IAM back Share the Road Campaign

04 September 2006

0Comments | Comment on this Article

Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians in London are all being encouraged to Share the Road - the title of a new and ongoing Transport for London (TfL) campaign, launched by the Mayor of London today (4 September 2006) and supported by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).

The Mayor wants to encourage all road users to stick to the rules of the road and to consider the impact of their behaviour on other people. The first stage of the campaign comprises a month long advertising and enforcement campaign.

A visible minority of road users break traffic laws in London, including vehicles parking in cycle lanes and encroaching into the 'advance stop' boxes designated for cyclists, as well as some cyclists who endanger themselves and pedestrians by jumping red lights and riding on the pavement. The actions of a few can cause animosity between road users, are inconsiderate and can endanger lives.

The campaign is supported by a wide range of road user organisations including London Cycle Campaign (LCC), the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), Living Streets, the Motorcycle Industry Association and the Freight Transport Association.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, said:

"Overall London's roads are getting safer. But there is nothing more frustrating, and often dangerous, than road users who think the rules do not apply to them. I want to see a shift in the culture on our roads where inconsiderate behaviour by the minority is increasingly treated as unacceptable. The only way all road users can get about safely and fairly is everyone obeys the rules of the road equally. Everyone must share the road, whether it is motorists who park on cycle lanes and occupy the 'advance stop' box reserved for cyclists, or cyclists who think it is OK to jump red lights. All of these activities are inconsiderate at best and dangerous at worst. The vast majority follow the rules, but there is a small and visible minority who are irresponsible and risk everyone else's safety. This awareness campaign, which starts today, encourages everyone to obey the rules of the road and spells out the consequences of not doing so. This will be followed by targeted police enforcement to catch those road users who still think the rules of the road are there to be ignored.

"As we build on the road safety successes in the capital and the growing enthusiasm for cycling, everyone on the busy streets needs to be considerate towards each other and to give each other room."

IAM Chief Examiner Peter Rodger said:

"The IAM supports this campaign to encourage all road users to cooperate and look out for each other. London's roads are crowded - we can behave like caged rats and fight with each other for space, or we can behave like human beings and cooperate with each other. If we simply give each other a bit of room, it all works better.

"Crashes also cause congestion. Even a minor shunt creates a bottleneck at peak times - and that just adds to the pressure. Motorists have a key role to play in preventing those crashes. Drivers can become frustrated by the actions of some cyclists and pedestrians, but the onus is still on the motorist to drive with care and remember the vulnerability of other road users."

Research for Transport for London, by the independent Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), showed that in London one in five cyclists jumped a red light and that motorists stopped in more than a third of advance stop boxes, both of which are against the law. Road casualty figures from 2005 show that eight people were killed and 201 people were seriously injured after a vehicle failed to stop at a red light.

The police enforcement campaign will focus on five sites across London and will tackle road users who break the rules of the road, either by advising of infringements or giving a fixed penalty notice.

0Comments | Be the first to comment!