Labour ought to contemplate trying into 5 new motoring guidelines and switch their consideration away from pensioners, argues Luke Chillingsworth.
Older drivers are being blamed for street security issues however different points are additionally essential (Picture: Getty)
Labour is able to declare battle on pensioners in 2026 with over 70s the victims of a mass overhaul of motoring guidelines. The Authorities is at the moment consulting on new necessary eyesight checks which can see older drivers compelled to cross an evaluation at 70 to retain their licence. Officers have additionally not dominated out “cognitive” checks whereas consideration shall be given to different “health to drive measures”.
It’s an onslaught and the UK’s older drivers are proper within the firing line regardless of knowledge exhibiting they’re removed from the most important drawback on the street. Younger male automobile drivers aged between 17 and 24 are essentially the most harmful, 4 occasions as more likely to be killed than these over 25. Whereas eye assessments for over 70s is not any dangerous factor – why simply over 70s? Why not for everybody?
And slightly than giving the impression that it is solely pensioners who want their automobile keys taking off them, why not start thinking about a couple of new guidelines which might truly make Britain’s roads far safer.
The UK’s minimal driving age must be elevated (Picture: Getty)
1: Improve the minimal driving age
Passing at 17 might permit youngsters an additional little bit of freedom on the roads, however at what value? Regardless of accounting for simply 1.5% of licence holders, motorists between 17 and 19 are concerned in 9% of all deadly or critical collisions on the street.
In the meantime, knowledge from security charity Brake exhibits that one in 5 motorists crash their autos inside a yr of passing their check. Growing the minimal age restrict to drive would reduce accidents, however how are children purported to get to full-time employment with entry to a car?
Even when we’re nonetheless permitting motorists to get behind the wheel at 17, restrictions ought to nonetheless apply round what autos children can personal.
Would you throw a trainee pilot in an F14 fighter jet? Most likely not! So why are youngsters allowed to bomb round UK streets in supercars with out restrictions? Fashions providing greater than 250/300hp must be off limits till drivers attain 21 and at the very least one yr after passing a check.
Youthful drivers must be banned from getting behind the wheel of quick automobiles, our author argues (Picture: Getty)
Alcolock methods might reduce down drink driving charges (Picture: Getty)
3: Obligatory dashcams
Motorists will probably drive quite a bit slower if a dashcam is slapped within the entrance of each car within the UK. Not solely will this delay boy racers from urgent their foot down, dashcams may be important in proving culpability when making an attempt to safe automobile insurance coverage payouts after an incident.
Additionally it is more likely to finish the rise in crash for money scams, the place fraudsters purposely drive into autos to fraudulently make a declare.
4: Alcohol interlock methods
Labour seems to be set to introduce robust new drink-drive limits, decreasing alcohol thresholds from 35µg to 22µg per 100ml of breath, however alcolocks at the moment are the one approach. Officers are already trying into alcohol ignition interlock gadgets however this must be sped via and adopted as quickly as potential.
The gadgets successfully cease drink drivers from beginning their ignition if a breath pattern exhibits they’ve consumed above a specific amount of alcohol.
Round 300 drivers are killed yearly as a consequence of alcohol, making it one of many greatest killers on the street and one thing that may very well be simply fastened.
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5: Geofenced pace limits
Many residential areas across the UK at the moment are fitted with 20mph pace knots to sluggish automobiles down in built-up areas. Nevertheless, we’ve all seen drivers push nicely above this and fly via facet streets like they’re at Silverstone.
Sooner or later, let’s use GPS and navigation knowledge for autos to take management out of drivers’ palms and mechanically sluggish automobiles outdoors high-risk areas similar to faculties, procuring centres and hospitals.
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