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New law to cut traffic reaches statute book
1 July 1998
The new law seeks to reduce the adverse environmental, social and economic impacts of road traffic . This will be achieved by setting targets for road traffic reduction, or - if the Secretary of State believes that other measures would be more effective - by showing how these will cut traffic levels. The Act therefore puts traffic reduction at the heart of transport planning, requiring all Government transport policies to be designed within a traffic reduction framework.
Roger Higman, Senior Transport Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
Friends of the Earth is delighted that Parliament has passed the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Act. This is a crucial piece of transport legislation as it commits the Government to reducing traffic rather than trying to accommodate it, bringing enormous benefits for society, the environment and the economy.We are extremely grateful to everyone who backed the Bill and in particular Cynog Dafis MP and Lord Elis-Thomas for guiding it through Parliament .
Roger Higman continued:
We now look forward to the Transport White Paper where the Government must spell out how it intends to reduce road traffic and get more people to use alternatives such as public transport, walking and cycling .
Mike Woodin, Principal Speaker for the Green Party said:
This new law is a crucial step forward in the battle to improve the environment we live in. The Government must now act swiftly to introduce measures for a sustainable transport system.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
