Channon welcomes motorway campaign
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11 Transport Secretary Paul Channon has welcomed the motorway safety campaign. He says: "The worst accidents — the multiple collisions involving three, four or even a dozen vehicles — are not the result of speed alone. What turns a serious accident into a minor disaster is the fact that far too many motorists drive too close to the vehicle in front."
According to Channon, the Gallop poll commissioned by General Accident shows that motorway drivers do not know what is a safe stopping distance for a car travelling at 70mph. Of those questioned, 60% underestimated the distance and a further 20% confessed that they had no idea what the distance was. Channon said these figures showed that there was still a major job to be done in educating motorists on road safety matters.
"At high speed, when things go wrong, they go wrong fast. If vehicles are bunched too close together a pile-up is inevitable," he says.
The Government is pursuing a number of initiatives to improve motorway safety: • From 1 August speed limits at all roadworks and contraflows will be mandatory.
• In September signs reminding drivers of the 70mph limit will be installed on the MI and the Department of Transport will be monitoring their effect on speed levels.
• Newly qualified drivers are being encouraged to take extra tuition on motorway driving.