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Concern over rural driving skills

A district council in East Sussex has called for a change to the way drivers are tested and taught to ensure they are fully equipped to deal with rural roads.

BBC News investigates whether it is the test that needs altering or the attitude of drivers.

After discovering it had the worst road safety record in East Sussex, Wealden District Council set about trying to find out why.

After consulting with experts and analysing crash statistics, the council concluded that many new drivers simply did not know how to drive safely in the countryside.

Last year, 138 people were killed or seriously injured on Wealden's roads, many of which are single-track country lanes with high hedgerows.

'The biggest killer'

Council officer Dr Jeremy Leach, who was part of the research team, said the council would write to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis to urge him to look again at the test and the way drivers are taught.

"It's getting through to people that rural roads are fraught with hazards and it often demands different driving than in a town," he said.

The council's leader, Pam Doodes, said: "With rural roads, not only are they very bendy but they are very narrow so it's the awareness of dangers that could be around the corner.

"If you have not had the experience you may think you are the only person on the road."

Research published in 2007 by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) revealed that on an average day, nine people died on Britain's roads - six of these were on rural routes.

The report, called Rural Roads - The Biggest Killer, looked at crash statistics over a six-year period and found that in England, 62% of road deaths happened on such roads.

In Wales, the figure was 75% and in Scotland it was 76%.

Further training

But is it the test that needs changing or the attitude of drivers?

Mike Frisby, chief driving examiner for DIAmond Advanced Motorists, said learners were given lessons on rural driving but how much practise they got depended on how near the test centre was to the countryside.

He said the test was the "first rung on the ladder" and it was up to drivers to get further training after gaining their licence.

"Once they have that licence, that's it, they think they have done what they need to do," he said. "There should be ongoing training."

The Pass Plus scheme, which covers driving in a range of environments and conditions, was introduced by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) in 1995 to provide further training for new licence holders.

The course is not compulsory and in 2008/2009, only 11.5 % of newly qualified drivers took advantage of it.

Stephen Haley, author of road safety book Mind Driving, said drivers needed to be taught how to manage danger and think about what is happening on all roads - something he said was lacking in the current test.

"People say you really learn after you pass your test," he said.

"The test should teach you how to drive safely but it does not. We need new drivers to be far safer than the day they pass their test."

Theory test

In 2000, the government set a target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents in Britain by 40% by 2010.

It had achieved this by 2008.

The DSA said driving training was being changed, not specifically to address the issue of rural driving but to try to further reduce the number of deaths and injuries on all roads.

Its new Learning to Drive programme includes a pre-driver qualification for 14 to 16 year olds, which aims to educate young people in safe road use before they begin driving.

Changes to the current driving test are also planned, including a new assessment of a learner's ability to drive independently and new questions on the theory test.

There are also plans to trial a new version of the Pass Plus scheme.

A DSA spokesman said: "We will take forward a programme of measures that will strengthen the way that people learn to drive and are tested and create a culture of continued and life-long learning.

"We are confident that this new approach will help us to further reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the roads."

The report, called Rural Roads - The Biggest Killer, looked at crash statistics over a six-year period and found that in England, 62% of road deaths happened on such roads.

In Wales, the figure was 75% and in Scotland it was 76%.

But is it the test that needs changing or the attitude of drivers?

Tier 2: mixed use roads that cater primarily for motorised traffic, with limited numbers of vulnerable road users and occasional access to properties such as farms rather than frequent access to residences. A slower speed environment than for Tier 1should be sought: a suggested maximum of 50 mph, and of 30 mph in villages.Where there are vulnerable road users, ideally physical separation should prevail,with special facilities at isolated locations. Junction treatments may be required, as these are a major source of accidents on such roads.

Concern over rural driving skills

...After discovering it had the worst road safety record in East Sussex, Wealden District Council set about trying to find out why.

After consulting with experts and analysing crash statistics, the council concluded that many new drivers simply did not know how to drive safely in the countryside.

The council's leader, Pam Doodes, said: "With rural roads, not only are they very bendy but they are very narrow so it's the awareness of dangers that could be around the corner.

The report, called Rural Roads - The Biggest Killer, looked at crash statistics over a six-year period and found that in England, 62% of road deaths happened on such roads.
In Wales, the figure was 75% and in Scotland it was 76%.

A DSA spokesman said: "We will take forward a programme of measures that will strengthen the way that people learn to drive and are tested and create a culture of continued and life-long learning.

"We are confident that this new approach will help us to further reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the roads."

By George, I think they've got it! Lucky we've got all those camera partnerships ready to take the credit:roll:

In Penrith town, there are four distinct time periods for fatal and serious injury accidents – 9-10am, 12noon and 2pm, 4-6pm and 7-9pm

The A686 between Penrith and Alston had more accidents over the past three years than any other road in the area

Almost all accidents occur while vehicles were travelling straight ahead although turning right and overtaking also featured in the causation records

Most fatal and serious injury accidents in the Kendal rural area occur between 12 noon and 5pm

In common with other areas, most fatal and serious injury accidents occurred in fine, dry weather and on 30mph roads

Virtually all fatal and serious injury accidents in the South Lakes area occurred in fine, dry weather and in daylight

The majority of fatal and serious injury accidents occur in fine, dry weather without high winds and on 60mph national speed limit roads

In town almost all fatal and serious injury accidents occurred on 30mph roads

Most accidents occur on A class and unclassified roads and in fine, dry weather and day light

In Kendal town, there are three distinct time peaks for accidents – between 7am and 9am, between 12 noon and 1pm and between 3pm and 5pm.
Most fatal and serious injury accidents in the Penrith rural area occur between 12noon and 5pm

In 2004 there was a 67 per cent reduction in people killed and seriously injured at the hotspots monitored by CSC

In the Barrow area, most accidents occur at times when people are driving to or from work

In common with other areas, most fatal and serious injury accidents occurred in fine, dry weather and on 30mph roads

The majority of fatal and serious injury accidents occur in fine, dry weather without high winds and on 60mph national speed limit roads

If this latest news item is based on crap statistics such as these, then it won't be woth the paper it is printed on!