NEWS IN THE TIMES
22 January 2007 - Safe Speed

Individual responsibility is a key road safety factor

Quoted in The Times today, Owen Paterson, shadow roads minister said: ''Instead
of the State laying down the rules, we need to give responsibility back to road
users.'' Safe Speed says that this is a crucial road safety ''truth''.

Individual responsibility is one of the three road safety key factors that have
been squandered by recent policy. The other two are ''skills'' and ''attitudes''.

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign
(www.safespeed.org.uk) said: ''We have to get back to road safety policies which
recognise and develop the three key safety factors - skills, attitudes and
responsibilities. Road safety is a psychology subject, not a physics subject.''

''Widely applied policies based on the idea that ''speed kills'' have tended to
remove individual responsibility, worsen attitudes and de-skill the driving
process. This is a deadly mistake that has, on average, made drivers worse and
cost thousands of lives.[1]''

''I''m looking forwards to the Conservative''s green paper and have my fingers
crossed that it will properly recognise the true key road safety factors.''

www.safespeed.org.uk

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