Traffic filter to be installed after concerns in Guernsey
Paul James, road safety officer at Traffic and Highway Services, said the junction "met the threshold for installing a filter", which will bring improved road safety with minimal impact on traffic.He said: "We proactively monitor key junctions across the island to see what improvements can be made and then take appropriate action."Improving road safety for all road users continues to be one of our top priorities."
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Auto Blog
8 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Why Canada's Roads Are Getting Safer While U.S. Traffic Deaths Rise
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a new report showing that the United States is struggling to curb road deaths — while Canada is steadily pulling ahead. The study, done in collaboration with Canada's Traffic Injury Research Foundation, reveals a 33% increase in U.S. traffic fatalities from 2011 to 2021. Over the same period, Canadian fatalities dropped by 18%, despite having more drivers and vehicle miles travelled. This gap has led the IIHS to push its '30×30' initiative — a national campaign aiming to cut roadway deaths by 30% before the end of the decade. The group says Canada's safety record proves it's possible, if the U.S. is willing to adopt proven policies and enforce them consistently. 0:04 / 0:09 Meet the ultimate Audi RS 6 Avant: Only 85 are coming to the U.S. Watch More The Policy Divide One of the clearest differences between the two countries lies in the application of safety laws. Canadian provinces have rolled out broad distracted driving bans, comprehensive seat belt requirements (including for rear passengers), and lower legal blood alcohol limits. Speed cameras and red-light enforcement are also more common and better maintained across Canada than in many U.S. states. These measures may seem minor, but they add up. The IIHS found that vulnerable road users — like cyclists and pedestrians — saw a 17% decline in deaths in Canada, while U.S. fatalities in those categories jumped by 64%. Truck-involved deaths rose 54% in the U.S. but fell 24% north of the border. Among young drivers, Canada posted a 52% drop in fatalities, compared to a 17% increase in the U.S. By providing your email address, you agree that it may be used pursuant to Arena Group's Privacy Policy. Cars Still Matter Alongside stronger enforcement, the IIHS is also pointing to the importance of vehicle safety itself. As recent IIHS crash tests have shown, brands like Volvo and Tesla continue to lead in real-world safety, while more rugged, body-on-frame SUVs and pickups from Jeep and GM struggled to meet top-tier standards. The Institute argues that smarter policy needs to go hand in hand with safer vehicles — especially as large SUVs remain popular with American buyers. Even buyers with tight budgets can prioritize crash protection. Earlier this year, the IIHS published a list of smart choices for families shopping on a budget, outlining safe, affordable cars recommended for teen drivers. The goal is to remove barriers for entry-level buyers, making safety accessible even in used markets. Learning From The North The cultural differences between the U.S. and Canada are relatively minor, the IIHS notes, which makes Canada's success even more compelling. The organization says the U.S. doesn't need to invent new strategies — just implement and enforce the ones that already work. Some automakers are doing their part. According to recent safety rankings, a surprising brand topped the charts for 2025, reminding buyers that crash protection doesn't always come with a luxury badge. Still, the IIHS says manufacturers alone can't reverse the trend. It will take stronger laws, smarter enforcement, and real policy change — not just five-star marketing. About the Author Max Taylor View Profile
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Cornwall mum 'could be alive' if older driver rules changed
Claire Eady believes that if the rules for older drivers were different her mum would still be here summer 79-year-old Geraldine Gibson died after pulling out into oncoming traffic near her home in Cornwall."I never thought I would have to say the words 'my mum's been killed in a car crash'," said Mrs Eady, who said regulations for drivers over the age of 70 were "unsafe and inadequate" and needed an the moment there is no upper age limit for driving in the UK, with around 500 licence holders aged between 100 and government said it was committed to improving road safety. Mrs Gibson was trying to cross the A30 at Plusha near Launceston to meet a friend when she pulled into the path of another inquest heard there was nothing the other driver, who suffered minor injuries, could have done to avoid Highways told the hearing the junction had since been altered after other accidents but Mrs Eady, from West Sussex, said older age was "absolutely a factor" in her mother's learned her mother was struggling to manoeuvre beforehand and had a separate Eady said she believed arthritis and an earlier stroke may also have affected her mum's driving."I don't think my mum ever would have thought she needed to stop driving because there were too many things that depended on her being out in a car," she have a legal responsibility to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) of conditions affecting their fitness to drive, but Mrs Eady said this felt insufficient."You can't really rely on the individual to do that... especially if it's their only way of getting out," she said she would like medical professionals to be legally required to notify authorities and for there to be mandatory testing for those over 70. What are the current rules regarding older drivers?Drivers must renew their licence aged 70 and every three years thereafterThere is no upper age limit for driving in the UK, with about 500 licence holders aged between 100 and 108Drivers have a legal responsibility to self-declare medical conditions that could affect driving to the DVLAGuidance by the DVLA states health professionals should inform the agency if a patient cannot or will not, but it is not a legal requirement As the UK population ages, the number of older drivers is also increasing, with