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15 Jan 1998
Friends of the Earth dismisses today's desperate attack (Thursday 15 January) on the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill by the British Road Federation [1].Roger Higman, Transport Campaigner for Friends of the Earth said:
“The British Road Federation represents companies that have made billions of pounds from congestion, pollution and bulldozing the countryside. This attack is a desperate attempt to promote their self-interest over the well-being of the country as a whole.
The public is crying out for traffic reduction. That's why over 400 MPs are backing this crucial Bill. We are now looking for the Government to support it too.
The Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill has been introduced as a Private Members'Bill by Plaid Cymru MP, Cynog Dafis. Drawn up by Friends of the Earth, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, the RTRB seeks to reduce traffic by 10 per cent by the year 2010 (based on 1990 levels). Supported by over 400 MPs, the Bill is to be debated by Parliament on 30 January 1998.
Notes for Editors
[1] British Road Federation Press Notice 01/98 “BRF questions validity of the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill”
A detailed rebuttal of the BRF's arguments follows:
The BRF claims:
“Targets have been arbitarily set with no formal assessment
of the environmental,economic or social implications of trying to
achieve them”
FOE response: Earlier this week
FOE published a report by Professor John Whitelegg, a former advisor
to Mr Prescott, which concludes that reducing traffic by 10 per
cent was “practical, feasible and could beneficial to people,
communities,urban and rural areas and to the economy”.
“Government forecasts already indicate that traffic is
likely to continue to grow at a rate of nearly 2 per cent per annum.
This would mean trying to achieve 15 per cent and 20 per cent cuts
in a 5 and 10 year period respectively.”
FOE response: The very fact that
the RTRB largely involves stopping traffic growth that has yet to
occur, that its targets are so easy to achieve. If the Bill's targets
are met, nine out of ten current car journeys will still be made
by car in 2010 and car use will be as high was it was in 1987. However,
cutting traffic by this amount will cut congestion and pollution
by far more.
“Pricing people off the road will hit lower income families”
FOE response: Professor Whitelegg's
report makes it clear that reducing traffic by 10 per cent can be
achieved without increasing taxes on drivers, although this would
be useful. A combination of land use planning changes, parking policies,
better public transport, much improved cycling provision and detailed
attention to the school run will deliver a 10 per cent cut. 96%
of the poorest fifth of British households do not have a car. They
would benefit directly from traffic reduction.
“Traffic volume is only one measure of transport activity;
what about air quality, road safety, congestion, noise and journey
reliabilty.”
FOE response: Yes, though traffic
is a major factor for all the other concerns. If we reduce traffic
we will also tackle air quality problems, road safety, noise etc
“There already exists a Road Traffic Reduction Act which
allows Local Authorities to set traffic targets.”
FOE response: The RTRA 1997 only
puts duties on local authorities. Its provisions don't cover motorways
and other trunk roads or put any duties on Government Ministers
to plan national transport policy for traffic reduction.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
