Transport ministers have been scrutinised over proposed legal changes aimed at enhancing road safety. The Government responded to queries from MPs in the Commons this week (January 8) about its new Road Safety Strategy. The strategy includes plans for a new eyesight test for drivers aged 70 and above, and introducing a minimum three to six-month learning period between a learner's theory and practical tests.
Labour also wants to reduce the alcohol limit for learner drivers and newly qualified drivers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The limit would be lowered from the current 80mg per 100ml of blood to approximately 20mg.
The limit for all other drivers would be reduced to around 50mg, would align it with the current limit in Scotland. However, Romford MP Andrew Rosindell expressed concerns that the proposals failed to address a major hazard that leads to many fatalities on the roads.
He said: "I welcome all efforts by the Government to make roads safer for pedestrians and motorists, but I heard nothing about roadkill of wildlife, horses, pets, and other animals that can also cause collisions involving the deaths of human beings."
He explained how this is an issue in his area. The MP said: "In my constituency, Havering-atte-Bower is a rural Essex village with a lot of horse riders. I am told that up to 700 horses have been killed on the roads in recent years, and up to 50 riders."
He went on to call for current laws to be expanded. The Conservative MP said: "We also have a lot of roaming deer in areas such as Harold Hill and Noak Hill. Apparently, up to 75,000 deer are killed on the roads, along with hedgehogs and other animals, so there is a lot going on with wildlife which needs to be considered.
"We know that some creatures do not have to be registered if they are run over by a motor vehicle, so will the minister consider amending the Road Traffic Act 1988 to include cats and other wild animals?" The current Road Traffic Act 1988 requires drivers to report to the police if they hit a horse, cattle, donkey, mule, sheep, pig, or goat, or dog.
However, there is no such obligation if you hit a cat or a wild animal. Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood provided the Government's response.
She said: "The honorary member is absolutely right to say that on rural roads in particular dangers are posed by drivers who hit animals, and right to raise concerns about horse riders. He will know that the Highway Code was strengthened to ensure that those who are driving are mindful of horse riders and the need to pass them safely, slowly and with sufficient room.
"We will look at what more we can do to strengthen the advice and guidance, and ensure that people are aware of those issues in the Highway Code. I have listened carefully to many people who have raised with me their concerns about cats, and work is under way in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to look at further research on that issue."
A petition was recently launched demanding legal changes that would require motorists to report incidents where they have hit a cat.
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