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Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety: www.pacts.org.uk
PACTS Web Update: 29 April 2005 Executive Director's Message
Whatever the result of the election on May 5, there can be no doubt that the enforcement of road traffic law should be a priority for an incoming government.
There are a number of issues outstanding from the Road Safety Bill, notably the issue of variable penalty points for motoring offences and the opportunity to use training courses as a means of preventing re-offending. The joint departmental Review of Road Traffic Offences involving Bad Driving closes on May 6. To carry forward some of the proposals in the review, especially the suggestion of a new offence of causing death by careless driving, will require legislation.
That is why we have chosen to take the theme of traffic law and enforcement for our next conference in October, the details of which are published elsewhere on our web-site. The conference offers an opportunity to identify the priorities for the new government. Have we got the balance right between punishment and retraining? How do we allocate resources between police officers and technology? How does the United Kingdom compare with the rest of the European Union? Is our pattern of offences and sentences the most effective one?
These are big issues that need a mature and thorough debate. I hope that this conference will help to shape traffic law enforcement policy for the coming Parliament. Please come and help us in our deliberations.
Robert Gifford, PACTS Executive Director, 29 April 2005
PACTS Conference Launch: 12 October 2005
Road Traffic Law and Enforcement: Have we got the balance right?
In road safety, enforcement has traditionally been seen as one of the four Es, with education, engineering and evaluation. Considerable emphasis has been placed on the need to enforce road traffic law and to keep the pattern of law under review as part of the strategies to reduce road casualties. This conference will look at the current structure of law and enforcement and attempt to assess whether what we have now is working successfully or needs to be changed.
The Road Safety Bill that fell in the last Parliament proposed a number of changes to the legislative structure. The consultation paper on Bad Driving Offences suggests amendments to the offences and punishments available to deter and punish traffic offenders. Do these go far enough or do we need a different approach to traffic law?
Finally, what should be the balance between education, deterrence and punishment? Road traffic law applies to all road users. Yet many of us complain when it is enforced upon us, claiming that our actions may not have been as serious as the law appears to consider.
This conference will be held at an important moment in the new Parliament. It will offer those who attend a chance to hear the latest thinking from all involved in the legal processes and to identify important issues to take forward in the coming years.
Other PACTS News
In advance of the General Election on 5 May 2005, PACTS has published a table summarising manifesto commitments on transport safety of the four major parties.
PACTS' response to the Home Office Review of Road Traffic Offences involving Bad Driving is now available online. The consultation closes on 6 May 2005.
What's on in Parliament: Westminster
Parliament was dissolved on 11 April in advance of the upcoming general election on 5 May 2005. The State Opening of Parliament and Queen's Speech is likely to follow on 17 May 2005.
European Parliament
On 25 May 2005, three amendments to directives on seatbelts ('Road safety: safety belts and restraint systems') will have their third reading.
On 7 June 2005, the European Third Railway Package - which includes train driver licensing - will receive its second reading.
Also on 7 June 2005, the European Road Safety Action Programme 'Road safety: halving the number of road accident victims by 2010' will have its second reading in the Parliament.
Current consultations
Links to further details of these consultations plus PACTS' responses are available in the 'PACTS Responses to Consultations' section of the Policy area of PACTS website.
Home Office:
The Home Office Review of Road Traffic Offences involving Bad Driving - was published on 3 February 2005. The consultation on the paper closes on 6 May 2005. The PACTS response to this consultation is now available online.
The Home Office consultation on the Draft Corporate Manslaughter Bill runs until 16 June 2005.
Metropolitan Police
The Metropolitan Police are running an online consultation on Policing Priorities for 2006/9. The consultation runs until 13 May 2005.
Conferences and Events
PACTS Events
PACTS will be holding a conference entitled 'Road Traffic Law and Enforcement: Have we got it right?' on 12 October 2005 in Central London. See above for details.
PACTS' Westminster Lecture will be held on 6 December 2005. Invitations will be sent later in the year.
Other events
Brake will be holding a conference on Drink & Drug Driving at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Westminster on 12 May 2005. Brake will also be running a 'Best of the Best' Fleet Safety Forum conference at the University of Huddersfield on 23 June 2005. For more information on either event, contact Brake on 01484 559909 or www.brake.org.uk
PACTS is an associate Parliamentary group and registered charity, advising and informing MPs and Peers on road, rail and air safety issues. Its charitable objective is to protect human life through the promotion of transport safety for the public benefit.
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