dr ian greenwood

➕Which road types have demanded the most political & media debate?

🟰Urban roads (35% deaths) with lots of discourse on 20mph limits & smart motorways (all motorway deaths 5%)

➕Which roads are rarely referenced by politicians & the media?

🟰Rural roads which is where 60% road deaths happen.

🤔🤔🤔

New cars sold in UK could be less safe from US trade deal if current standards are not kept. Has this just happened in UK?

It seems that presented with a political choice to improve vehicle safety or a trade deal, our PM chose to lower them (not protect them) in the trade deal. Is this correct?

ETSC: Mutual Recognition Deal with U.S. Will Cost Lives on Europe’s Roads By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the United States, the European Union has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice…

Trump is trying to force the EU to legalize US car bloat, and European safety leaders are furious:

"Europe now risks being flooded with oversized, under-regulated U.S. pick-up trucks and SUVs – vehicles that are...completely out of step with Europe’s vision for safer, more sustainable mobility."

New cars sold in UK could be less safe from US trade deal if current standards are not kept. Has this just happened in UK?

It seems that presented with a political choice to improve vehicle safety or a trade deal, our PM chose to lower them (not protect them) in the trade deal. Is this correct?

➕Which road types have demanded the most political & media debate?

🟰Urban roads (35% deaths) with lots of discourse on 20mph limits & smart motorways (all motorway deaths 5%)

➕Which roads are rarely referenced by politicians & the media?

🟰Rural roads which is where 60% road deaths happen.

🤔🤔🤔

Tighter rules for new drivers backed by deputy mayor Alison Lowe, whose sister Debbie was killed by a speeding driver, is calling for graduated licences.

A poignant day, combined with a clear message for Government. Sadly they are not listening, yet!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#StopRoadDeath #GDL

#TransportMatters

@transportaction.bsky.social @transportforall.org.uk @ianmgreenwood.bsky.social @20splenty.bsky.social @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social @carolinerussell.bsky.social

Speed limit of 20mph 'reduced crashes and deaths', TfL says A decrease in serious casualties was recorded - but the data suggests it would have fallen anyway.

Data is data : TfL report a 34% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured, yet the sceptics still complain about 20 mph limits. Data is data.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mum of crash victim backs calls for stricter young driver laws Nicola Bell-Percy says she does not want other parents to go through the same trauma.

More than 100,000 people signed the #GDL petition - please read Nicola’s story ⬇️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thank you to @lisasmartmp.bsky.social for asking @heidialexander.bsky.social department when the new strategy to address road death & road danger will be published - the answer -later this year”. Not a whole lot clearer but better than “unlikely to be before 2026” I had been told. #StopRoadDeath

I missed it - thank you!

I did hear a rumour of early 2026! Slightly less worse! …. 🤔

Oslo achieved vision zero for pedestrians, cyclists and children in 2019.

But did you know the city did it again in 2023? This time, there were no road deaths on city streets at all.

Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month Further action to reduce waiting times will see thousands of additional tests made available every month.

PR from DfT (from 23rd April) on providing more driving test slots is here.

This was also discussed at Transport Select Committee where the issue of cost of tests was raised - increasing these could deter ppl from taking tests too soon and help increase the pass rate (currently at c.48%)

‘It’s wild’: how the cost of learning to drive in the UK is accelerating From rising prices for lessons to insurance cover, we break down the hefty charges learners now face

Two thoughts.

1. Gov is right to be working to fix driving test issues. It’s a mess that is costing ppl money and causing unnecessary stress.

2. Bigger picture = forced car dependence is costing ppl a whole lot more. For many driving isn’t “freedom” - it’s a source of financial anxiety.

Here we go again! ⬇️

Parents, the police and the judge and many other call for #GDL

Gvt still don’t agree, but won’t say why!

#StopRoadDeath #GDL

Ian Wright backs Basingstoke football club's seat belt shirts Non-league Basingstoke Town FC will wear the shirts for their home match on Saturday.

Great shirt, great message, simple solution to #StopRoadDeath

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Simple: she isn’t! Sadly!

For different reasons - there is pain and heartbreak across all families involved with road death. And sentencing is emotional but in the end makes no difference to future lives …

The emotions are equally painful even though the cause and consequences are different.

No one escapes! It’s sh*t

Another tragic & avoidable example of the consequences of young driver collisions. With these families changed forever, they hold their collective breaths awaiting the sentencing hearing next week. Only then can they begin a long road to recovery & find a different life!
www.itv.com/news/central...

Calls for 'irresponsible' UK government to follow Canada's lead on rules for young drivers As calls for the UK to introduce Graduated Driving Licences (GDLs) grow, Sky News joined Canada's largest road policing unit and driving school to understand exactly how they work.

Hard hitting headline from @skynewsrss.bsky.social contrasting a proactive approach in Canada to the UK’s “not (even) considering GDL” approach.

news.sky.com/story/calls-...

Mum of crash victim backs calls for stricter young driver laws Nicola Bell-Percy says she does not want other parents to go through the same trauma.

More than 100,000 people signed the #GDL petition - please read Nicola’s story ⬇️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wise heads prevail. This was always such a daft idea @ec.europa.eu

#StopRoadDeath #GDL

Imagine a transport system where ‘we’ think almost 5 deaths a day from rail, maritime, or air travel were an acceptable price for rail, maritime or air travel? Thankfully, we don’t have to!

Yet, ‘we’ accept that level of risk for travelling on Britain’s roads …

Go fathom …. !!

#StopRoadDeath

It said: “We see too many car crashes resulting in the tragic death or serious injury … Despite talking about young drivers for decades, MPs have failed to act on the best evidence … We call on all political parties to commit to taking action on proven evidence-based measures to save young lives.”

MPs must act to save young drivers’ lives | Letter Letter: Licensing changes have reduced deaths in other countries and are long overdue in Britain, write a group of road safety experts

A year ago 26 academics called on the (then) Gvt to take action on the devastating impact of young driver collisions @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/m... The letter quotes 4,935 people killed or seriously injured in 2022: this went up to 4,959 in 2023. We await action from the PM.

Teen driver who killed three friends in crash faces years in prison Edward Spencer had been due to go on trial over the deaths of the three teenagers who were killed in April 2023 as they travelled home from school.

More deaths in a young driver crash: 3 passengers killed & 3 strangers seriously injured in a second car. A plea hearing avoided a court case, & 3 families left with the devastation of death of their children. #GDL reduces KSIs by up to 40% but we don’t have one!
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

As part of a Safe System to #StopRoadDeath safe roads, including maintenance and pot hole repair, need to feature and be connected with road danger and not just vehicle damage or inconvenience. Badly maintained roads can be a contributory factor to death or serious injury. See @metrouk.bsky.social ⬇️

Second teenager dies following car crash near Shifnal A 17-year-old boy dies in hospital following the crash, after an 18-year-old man died at the scene.

I enjoy weekends! But, open the news to find these fatal collisions reported with devastating frequency. I never comment on the specifics & send 💔 This one all male:
2 dead (17 & 18); 1 has life threatening injuries; 1 has life changing injuries. Yet #GDL is available!
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Sister of teen killed in 100mph crash calls for new restrictions for young drivers Exclusive: Mia Pullen joins dozens of bereaved siblings calling on Sir Keir Starmer to to bring in new licensing laws

‘My brother would still be alive’: Sister of teen killed in 100mph crash calls for new restrictions for young drivers

The sheer bravery & strength of the 68 people who signed this letter is truly inspirational - here are 2 of their stories. I know how hard they all found it! Some of them are still in the early stages of grief - others years later, but all have had their lives upended by avoidable deaths.
#GDL