Cycling UK's response to the Department for Transport's Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy safety review: call for evidence www.cyclinguk.org/cyclesafety CYCLING UK’S RESPONSE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT’S CYCLING AND WALKING STRATEGY SAFETY REVIEW: CALL FOR EVIDENCE June 2018 Contact Cycling UK Cycling UK Parklands Railton Road Guildford Surrey GU2 9JX Tel.: 01483 238 300 Email: [email protected] Copyright © 2018 Cycling UK. All rights reserved. Response authors: Cherry Allan, Duncan Dollimore, Roger Geffen and Chris Peck Edited by: Cherry Allan Page 2 www.cyclinguk.org/cyclesafety Table of contents INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 6 Key points ................................................................................................................................................. 6 The benefits of cycling ............................................................................................................................. 7 'Safety in Numbers' ................................................................................................................................ 11 The 'Safe systems’ approach and 'Vision Zero' .................................................................................... 12 The structure of this response .............................................................................................................. 13 OUR RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................... 15 1. SAFE ROADS AND JUNCTIONS ................................................................................ 17 1.1 Cycle-friendly infrastructure and design standards ............................................. 17 General principles: plan for place and movement of people, not vehicles........................................ 17 Network planning for cycling ................................................................................................................. 18 Clear, up-to-date guidance .................................................................................................................... 21 What the guidance should say and do ................................................................................................. 22 Road safety vs public health ................................................................................................................. 24 The problem of low-quality cycle infrastructure ................................................................................... 25 Spatial planning for cycling networks ................................................................................................... 27 Cycle-proofing major projects ................................................................................................................ 28 Resources to retro-fit, not just for new build ........................................................................................ 28 Highway maintenance for cyclists ........................................................................................................ 29 1.2 New rules for junctions ......................................................................................... 30 Junction priority and the hierarchy of road users: not followed in practice ....................................... 30 Turning the Corner: making junctions better ....................................................................................... 31 2 SAFE ROAD USERS ................................................................................................... 35 2.1 Cycle awareness ................................................................................................... 35 Current driving standards, and behaviour towards cyclists ................................................................ 36 What drivers need to know.................................................................................................................... 37 Awareness campaigns: good and bad practice ................................................................................... 40 Awareness + enforcement .................................................................................................................... 44 Road safety education in school/college ............................................................................................. 45 2.2 Driver training, testing and licensing .................................................................... 46 Need for research into Bikeability's long-term effect on driving standards ....................................... 46 Training and testing: cycle safety awareness, hazard perception and traffic rules .......................... 47 Graduated Driver Licensing ................................................................................................................... 49 Bikeability Level 3 for learner drivers and professionals .................................................................... 52 Re-testing, medical fitness and eyesight ............................................................................................. 53 Offending drivers: re-tests, re-training and NDORS ............................................................................. 57 Page 3 www.cyclinguk.org/cyclesafety 2.3 Policing the roads ................................................................................................. 59 Priority for roads policing ....................................................................................................................... 60 Reporting serious injury collisions to the CPS ..................................................................................... 62 Need for research into police handling of collisions and near misses .............................................. 64 Reporting portals for camera footage .................................................................................................. 65 The 'Investigating Road Deaths' manual .............................................................................................. 66 Proactive enforcement/education operations ..................................................................................... 66 2.4 Other enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies ........................................... 67 The Health and Safety Executive .......................................................................................................... 67 Collaboration between agencies ........................................................................................................... 70 Traffic Commissioners ........................................................................................................................... 71 2.5 Road traffic offences and penalties ..................................................................... 72 The need for a full review ...................................................................................................................... 72 'Careless' and 'dangerous' driving offences: not fit for purpose ......................................................... 74 Improving the framework ...................................................................................................................... 77 Disqualification ...................................................................................................................................... 78 'Car-dooring' ............................................................................................................................................ 82 Failing to stop ......................................................................................................................................... 85 Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act .................................................................................................. 86 2.6 Revising The Highway Code .................................................................................. 87 Overtaking distances ............................................................................................................................. 88 The 'Dutch Reach' .................................................................................................................................. 90 Rules on junction priority ....................................................................................................................... 91 Removing prejudicial rules on helmets and hi-viz ............................................................................... 93 2.7 Regulating cyclists' behaviour .............................................................................. 97 Cyclists' vulnerability and the relatively low risk they pose to others ................................................. 99 Cyclist licensing/compulsory training and insurance ........................................................................ 101 'Road tax' .............................................................................................................................................. 105 2.8 Cycle training ...................................................................................................... 105 Bikeability's benefits ............................................................................................................................ 106 Need for systematically collected evidence