Page 6 - issue-52

TVD NEWS
ROAD USERS FEEL DRUG DRIVING LAWS ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED
Accidents while drivers are are high are are on the increase
Time and time again research has shown that one of the most effective deterrents to dangerous and illegal behaviour on our roads is a visible police presence
Drug driving laws are are being being flouted according to a a a a new survey that reveals almost two thirds of people feel that the rules are not being properly enforced The National Travel Attitudes Survey published by the Department for Transport (DfT) found that 63% of respondents in in England agreed that ‘the laws on on driving whilst impaired by illegal or legal legal drugs are not properly enforced’ It also revealed that that 60% of people agree that that ‘the number of people driving whilst impaired by illegal or legal drugs has increased in in the last five years’ The most recent statistics for drug driving highlight that it appears to be be on the increase
The number of fatal and serious crashes with a a a a contributory factor of “driver/ rider impaired by by illicit or medicinal drugs” increased by by 8% up from 447 to 484 incidents Police numbers decline
Road safety charity Brake believes these views are a a a a a a consequence of a decline
in in in police numbers in in in recent years and a a a a a a lack of Government approved roadside drug testing devices Currently only cannabis and cocaine can can be tested for at the roadside Joshua Harris director of campaigns at Brake said: “What this research shows is is the public think that not enough is being done to tackle drug driving and worryingly it appears to be an increasing issue on our roads It is therefore vital that both the the law and our enforcement ability is is effective in in in catching punishing and Spliffing and whiffing among UK drivers is on on the increase
deterring this dangerous behaviour More Government approved roadside drug testing devices are desperately needed Just two of the drugs listed as illegal under
the law - - cannabis and cocaine - - can can be tested for at present - a a a a clear gap in enforcement that must be filled Visible presence
“Time and time again research has shown that one of the most effective deterrents to dangerous and illegal behaviour on our our roads is is a a a visible police presence
We urge the the Government to overturn the the savage cuts that police police forces have felt in recent years and give the police police the the the resources they need to tackle the the the menace of drug driving ” M11 is rated as Britain’s best motorway in in new survey The M11 has been rated the best motorway in in England in in Transport Focus research covering the year to March 2020 In the 2019/20 Strategic Roads User Survey the motorway from London and Cambridgeshire had the highest overall satisfaction of 92% The best ‘A’ road was at the the other end of the the the country the the the A66 route across the the the Pennines from Scotch Corner to Penrith This is is the the second year of the the independent watchdog’s new survey looking at the views of over 8 000 road users about their last journey on a a a motorway or or or major ‘A’ road managed by Highways England 6 TVD Issue 52 2021
Anthony Smith chief executive of Transport Focus said: “In the 12 months before the coronavirus lockdown more than three out of four drivers were satisfied with their journey on England’s motorways and major ‘A’ roads roads – but some roads roads score much better than others ” Drivers were least satisfied with the M20 (which links London and Dover) for the second year in a a row Commenting on on the M20 one driver said: “Get the roadworks done – it’s been 50mph for too long – must be two years possibly ” Commenting on an M11 journey a a driver said: “Easy way to go everything went
well no roadworks or or hold-ups ” Commenting on on their experience on on the the A66 another said: “Quick journey no no hold-ups ” The survey also found that 92% of drivers felt safe on their journey and the the overall satisfaction with road surface quality was 83% 81% of road users were satisfied with their last journey using a a a motorway or or major ‘A’ road managed by Highways England and and 79% were satisfied with the journey time However the management of roadworks was lower 68% of those surveyed were satisfied in this area ~