Accident claims, particularly those involving whiplash compensation, are thought to be on the rise in Britain despite falling numbers of road traffic accidents. This disparity is largely down to the introduction of no-win-no-fee personal injury solicitors and improved advertising campaigns, which have made the general public more aware as to its legal rights. According to the Department for Transport, the number of fatalities caused by road traffic accidents in Britain stood at 2,538 in 2008, which is arguably far higher than it ought to be but still significantly lower than previous years.
Comparisons between one year and the next help safety officials assess whether measures have proved to be effective at reducing road traffic accidents that result in death or serious injury. Although most such comparisons are made within the same decade or so, it is sometimes worth highlighting the differences between entire generations to illustrate the effectiveness of certain safety measures. In respect to arguably the most significant of all road safety initiatives, the driving test, it is necessary to compare generations in order to understand its worth in a health and safety context.
The driving test was first introduced in Britain on the 1st June 1935, almost 75 years ago. Although the test was suspended during the Second World War and the Suez crisis in 1956, the 'rite of passage' has enjoyed an otherwise unblemished existence. In 1934, one year before the driving test was introduced, 7,343 people died on British roads at a time when there were only 1.5 million or so cars. By 2008, the number of cars present on British roads had grown to around 34 million, whereas the number of deaths has fallen by around 4,800 per year.
The positive impact of the driving test on road safety should not be understated and the test further improved safety conditions in July 1996 with the introduction of its theory test component. In honour of the driving test's 75th birthday, Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning, said: "The driving test is not just a rite of passage, it has helped save thousands of lives on our roads. The test and the learning needed to pass it are a vital part of giving drivers the skills they need to drive efficiently and safely. High standards of driver training and assessment are an essential contribution to helping Britain's roads remain among the safest in the world".
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