December 2006

It has been a busy year for those of us involved in transport issues and this past month particularly so. The Queen's Speech, as we expected, announced Bills tackling road pricing and congestion and climate change. The Eddington report on transport's contribution to productivity, published a fortnight after her speech, strongly supports road pricing to reduce congestion. We will be active in the debate to ensure that any road pricing structure does not encourage motorised road users to travel at less safe times or on less safe roads. And during discussion on the climate change Bill, we aim to highlight the potential virtuous circle of reducing speeds in urban areas thereby improving vulnerable road user safety, encouraging active travel and reducing transport emissions.

Our annual Westminster Lecture was a great success. A capacity crowd heard Professor Phil Goodwin speak on transport safety policy at the Commonwealth Club. Due to Parliamentary business, the Minister gave his 'reply' to Prof Goodwin before the lecture and Minister Ladyman's comments have been posted on the DfT website.

With the Beyond 2010 report well under way, forthcoming activity in Westminster and Whitehall and a busy programme of events, starting with our Planning Safer Streets conference in February, we at PACTS have a lot to look forward to in the coming year. I'd like to wish all our supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.

Robert Gifford

Executive Director