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Traffic moving slower in most cities says new report
8 January 1998
According to the latest Government figures traffic is expected to grow by at least 38 per cent over the next 20 years. If this happens the situation is likely to get worse. This is one of the reasons why the Government must reduce traffic on our roads. Later this month a Private Members Bill aimed at reducing road traffic by 10 per cent by 2010, will be debated in Parliament. Drafted by Friends of the Earth, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party, and supported by over 400 MPs, the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill has been introduced by Cynog Dafis MP (Plaid Cymru) [2].
Roger Higman, Transport Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“If traffic is allowed to grow as predicted congestion in our towns and cities will only get worse. This is why the Government must support the Road Traffic Reduction Bill when it is debated later this month.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Eleven areas experienced traffic speed decreases during both peak and off-peak times since 1993:
West Midlands; Leeds/Bradford; Bristol; Nottingham; Teeside; Hull; Bournemouth/Poole;Plymouth; Luton/Dunstable; Swindon and Peterborough.
Merseyside, Coventry and Oxford experienced peak time traffic speed reductions. Greater Manchester, Southampton and Norwich had speed decreases off peak.
[2] The RTRB will be discussed in Parliament on 30 January 1998.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
