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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Safety on many roads 'inadequate' | Safety on many roads 'inadequate' |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Safety measures on almost half of A-roads in the UK are "inadequate", according to a new star-rating system. | Safety measures on almost half of A-roads in the UK are "inadequate", according to a new star-rating system. |
| Only 11% of A-roads and half the length of motorways made the top four-star grade, in the IAM Trust survey of 4,400 miles of A-roads and motorways. | Only 11% of A-roads and half the length of motorways made the top four-star grade, in the IAM Trust survey of 4,400 miles of A-roads and motorways. |
| Road safety experts say measures like safety fencing and improved signing and lining can reduce accident risk. | Road safety experts say measures like safety fencing and improved signing and lining can reduce accident risk. |
| The Highways Agency said the results could be used to help direct resources toward improving safety on the roads. | |
| The IAM Trust, formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists, ranked the roads according to how well they protected motorists from death or serious injury in a collision. | The IAM Trust, formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists, ranked the roads according to how well they protected motorists from death or serious injury in a collision. |
| 'Combined action' | 'Combined action' |
| Dual carriageways rated poorer than expected. Most gained between three and four stars, but just two - the A66 in Middlesbrough and the A720 Edinburgh City bypass - were rated four-star along their entire route. | Dual carriageways rated poorer than expected. Most gained between three and four stars, but just two - the A66 in Middlesbrough and the A720 Edinburgh City bypass - were rated four-star along their entire route. |
| Drivers who understand that the risk of death or serious injury changes with the star rating of different road sections will be better informed and ultimately safer Neil Greig Director, IAM Trust | Drivers who understand that the risk of death or serious injury changes with the star rating of different road sections will be better informed and ultimately safer Neil Greig Director, IAM Trust |
| Neil Grieg, IAM Trust director, said the information about the standard of roads could be used as a valuable tool for motorists. | Neil Grieg, IAM Trust director, said the information about the standard of roads could be used as a valuable tool for motorists. |
| "Drivers who understand that the risk of death or serious injury changes with the star rating of different road sections will be better informed and ultimately safer," he said. | "Drivers who understand that the risk of death or serious injury changes with the star rating of different road sections will be better informed and ultimately safer," he said. |
| Mr Greig added: "Cutting road deaths requires combined action to improve driver behaviour, to produce safer cars, improve vehicle crash performance, and to provide safety features on the roads themselves." | Mr Greig added: "Cutting road deaths requires combined action to improve driver behaviour, to produce safer cars, improve vehicle crash performance, and to provide safety features on the roads themselves." |
| 'Unacceptable' | 'Unacceptable' |
| READ THE FULL REPORT Road safety ratings [2.7MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE FULL REPORT Road safety ratings [2.7MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| The grading system has been developed by the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP). | The grading system has been developed by the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP). |
| Dr Steve Lawson, technical director of EuroRAP, said many older roads rated low on safety because they could not cope with today's traffic demands. | Dr Steve Lawson, technical director of EuroRAP, said many older roads rated low on safety because they could not cope with today's traffic demands. |
| One and two-star roads had "death rates at least 10 times higher than other roads and are commonplace in the UK", he said. | One and two-star roads had "death rates at least 10 times higher than other roads and are commonplace in the UK", he said. |
| He said this was "unacceptable" and that basic measures such as safety fencing, and improvements to junctions including better signing and lining could reduce the dangers. | He said this was "unacceptable" and that basic measures such as safety fencing, and improvements to junctions including better signing and lining could reduce the dangers. |
| Safety performance | Safety performance |
| The Highways Agency is responsible for safety on England's motorways and major A-roads. | The Highways Agency is responsible for safety on England's motorways and major A-roads. |
| Report says roads can be improved with better signing | Report says roads can be improved with better signing |
| It said a third of its roads were assessed, and that 99% of the motorways and 76% of the A-roads scored three stars or more. | |
| A spokesman also said that the figures needed to be seen in context. | A spokesman also said that the figures needed to be seen in context. |
| "They do not show the network's accident record or safety performance," he said. | "They do not show the network's accident record or safety performance," he said. |
| "The safety performance of England's motorways and major A-roads continues to improve despite the continuing growth in road transport." | "The safety performance of England's motorways and major A-roads continues to improve despite the continuing growth in road transport." |
| But he added: "The results from this trial could be used to help us to direct our resources to improving safety on the network: one of our key priority areas." | But he added: "The results from this trial could be used to help us to direct our resources to improving safety on the network: one of our key priority areas." |