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ABD Press Release:

Spain Opts for 'Positive Points' Instead of UK-Style 'Punishment Points' for Drivers.

The ABD today calls for the UK government to copy the new Spanish system of positive points for drivers.

ABD Road Safety Spokesman Mark McArthur-Christie explained:

"We are pleased to see the Spanish government introducing a measure the ABD has long proposed for the UK. Under the new system in Spain existing drivers will start with a tally of 12 points with points being deducted when offences causing risk occur. New drivers will start with 8 points rising after 3 years offence and accident free. Good drivers will be able to increase the number of points on their licence. After 3 years conviction free they will gain 2 points and a further 3 years gains a further point. Four points will be awarded for those taking further driver training courses."

McArthur-Christie continued: "This system has the huge benefit of giving incentives for drivers and riders to take training before they have a crash or commit an offence, something that has been severely lacking in the UK. Current practice only sends drivers on training courses after the event. Training is seen as part of their punishment. Responsible drivers who drive safely or choose to take advanced training of their own volition get no recognition from the authorities."

The ABD urges the new road safety minister to urgently consider introducing a similar system in the UK. The organisation strongly believes that a carrot and stick approach to road safety will achieve far better results than that of recent years that has relied only on the stick, a system that has failed dismally to reduce fatalities.

ENDS

DSA Comments

Without doubt, any system that encourages drivers and motorcyclists to take further training without first having a crash or committing an offence to warrant compulsory training is worthy of serious consideration, and on this we agree with the ABD.

But for their closing comment that the British "system... has failed dismally to reduce fatalities" it is hard not to laugh at them.

If one looks at the last 16 available-years' international data, from 1988 to 2003, inclusive, one finds that Britain has had the lowest per capita death rate of any developed nation in the world on no less than eight occasions (1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, and 1998-2001). In the other years, the UK has either been in a very close second place or, very occasionally, in third, and this is out of the thirty member-countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development* (OECD).

Even Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands -- which are the 'best of the rest' -- get nowhere near this achievement so perhaps the ABD would care to drop their silly assertion about British systems not working!

Eddie Wren, Executive Director, Drive and Stay Alive, Inc.

*  International Road Crash Fatality Rates, 1988-2002