SKELTON AND DR CLAIRE CORBETT

15 MARCH 2006

  Q240  Chairman: When you are saying that consideration should be given to enactment of appropriate legislation, what are we asking for, in what terms? Are we saying that the processes are too long? Are we saying that the law is not precise enough? What are we saying?

  Mr Skelton: It really was almost a cry from the heart in many respects that sometimes the technology is introduced and then the legislation to support that technology is subsequent to that, which creates an inherent delay. There is opportunity for co-terminosity as a recognition of the technology and a progression of the legislation. When the technology is ultimately developed and devised the legislation will then be tying in more effectively.

  Q241  Chairman: Do you think we would get enormous benefit from enforcing seat belt wearing laws?

  Mr Skelton: Certainly I think it would be further support of the casualty reductions.

  Q242  Chairman: To all of you, in all of the detailed research that you have done, am I correct in saying that you think we need a combination of different methods so we have both the mechanics and enforcement and new developments? None of you is putting all of your commitment or all of your support into mechanical means?

  Dr Corbett: No.

  Ms Pearce: No.

  Q243  Chairman: Can we take it, Ms Pearce, that you are hoping to persuade your masters to give you enough money to carry on research into the human element in driving?

  Ms Pearce: Absolutely.

  Q244  Chairman: Could you include a question in that that says "should we forbid all males from being in charge of a combustion engine"?

  Ms Pearce: Certainly!

  Chairman: Thank you very much. We are very grateful to you all.