IAM launches ten year road safety strategy

Strategy proposes to reduce UK road deaths to 1,000 a year

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has launched its ten year road safety strategy, which proposes to the road safety industry to aim to reduce road deaths on UK roads to 1,000 a year by 2020.

The IAM states this could save the UK economy £1.8bn over the period, as each fatal accident costs society £1.8m.

With the vast majority of crashes caused by human error and lapses in concentration, the IAM believes that tackling driver and rider behaviour is the key to cutting road deaths.

The key focus of the strategy is to target high risk drivers, such as young drivers, older drivers, motorcyclists, business users and cyclists.

The IAM also want to see driving on rural roads to be part of the driving test, as it is the most dangerous, and a new post-test training system for young drivers.

The IAM’s driver training company, IAM Drive & Survive, will be working with businesses to train their company drivers and will encourage these companies to only use suppliers who make sure their employees are trained as well.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "Cars and roads are getting safer so it’s time to concentrate on the driver by improving their skills and behaviour."

"Over the decade we will work with around 200,000 road users through education and coaching on driving, riding, cycling and commercial driving."

Further information:
IAM