Traffic Safety Basic Facts 2013 - Main Figures Traffic Safety Basic Facts 2015 RoadUrban Areas Safety Country Overview United Kingdom Road Safety Country Overview – United Kingdom Structure and Culture Basic Data Table 1: Basic data of the UK in relation to the EU average Basic data of the UK EU average - Population: 65,38 million inhabitants (2016)[2] 18,1 million (2015) - Area: 243.820 km2 (2015) 159.663 km2 (2015) (0,7% water) (2015)[4] 2,94% water (2015) - Climate and weather conditions (capital city; (2015) 2015): - Average winter temperature (Nov. to April): 5,1°C 6,9°C - Average summer temperature (May to Oct.): 16,6°C 17,1 °C - Annual precipitation level: 602 mm 691,5 mm - Exposure: 529.508 million vehicle km [1](2015) 168.260 million vehicle km (2015) The United Kingdom has a - 0,59 vehicles per person (2015)[2] 0,57 (2015) high population density. Sources: [1] IRTAD; [2] EUROSTAT; [3] national sources; [4] CIA Country characteristics Table 2: Characteristics of the UK in comparison to the EU average Characteristics of the UK EU average - Population density: 268 inhabitants/km2 (2015) 115 inhabitants/km2 [1] (2013) - Population composition (2015) [1]: 17,7% children (0-14 years) 15,6% children 64,6% adults (15-64 years) 65,9% adults 17,7% elderly (65 years and over) 18,5% elderly (2013) - Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita: €26.763 (2013) €39.461 (2013) [1] - 83,1% of population lives inside urban area 72,6% (2015) (2017)[3] - Special characteristics: mostly rugged hills and low mountains [3] Sources: [1] IRTAD; [2] EUROSTAT; [3] national sources; [4] CIA - 2 - Road Safety Country Overview – United Kingdom Structure of road safety management The governments and administrations of Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland formed separate strategies. The following key actors are responsible for Road Safety (RS) policy making: Table 3: Key actors per function in the UK Key functions Key actors 1. - Department for Transport, - Formulation of national - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency RS strategy - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Setting targets - Vehicle Certification Agency - Development of the RS - Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain programme - Road Safety Scotland Committee Structure - Department of the Environment - NI - Road Safety Scotland 2. Monitoring of the RS - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, The UK has one of the best development in the - Department for Transport, road safety records in the country - Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain 3. Improvements in road - Department for Transport world. infrastructure - Highways England - Municipalities and Counties - Central Security Services Wales - Transport Scotland - Department for Regional Development NI 4. Vehicle improvement - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Vehicle Certification Agency - European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) - Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles - Police Service of Northern Ireland 5. Improvement in road - Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain user education - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Road Safety Wales - Driving Standards Agency (DSA) - Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety - Department of the Environment 6. Publicity campaigns - Department for Transport, - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, - Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, - Vehicle Certification Agency, - Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain - Institute of Road Safety Officers - Road Safety Units Scotland - Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service 7. Enforcement of road - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, traffic laws - Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain - Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership - Police Departments and Authorities - Ministry of Justice - Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) 8. Other relevant actors - Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents - Safety Organisations e.g. Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) - Road Safety observatory - Police, hospitals, courts, and local councils. - 3 - Road Safety Country Overview – United Kingdom - Road Safety GB - Road Safety Academy - Road Safety Foundation - Greater London Authority - Scottish Campaign against Irresponsible Driving - EuroRAP - National College of Policing Sources: national sources Attitudes towards risk taking - Drivers in the United Kingdom are more supportive for stricter legislation on speeding and drink-driving compared to drivers in other countries. - The perceived probability of being checked is much lower than the ESRA-average. Table 4: Road safety attitudes and behaviour of drivers United ESRA Kingdom average % of drivers that show Self-reported driving behaviour behaviour at least once In the past 12 months, as a road user, how often did you drive without respecting a safe distance to the car 49% 60% in front? In the past 12 months, as a road user, how often did 22% 38% you talk on a hand-held mobile phone while driving? In the past 12 months, as a road user, how often did you drive faster than the speed limit inside built-up 56% 68% areas? % of drivers that disagree British drivers are more Supporting stricter legislation supportive for stricter with the following What do you think about the current traffic rules and legislation on speeding and penalties in your country for each of the following 69% 61% drink-driving compared to themes?: drivers in other countries. The penalties are too severe: for speeding What do you think about the current traffic rules and penalties in your country for each of the following 89% 87% themes?: The penalties are too severe: alcohol Do you support the following measure?: 38% 41% Zero tolerance for alcohol (0,0‰) for all drivers % of drivers with answers Perceived probability of being checked in following categories In the past 12 months, have you been stopped by the 9% 31% police for a check? (once or more) On a typical journey, how likely is it that you (as a driver) will be checked by the police for respecting the speed limits (including checks by police car with a 21% 37% camera and/or GoSafe cameras)? (Very (big) chance) In the past 12 months, have you been checked by the police for alcohol while driving a car (i.e., being 5% 19% subjected to a Breathalyser test)? (once or more) Source: ESRA 2016 Legend (comparison of country attitude in relation to average attitude of other SARTRE countries): 2-9% better 10-19% better ≥ 20% better 2-9% worse 10-19% worse ≥ 20% worse - 4 - Road Safety Country Overview – United Kingdom Programmes and measures National strategic plans and targets The UK has separate road There are two separate road safety strategies in the UK: safety strategies for Great - The Strategic Framework for Road Safety, which was accepted in Britain and Northern Ireland. 2011 and covers Great Britain (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales). - Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy to 2020 was accepted in 2010. Targets: - Great Britain has left the idea of targets, and uses forecasted scenarios (referred to 2005-2009 average): Table 5: Road safety targets for the UK Fatalities/ serious Year Fatalities injuries Central projection -37% -40% 2020 Low projection -46% -50% Central projection -39% -47% 2025 Low projection -51% -60% Central projection -41% -55% 2030 Low projection -57% -70% - Northern Ireland (referred to 2004-2008 average): Table 5: Road safety targets for Northern Ireland Serious KSI among KSI among Year Fatalities injuries children youngsters 2020 -60% -45% -55% -55% Priority topics: Great Britain’s overall approach reflects the principle of localism, and focuses on a more targeted approach to tackle the irresponsible few. - Make it easier for drivers to do the right thing; - Better education for children and novice drivers; - Remedial education after mistakes and low level offences; - Tougher enforcement for deliberate dangerous driving; - Cost-benefit analyses, including assessment of impact on business; - More local community decision making and information; - Effort on making better tools for road safety professionals. Northern Ireland has defined the following challenges: - Improving safety on rural roads; - Protect young drivers and motorcyclists; - Reducing inappropriate road user behaviour; - Improving and involving more knowledge about road safety problems. (Sources: IRTAD, 2015; national sources) - 5 - Road Safety Country Overview – United Kingdom Road infrastructure Table 6: Description of the road categories and their characteristics in the UK The UK uses high risk site Road type General speed limits for passenger cars (km/h) treatment, road safety audits Urban roads 48 and inspections to improve Rural roads 96 infrastructure. Motorways 112 Source: EC DG-Move, 2017 Special rules for: - Heavy goods vehicles: 96 km/h on motorways Guidelines and strategic plans for infrastructure are available in the UK. Table 7: Obligatory parts of infrastructure management in the UK and other EU countries Obligatory parts in the UK: EU countries with obligation Safety impact assessment: - 32% Road safety audits: yes 81% Road safety inspections: yes 89% High risk site treatment: yes 74% Sources: DG-TREN, 2010; national sources Recent activities of road infrastructure improvement have been addressing: no information Traffic laws and regulations Table 8: Description of the regulations in the UK in relation to the most common regulations in other EU countries Most common in EU Regulations in the UK [1] (% of countries) Allowed BAC1 levels: - General population: 0,8‰ (0,5‰ in