Cambridge MP calls on government to make roads safer

In Cambridgeshire, reported ‘fatal casualties’ in 2015 went up by 6% on the 2010-14 average. Contributing factors to overall accidents in Cambridgeshire included seven people looking at their mobile phone while driving, 52 drunk driving and 49 people speeding.

Under a Labour Government, the use of a handheld mobile phone while driving was rightly made a criminal offence. But figures show that the number of Fixed Penalties issued for driving with a handheld mobile phone in Cambridgeshire has plummeted from 2,132 in 2011 to 341 by 2015.

Following calls from Labour and the media, the Government has announced a tougher penalty regime for people using handheld mobile phones while driving.
 
Daniel Zeichner MP said: “This is road safety week. I'm calling on the Government to tackle the rising number of serious road collisions on Cambridgeshire’s roads and to make our roads safer for everyone who uses them.

“There are many narrow roads in Cambridge; with cyclists and other road users, the slightest split-second mistake at the wheel can have serious consequences. Driving while impaired or distracted needs to be taken seriously.
 
“Funding cuts to local roads police imposed by the Government since 2010 have made our roads more dangerous. Stricter penalties for dangerous drivers are better late than never, but police must be given the backing they need to enforce them effectively.”
 


Notes:

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/556162/ras30038.ods - shows ‘fatal casualties’ in Cambridgeshire in 2015 compared to previous years.

2. Table RAS50016 (at bottom of this page) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/ras50-contributory-factors#table-ras50016 shows contributory factors for road accidents in Cambridgeshire

3. RAC Public Affairs Newsletter (November 2016, Issue 14) contains the full list of FPNs per police force.
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