GPWizard F1 Forum
Everything Else => General Automotive => Topic started by: Wizzo on September 29, 2006, 02:57:18 PM
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Controversy is brewing over new road casualty figures for Britain.
The latest statistics, released by the Department for Transport (DfT), show that both deaths and serious injuries fell slightly in 2005. :good:
The DfT's figures show that the number of deaths on the UK's roads fell to 3,201, a drop of one per cent, while injuries fell to 29,000, which signifies a fall of seven per cent.
However, the Statistics Commission has raised concerns that the numbers may be unrealistically low because they are taken from the police rather than the hospitals.
Generally police figures are lower than those from hospitals and the commission says the DfT may be using these figures in order to reach targets.
The DfT has defended its actions saying it is aware of "under reporting" and promised that further research would be done.
"We have always used police figures and they do provide a straight year-on-year comparison," a DfT spokesman said.
For the first time, the DfT has also provided a breakdown of contributory factors for the accidents.
These figures show that 32 per cent of crashes are caused by drivers failing to look properly, 35 per cent by loss of control and only 15 per cent by speeding.
Campaign group Safe Speed says the low figure for speeding-related crashes shows that the "entire road safety policy has been based on dodgy data". >:D
"Safe Speed has been pointing out for years that the concentration on speeding was a deadly mistake," said Safe Speed founder Paul Smith. "Speed cameras must be scrapped. Heads must roll."
I totally agree, it has been a long known fact that speed does not cause accidents. Speed Cameras were only introduced to increase revenue and reduce the number of Traffic Police.
Speed cameras = less traffic police
Less traffic police = more bad driving
more bad driving = more death on the road
Education for drivers is what is needed!