Safety lobby at House
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by Sally Nash • Industry bodies joined forces last week to launch a campaign in the House of Commons calling on the Government to make traffic enforcement a priority.
Haulage safety group Brake, which is spearheading the initiative, has the backing of major organisations including the AA, Freight Transport and Road Haulage Associations, the Public Services, Tax & Commerce Union, the Transport & General Workers Union and the CBI.
Brake director Mary Williams says only 6% of police officers are dedicated to traffic enforcement despite the fact that 3,500 people are killed on the roads every year.
So far road policing has not been a political priority, says Williams.
"The new Government now has a chance to live up to its promise to be 'tough on crime'," she adds. Brake recommendations include: • Making road policing a "core duty" for officers; • Setting up a database with details of drivers and vehicles including convictions and offences; • Training traffic police to national standards; • Reviewing the adequacy of staffing levels in enforcement agencies; • Consulting on the feasibility of a single road police force encompass ing work by police, the Vehicle Inspectorate and other agencies.