Promoting Safety for Vulnerable Road Users: Assessing the Investigation and Enforcement of Endangerment Offences End of Project Report Prof Sally Kyd & Dr Steven Cammiss A socio-legal study of the investigation and enforcement of the road traffic offences of careless driving, dangerous driving, and using a mobile phone whilst driving. 1 Glossary ANPR – Automatic number plate recognition CC – Chief Constable CCTV – Close Circuit Television CPS – Crown Prosecution Service D – the driver in a case who is deemed by police to have committed an offence. DD – dangerous driving, the offence under s.2 Road Traffic Act 1988 FOI – freedom of information FPN – fixed penalty notice HGV – heavy goods vehicle HMCTS – Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service KSI – Killed and seriously injured casualty statistics MG11 – standardised form used for witness statements by police and Crown Prosecution Service to use as evidence in court. NDAC – National Driver Alertness Course NFA – no further action (case is not prosecuted due to lack of evidence or thought not to be in the public interest) NIP – notice of intended prosecution. PCC – Police and Crime Commissioner PLP – Police Led Prosecutor PNC – Police National Computer RPU – Roads Policing Unit RTA – Road Traffic Act RTC – Road Traffic Collision SJP – Single Justice Procedure (at the magistrates’ court) TISPOL – European Traffic Police Network TOR – Traffic Offence Report TPU – Traffic Processing Unit (alternatively known as the Traffic Process Office or Traffic Process Management Unit) WDC – driving without due care and attention/careless driving under s.3. Road Traffic Act 1988. WMP – West Midlands Police WMPRHRT – West Midlands Police Road Harm Reduction Team 2 Table of contents Glossary ................................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of contents .................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Methods .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Findings ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Strand 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 6 The significance of harmful results ............................................................................................. 6 Third party footage ..................................................................................................................... 7 The exercise of discretion ........................................................................................................... 7 CPS and police relationship ......................................................................................................... 7 Using a mobile telephone whilst driving..................................................................................... 7 Evidence led policing ................................................................................................................... 8 Importance of staff and structures ............................................................................................. 8 Strand 2 ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Conclusions and recommendations .................................................................................................... 8 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Strand 1 ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Strand 2 ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Research Method .................................................................................................................................. 14 Strand 1: Analysis of traffic offence reports and interviews with criminal justice professionals ..... 14 Strand 2: focus groups with cyclists .................................................................................................. 16 Results/findings..................................................................................................................................... 20 Strand 1 ............................................................................................................................................. 20 The use of video footage .............................................................................................................. 20 The significance of harmful results ............................................................................................... 20 A note on the process ............................................................................................................... 21 Road traffic collision.................................................................................................................. 22 Police witnessed ........................................................................................................................ 24 Third party allegation ................................................................................................................ 25 The exercise of discretion ............................................................................................................. 29 3 Structured decision-making ...................................................................................................... 30 CPS involvement ....................................................................................................................... 33 The offence of use of a mobile phone whilst driving ................................................................ 34 Evidence led policing ......................................................................................................................... 36 Strand 2 ............................................................................................................................................. 40 Incidents ........................................................................................................................................ 40 Views on police enforcement ....................................................................................................... 40 Knowledge of police initiatives ..................................................................................................... 41 Managing risk ................................................................................................................................ 41 Responsibilisation, victim blaming and accessibility .................................................................... 42 Cultural change and infrastructure ............................................................................................... 43 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 45 Importance of staff ........................................................................................................................... 45 Reliance on individuals.................................................................................................................. 45 TPU set-up ..................................................................................................................................... 48 CPS involvement ............................................................................................................................... 51 The attitude of magistrates .............................................................................................................. 55 The significance of speed .................................................................................................................. 57 The problematic offence of use of a mobile phone whilst driving ................................................... 59 The experience of vulnerable road users (cyclists) ........................................................................... 60 Conclusion/recommendations .............................................................................................................. 63 References ............................................................................................................................................ 67 Appendix 1 – the offences .................................................................................................................... 68 Road Traffic Act 1988 ........................................................................................................................ 68 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use)