Road safety activities in the UK

Road safety activities in the UK

1970	HGV driving test and registration of driving instructors becomes compulsory.
1970	New regulations on lorry and PSV driver hours of work
1971/72	16 years olds are limited to riding mopeds only.
1971/72	Rear markings and long vehicle signs are made compulsory for HGVs.
1972	Start training engineers in accident reduction techniques
1973/74	Safety helmets are made compulsory for two-wheeled motor vehicle users.
	Temporary 50 mph maximum speed limit due to the energy crisis
	Vehicle lighting regulations.
1975/76	Vehicles required to be lit when daylight visibility is seriously reduced.
	Mini-roundabouts introduced.
	Minimum age of trainee HGV drivers reduced to 18.
1977	New standard for safety helmets.
	Mopeds redefined to 30 mph maximum design speed.
	MOT test widened to include windscreen wipers and washers.
1978	New edition of the Highway Code. 60 and 70 mph speed limits are made permanent.
	New maximum number of hours to be worked by goods vehicle drivers is introduced.
	Rear fog lamps become mandatory to most vehicles manufactured after 1 October 1979 and used from 1 April 1980.
1979	Use of tachograph accepted by Government. Code of practice issued on vehicle safety defects.
1980	Institution of Highways & Transportation produce guidelines on accident reduction.
1980	Higher standards for crash helmets.
1981	Reduction in minimum driving age of invalid car drivers to 16.
1982	Two part motorcycle test introduced. Provisional motorcycle licences restricted to two years.
	Tougher written examination for entrants to driver instructor registration scheme.
	Tougher braking standards for new buses, coaches and lorries.
1983	Seat belt wearing becomes law for drivers and front seat passengers of cars and light vans.
	Learner motorcyclists only allowed to ride machines of up to 125 cc.
	Tyres must have 1 mm tread depth, etc. First road hump regulations made.
1984	Stiffer driving tests for entrants to driver instructor registration scheme.
	Tougher internal checks on tuition given by qualified driving instructors.
	New pedal cycles are required to meet British Standards.
	Revised Code of Practice on safety of loads on vehicles is issued.
	Spray reducing devices required to be fitted to lorries and trailers.
1985	New safety package (improved audible and visual warnings and minimum pavement widths) for pedestrians at modernised level crossings.
	Both load and speed performance to be marked on new car tyres.
	Regulations allowing the use of traffic cones, warning lamps, and triangles in the event of breakdowns come into force.
1986	Uniform construction standards to apply to minibuses first used from April 1988.
	Seat belt legislation is made permanent.
	Tyres now required to support maximum axle weights at vehicle maximum speed.
1987	DoT sets national target of 33 % reduction in road casualties by the year 2000.
	All newly registered cars to be fitted with rear seat belts or child restraints.
	Use of amber flashing lights on slow moving vehicles is made compulsory.
	Zigzag markings extended to Pelican crossings.
1988	Close proximity and wide-angle rear view mirrors become a legal requirement on new HGVs.
1988	All coaches first used from 1 April 1974 must have 70 mph limiters by 1 April 1992.
1989	Penalty points increased for careless driving, without insurance, and failing to stop after or to report an accident.
	Accompanied motorcycle testing becomes mandatory.
	Seat belt wearing by rear child passengers becomes law in cars where appropriate restraints have been fitted and are available.
	Local Authorities Associations (LAA) produce Code of Good Road Safety Practice.
1990	High risk Offenders Scheme for problem drink-drivers extended and accompanied by the introduction of a charge for medical examination required before return of licence.
	Compulsory basic training for motorcyclists introduced.
	New regulations require those accompanying learner drivers to be at least 21 years old and to have held a licence for 3 years.
	From 1990 and continued, central government funding for local safety schemes. Guidelines on Road Safety Audit
1991	The first twelve 20mph zones were introduced.
	Safety Audits become mandatory on trunk roads and motorways.
	Seat belt wearing by rear adult passengers became law in cars where belts are fitted and available.
	First edition of 'Car and Driver: Injury Accident and Casualty Rates' published giving information on comparative accident involvement and injury risks of popular makes and models of car.
1992	Traffic Calming Act 1992 receives Royal Assent.
	All new good vehicles over 7.5 tonnes fitted with 60 mph speed limitres.
	Speed enforcement cameras and retesting of dangerous drivers introduced.
1993	New edition of Highway Code published.
	Consolidation of seat belt wearing regulations.
	Traffic Calming Regulations enable highway authorities to introduce a wider range of traffic calming features.
	The MOT test for cars extended.
1994	Speed limiter settings lowered to 65 mph for new buses and coaches and to 56 mph for HGVs.
1996	Safer City-project launched in Gloucester on safety engineering measures.
1996	Driving theory test introduced for car and motorcycle learners.
1997	Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 comes into force, withdrawal of licence and compulsory retesting for new drivers who accumulate 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing their driving test.
	New Zebra, Pelican and Puffin crossing regulations introduced.
	DETR review road safety targets post 2000.
1998	Transport white paper published: 'A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone'.
1999	Revised edition of 'The highway Code' published.
2000	The government announces a new road safety strategy and casualty reduction targets for the year 2010 in 'Tomorrows Roads - Safer for Everyone'.
2000	A review of speed policy was conducted and reported in 'New Directions in Speed Management'.
2001	The government announces a Ł10 million pilot of road safety schemes for children in deprived areas.
	Road Safety Good Practice Guidance published.
	First national campaign launched for fitting child car seats correctly.
	Road Safety website launched for children.
2002	The government seeks views on banning mobile phones whilst driving.
	Ł6 million was made available to improve road safety in most deprived cities.
	A new motorcycle safety campaign is launched, as is a campaign urging parents to check their child's car seat every trip.
	The Dangerous driving report was published in February.