More than two-thirds of motorists (68%) believe drivers should be responsible for ensuring all their passengers wear seatbelts, according to new RAC research released to coincide with today’s 40-year seatbelt law anniversary. Currently, drivers only have responsibility to make sure they and any children in their vehicles are buckled up properly – with the latter potentially needing to be in a … [Read more...]
Clampdown on careless drivers
You can now go to prison for a long time if you seriously injure someone while carelessly driving. The law changed this week following campaigns to plug a gap in sentencing guidelines and here Paul Loughlin (below), partner and motoring offences specialist at Stephensons explains the thinking behind the changes. “The consequences of dangerous and careless driving are often profound. Just one … [Read more...]
Accidents rising after lockdown ended
Accident figures have risen again following the end of lockdowns over the last two years. Latest Government figures provisionally indicate collisions are up along with fatalities and injuries. RAC research suggests there is a huge level of concern among drivers about the standard of driving on our roads, said RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes. “We urge the Government to consider … [Read more...]
Dangers of private scooters – warning
There is a world of safety difference between e-scooter rental schemes and the use of private e-scooters, says the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS). Any evaluation of rental trials cannot and should not be automatically applied to regulations for private e-scooters. The safety of private e-scooters in the UK, an interim report from PACTS shows, that … [Read more...]
Women drivers face greater risks than men
Women drivers are 47% more likely to fall victim to serious injury or death than men, according to a new analysis by Select Car Leasing. The study of accident data also showed the likelihood of a female sustaining a serious injury is 71% higher than a man. Research from the University of Virginia reported these stats in 2011 and reassessed them again in 2019. Shockingly, they found … [Read more...]
Rail danger warning comes early
With the schools closed for the foreseeable future and parents seeking to fill their children’s time at home, British Transport Police and Network Rail are urging parents and carersto speak to their children and loved ones about the dangers posed by the railway and the importance of staying off the track. Every year, there is a rise in the number of trespass incidents ahead of the Easter school … [Read more...]