licence holders aged 70 and over going up by about 200,000 a year, according to the of Transport statistics show older drivers make up about 14% of all licence holders but account for a quarter of those killed on the roads, and that people aged over 75 and under 25 are at highest risk of being killed or seriously hurt in a Heard from the Older Drivers Forum, which supports motorists to continue driving safely for longer, said the "vast majority of older drivers have a wealth of experience, confidence and tolerance".But he added: "As we age, our relative frailty means that older drivers are often over represented in serious injury collisions, particularly for the age group of 80 and above." Mr Heard said elderly drivers were more likely to crash due to illness or errors in judgement, while accidents involving younger drivers were more likely through speed or taking said he supported mandatory referrals of medical conditions by health professionals and advised concerned family members to encourage mature driver BBC has had exclusive access to a report, which said many people were "unaware" of their legal obligation to inform the DVLA of certain medical conditions and health professionals were "reluctant to" do research, prepared for a coroner in April, showed less than 10% of DVLA notifications were made by medical professionals and other third parties. The report's author, Dr Carol Hawley, research fellow at the University of Warwick, said the system "does need to change".She said her research suggested there was underreporting of visual and medical conditions "because there are not that many notifications compared to the number of driving licence holders and the number of people that have those conditions".Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the college would welcome a more formalised approach "to ensure that any necessary breaches of doctor-patient confidentiality are protected in law and avoid undermining patient trust".The Association of Optometrists and The College of Optometrists said they "strongly support" the introduction of regular mandatory vision checks for all drivers and said the current system was "not fit for purpose". Elsewhere in Cornwall, Hilary Nias said she "feels very strongly" that change is needed, following her sister-in-law's fatal accident."It was a tragic end to a really interesting life," she said, adding family had repeatedly warned her that her driving was Nias, 90, pulled out onto the A39 at Devoran and crashed onto a roundabout when she mistook the accelerator pedal for the died from her injuries five months later. Mrs Nias said her sister-in-law could "only just" see over the dashboard and was having problems with spatial awareness. "That needed testing and assessing... it could possibly have avoided my sister-in-law's ghastly accident - and many others," she Nias applied for her driving licence to be renewed within the three years before her accident and no medical conditions were her inquest Emma Hillson, assistant coroner for Cornwall, wrote to the Department of Transport and the DVLA, highlighting the lack of any "requirement for there to be any form of medical check or assessment to confirm fitness to drive".Mrs Nias said she was "frankly depressed" by the response, which did not suggest any changes to the current system. There is a higher proportion of elderly people in the South West of England than the national average, and some here see driving as a Bodmin, 130 older people meet weekly at the town hall at an Age Concern social group. Some drive to get Reg Harris, 85, said giving up driving would "absolutely crucify" his Trevenna, 88, added: "I wouldn't be able to get anywhere, do anything... I'd just as well sit in the armchair and wait to die."Drivers can refer themselves for an older driving assessment by Driving Mobility at a cost, but referrals from the DVLA, police or NHS are free. The charity said more than 10,000 people aged over 70 in England underwent one in 2024 - 0.2% of drivers of that age. The local road safety partnership Vision Zero South West wants more public awareness as well as tighter said 176 drivers aged over 60 were killed or seriously injured on Cornwall and Devon's road network in Alison Hernandez said: "We want to protect people's lives because it is absolutely devastating when this happens to people and their families."Asked what could be done to support older drivers who felt they had no choice but to carry on because public transport often was not good enough in rural areas, Hernandez said her office was planning to run a campaign "to educate older drivers on how they can be at their best behind the wheel". The government told the BBC the DVLA was analysing findings from recent inquests, and from a 2023 call for evidence on the legislative framework governing driver licensing for people with medical said the DVLA would continue to engage with healthcare professionals and their regulatory bodies to understand if there may be circumstances where they "could be encouraged or supported in notifying DVLA of a patient's medical condition".A Department for Transport spokesperson added: "The NHS recommends adults should have their eyes tested every two years and drivers are legally required to inform the DVLA if they have a condition which affects their ability to drive. "We are committed to improving road safety and continue to explore ways to achieve this."Additional reporting by Lauren Woodhead, England Data Unit
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Guernsey harbour's roll-on / roll-off ramps to be refurbished
Two ramps in Guernsey's main harbour will undergo essential maintenance later this ramps, technically known as linkspans, allow vehicles to drive on and off Ports said 90% of the island's freight last year was imported by ferry, along with more than 65,000 private States said it expected the work, which includes repairing the ramps' concrete support structures and refurbishing steel piles, to start in early November. The work is expected to extend the ramps' lives by five to 10 years. They were built in 1987 and 1995 respectively, but the last major overhaul was about 15 years interested in carrying out the work have until 26 August to express their interest, Ports said.
