Better Driving: "Respect on the Road"

Annex A: Summary of Recommendations

Development of a standard series of questions to be asked via the British Crime Survey to see how the extent of bad - 'disrespectful' - behaviour on the road is changing over time, compared to other forms of criminal and anti-social behaviour (para 3.10)
The possible inclusion in the Highways Agency's Road User Satisfaction Survey of questions on drivers' perception about bad behaviour on the road (para 3.10)
Traffic monitoring systems could be used to record incidents, near misses and dangerous behaviour (para 3.10)
DfT should consider carrying out a study into how drivers actually behave behind the wheel when they think that no-one is watching them (para 3.12)
Consideration should be given to research being conducted into:

the frequency with which bad and good driving behaviours occur and the characteristics of those who perform them. In particular, it would be useful to know more about the distribution across the population and the extent to which the bad behaviours are performed by a limited number of persistent offenders;
the predictors of various types of good and bad behaviour and the extent to which these are similar across behaviours; and
those interventions which might be useful in influencing or changing these behaviours (all para 6.3)

DfT should consider establishing by public consultation or polling whether there are gaps in the recognised vocabulary which drivers use to communicate with each other (para 7.7)

Influencing behaviour

The establishment of a continuous series of campaigns aimed at influencing driver behaviour focusing on different messages for different groups at different times (para 7.8)
The involvement of other groups at national and local level in such campaigns (para 7.8)
Influencing children by oblique methods eg computer games as well as conventional classroom instruction (although some general teaching on road sense in the Schools Curriculum could be useful) (para 7.8)
Using role models to influence young adults (para 7.8)
Getting messages into Soaps, both through situations in which accidents occur and by using well-known characters who have almost become family members (para 7.8)
Creating community involvement at local level to supplement and strengthen the efforts of Road Safety Officers (para 7.8)
Using professional sportsmen and women and professional clubs to engage in activities with their local community to help raise awareness in this field (para 7.8)
Encouraging employers to have effective policies in place to safeguard those who drive as part of their work (para 7.8)

Training and testing

A review of the driving test to see if it is the best that can devised to ensure that people who pass are are capable of driving in current conditions, and are likely to remain so (para 7.11)
Considering the content of the theory test to see whether more questions can be asked that relate to the attitudes and behaviour of candidates (para 7.12)
Teaching driving instructors the importance of proper attitudes and behaviour, and how this should be dispensed to their pupils (para 7.14)
Consideration should be given to a more structured programme of learning for young drivers underpinned by the completion of mandatory logbooks by learner drivers (para 7.15)
Continuing training for drivers should be available and publicised (para 7.16)
DfT should undertake further work with interested bodies on the content of courses and incentives for drivers to take them (para 7.17)

Enforcement

The Home Office should set for police forces Performance Indicators in relation to road policing with an emphasis on targeting serious and serial offending to improve public safety and deny criminals the use of our roads. (para 7.20)
A study should be carried out of the cost-effectiveness of increasing the resources devoted to road policing by, say, 20% both in relation to its effectiveness in reducing casualty rates and wider criminal behaviour and its effectiveness as opposed to education and other road safety matters. (para 7.21)
The introduction of new enforcement measures, such as extending the powers to seize vehicles (para 7.24)
Greater use of Driver Improvement Schemes and Speed Awareness Courses (SAC) and the introduction of SAC by Police Forces who have yet to introduce them at the earliest opportunity (para 7.26)
Greater use of life bans by the courts for repeat and serious offenders (para 7.28)

Incentives

the insurance industry should continue to develop new insurance products that encourage, and reward, careful driving and continual improvement in driving skills (para 7.29)
Government should explore the incentives it can offer to safe and responsible drivers (para 7.30)