IAM: economic boost may increase road safety

Measures taken to boost the UK economy this week, including a cut in tax on new vehicles, may help to cut the number of fatal and serious road traffic accidents, claims the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), yesterday.

Neil Greig, director of the IAM Motoring Trust, says, “The economic crisis has led to a reduction in sales of new vehicles with safety features that can deliver better braking, cornering and passenger protection. Instead people are keeping their vehicles for longer and skimping on basic maintenance and repairs.

“While a brand new vehicle may be the last thing consumers contemplate in a downturn, the increased safety features of newer, previously used vehicles are going to have a beneficial effect in terms of crash protection.”

Greig also welcomed the government’s plan to bring forward public investment in the motorway network from 2011 to 2009. He says, “This increases motorway capacity sooner, reduces the dangers of congestion and ultimately improves the quality of the road network; and so may also help to reduce deaths and serious injury.”
 

25 November 2008