Safe Speed Forums

I sent this:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 09:20:12 +0100
From: Paul Smith <psmith@safespeed.org.uk>
Organization: Safe Speed
To: DfT DfT <road.safety@dft.gsi.gov.uk>

Hi,

Please service the following request made under the Freedom of Information Act
2000.

I am interested in information surrounding the percentage of road crashes that
involve 'normal responsible motorists' 'speeding'. I am sure you are aware
that where 'excessive speed' is coded on stats 19 forms (trial system) before
Jan 2005 the coding includes 'inappropriate speed for the conditions' as well
as 'speed in excess of a speed limit'.

1) Does the DfT have any data, documents or working estimates describing the
percentage of road crashes that actually involve vehicles in excess of a speed
limit?

2) I'm also sure you are aware that a significant proportion of high speed
crashes result from reckless, delinquent or lawless behaviour. Does the DfT
have any data, documents or working estimates for the proportion of crashes
involving 'speeding' (i.e. speed in excess of a speed limit) AND otherwise
responsible road user behaviour?

3) If you have data, documents or working estimates for the above two
questions further broken down by severity group (injury, serious injury,
fatality) then please also supply those.

The address for correspondence is:
Trace House,
Clay of Allan
Fearn near Tain
Ross-shire
Scotland
IV20 1RR

Please acknowledge this Freedom of Information request.

I would prefer to receive your reply in electronic form by email.
==========================================

I got this reply:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/d ... 041076.pdf

Which of course is pure waffle. They simply cannot answer the questions. Amazing.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

good try,
could you try the same request on some or all police forces?

Anton

But surely this is the basis of a superb press release.

"DFT admits that speed camera deployments have no founding"

A recent response to a FoI request by the Dft reveals that there is no data to support the deployment of speed cameras as there is no data that records whether accidents are caused by speeding.

_________________
Former Military Police Officer and accident investigator

Sure. That was my expectation when I asked the question. I hope to send one out later this morning.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I too agree,

I was just thinking that they would be interesting stats to see.

Safe Speed issued the following PR at 12:50pm this afternoon:

PR241: DfT admits that speed cameras lack basic foundation information

news: for immediate release

In response to a Safe Speed Freedom of Information Act request, the Department
for Transport admits that they don't know what proportion of crashes are
caused or contributed to by 'speeding' and they don't even have a working
estimate.

The problem arises because:

1) "Excessive speed" as recorded on accident report forms fails to distinguish
between speed-in-excess-of-a-speed-limit and inappropriate-speed-for-the-
conditions. Sample data from Durham, Avon and Somerset and Canada suggests
that 70% of 'excessive speed' crashes DO NOT involve exceeding a speed limit.

2) Where a crash results from high speeds, it is commonplace for there to be
some very untypical and reckless behaviour behind both the speed and the
crash. For example when a joyrider in a stolen car crashes in town at high
speed, clearly this dangerous behaviour is fundamentally different from
an otherwise responsible motorist a few miles per hour over the speed limit on
the bypass.

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign
(www.safespeed.org.uk) said: "Despite 13 years of speed cameras on British
roads, the DfT can't even give us basic supporting information. The speed
camera programme isn't based on science or understanding, instead it's based
upon ill considered opinion, false assumptions and vested interest. Over 12
million responsible motorists have been convicted for nothing. The roads
aren't getting safer, drivers are getting worse and speed cameras are far
greater in distraction than in benefit."

"Our best working estimate for the proportion of crashes caused or contributed
to by 'normal responsible motorists' driving in excess of a speed limit is
under 2% of crashes. The contrasts very remarkably with official figures
showing that 60% of vehicles are speeding at sample sites on most road types."

"It is outrageous and unacceptable to implement a major national road safety
policy without a solid scientific foundation, yet here we are, 13 years on and
they STILL don't have basic data."

"The DfT reply to our request is pure waffle. No answers are given to the
questions asked."

<ends>

Notes for editors
=================

Safe Speed Freedom of Information request:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 09:20:12 +0100
From: Paul Smith <psmith@safespeed.org.uk>
Organization: Safe Speed
To: DfT DfT <road.safety@dft.gsi.gov.uk>

Hi,

Please service the following request made under the Freedom of Information Act
2000.

I am interested in information surrounding the percentage of road crashes that
involve 'normal responsible motorists' 'speeding'. I am sure you are aware
that where 'excessive speed' is coded on stats 19 forms (trial system) before
Jan 2005 the coding includes 'inappropriate speed for the conditions' as well
as 'speed in excess of a speed limit'.

1) Does the DfT have any data, documents or working estimates describing the
percentage of road crashes that actually involve vehicles in excess of a speed
limit?

2) I'm also sure you are aware that a significant proportion of high speed
crashes result from reckless, delinquent or lawless behaviour. Does the DfT
have any data, documents or working estimates for the proportion of crashes
involving 'speeding' (i.e. speed in excess of a speed limit) AND otherwise
responsible road user behaviour?

3) If you have data, documents or working estimates for the above two
questions further broken down by severity group (injury, serious injury,
fatality) then please also supply those.

The address for correspondence is:
Trace House,
Clay of Allan
Fearn near Tain
Ross-shire
Scotland
IV20 1RR

Please acknowledge this Freedom of Information request.

I would prefer to receive your reply in electronic form by email.
=================================================================

DfT response:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/d ... 041076.pdf

Previous PRs (including the derivation of our working estimate):
http://www.safespeed.org.uk/pr110.html
http://www.safespeed.org.uk/pr112.html

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Chip chip chip

_________________
Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

Excellent

_________________
Former Military Police Officer and accident investigator