Annual Report 2002/2003
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Introduction by the Chairman
Chapter 1: The Motorists' Forum
Chapter 2: Advising on Specific Topics
Chapter 3: Raising Issues of Concerns to Motorists
Chapter 4: Work in Progress
Annex A: Terms of Reference
Annex B: Other Positions Held by Members' Relevant to the Work of the Forum
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Introduction by the Chairman
The past year has seen some significant milestones for the motorist as the Government, the industry and local authorities demonstrate a new vigour in tackling the growing traffic on our roads.
We have been extremely pleased to see the Government's recognition that the roads network needs to be maintained and operated at an efficiency level that allows goods and people to be able to move freely and effectively about their daily business.
In this connection, we very much welcome the Government's recent announcements concerning major improvements to the strategic road network and the increased funding being given to local authorities to clear the backlog of maintenance of local roads.
Yet the most significant and far-reaching change we have seen this year has been in the development of the concept of paying for road use. There has been an exhaustive national debate on congestion charging centred mainly on the charging scheme for London. We shall be watching progress carefully over the next few months to see if the scheme has succeeded in its objective of reducing congestion.
We shall also be watching closely other new initiatives such as the forthcoming opening of the new M6 toll road and the introduction of active traffic management measures on the M42. Their success will help shape the motoring policies of the future.
Meanwhile, we have continued to advise Government on a number of specific topics. These include driver awareness, behaviour, communication and training, how congestion should be measured, vehicle security and mobile phones and driving.
We have also continued to bring to the heart of Government issues of concern to motorists. Ministers from the Department for Transport, the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry, and senior officials from Transport for London, have attended our Plenaries to debate issues as diverse as the Government's 10 Year Transport Plan through to the Blue Badge Scheme.
Other issues we have raised include the need to improve the speed at which the effects of serious incidents on the primary route network are cleared, the Government's Multi-Modal studies, the London congestion charging scheme, traffic management in London, allowing recovery and rescue operators to use motorway hard shoulders, street works, greening the public sector fleet, fuel duty differential, untaxed, uninsured and unlicensed driving and local authority parking attendants.
We have some of the safest roads in Europe. However, we are also currently engaged in a major piece of research on road safety that is designed to provide the Commission for Integrated Transport with advice on how the Government can make even more effective delivery of its Road Safety Strategy.
We welcome the Government's response to our concerns on all the issues we have addressed and we will be making sure over the coming year that we continue to keep Government aware of the needs and views of the motoring public and industry.
Finally, the Forum's strength comes from the cross section of motoring interests represented on our body. I should like to pay particular thanks to the members and the Secretariat for the valuable contributions they have made to what I believe has been a successful year for the Motorists' Forum.
Sir Trevor Chinn
Chapter 1: The Motorists' Forum
The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) - an independent body advising the Government on integrated transport policy - was asked by the Deputy Prime Minister to set up a group in September 1999 to advise on policy proposals affecting motorists. CfIT subsequently agreed to form The Motorists' Forum. The Forum was launched formally by the Deputy Prime Minister on 31 January 2000.
The Forum seeks to ensure that motoring interests and car users' views are reflected accurately in the development of both Government and local authority policies affecting motorists. It works within the conceptual framework of the Government's integrated transport strategy and sustainable development policy but also takes its work forward in the light of the Deputy Prime Minister's statement that the car will remain the dominant mode of transport for personal use.
Over the past year, the Forum has continued to work constructively and effectively with Government Ministers and officials and other interested parties in ensuring that motoring and motorists' interests are fully represented in the transport agenda.
The Forum has continued to act as a useful vehicle for debate with Government and others on emerging policies - for example on the Government's 10 Year Transport Plan, congestion charging, how congestion should be measured, and active traffic management.
It has also continued to raise issues of concern to motorists with Government where the Forum wishes to challenge existing policy or priorities for action - such as incident management, use of the hard shoulder by recovery and rescue operators, street works, traffic lights phasing in London and parking enforcement by local authority parking attendants.
Full details of the work of the Forum are contained in Chapters 2 - 4.
The Forum's Terms of Reference are at Annex A.
Members
Sir Trevor Chinn, the Vice-Chair of CfIT, chairs the Forum. Other members are drawn from leaders in their fields from a wide cross-section of the motoring community. While members join CfIT in an individual capacity, they are invited to join the Forum in a representative capacity.
However, Forum members do not just speak for their organisations. As well as being experts in their field, they are also able to bring a strategic understanding of motoring issues and concerns to the table. The Forum is thus able to bring experts together to hear and understand the views of other parts of the motoring world.
The Forum is made up as follows:
Sir Trevor Chinn CVO (Chair)
Councillor Tony Brown, Member, Local Government Association Transport Executive
Findlay Caldwell, Managing Director, RAC Consumer Services, RAC Motoring Services
Douglas Campbell OBE, Executive Director, The Disabled Drivers' Association
Helen Carey DL, Chairman, National Federation of Women's Institutes
John Dawson, Director, The AA Motoring Trust
Chief Constable Stephen Green QPM, Operational Strategic Road Policing Portfolio Holder, Association of Chief Police Officers Roads Policing Business Area
David Holmes CB, Chairman, RAC Foundation
John Lewis, Director General, British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association
Christopher Macgowan, Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
Tim Matthews, Chief Executive, Highways Agency
Richard Mills, Secretary General, National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection
John Mumford OBE, Director, BP Oil UK Ltd, UK Petroleum Industry Association
Roger Putnam, Chairman, Ford Motor Company Ltd
Michael Roberts, Director, Business Environment, Confederation of British Industry
Roger Wood, Managing Director, The Automobile Association
Robert Devereux, Director General, Roads, Regional and Local Transport Group acts as the Department for Transport (DfT) advisor to the group.
Secretariat
David Prescott, Secretary to the Motorists' Forum
Neil Williams, Assistant Secretary to the Motorists' Forum
Any other positions held by members that are relevant to the work of the Forum are at Annex B.
Over the past year, the following have also represented their organisations on the Forum:
Sir Christopher Foster, formerly Chairman, RAC Foundation
Baroness Scott of Needham Market, formerly Vice-Chair (now Chair), Local Government Association Transport Executive
Malcolm Webb, Director General, UK Petroleum Industry Association
Willy Rickett, the current Director General, Strategy, Finance and Delivery Group acted as DfT advisor to the Forum over the period of this report.
The full Forum meets in Plenary session four times a year. However, much of the detailed work of the Forum is taken forward by Working Groups. These draw on the experience and expertise of many relevant organisations going well beyond those represented on the Plenary group.
Details of Working Group activity is contained in Chapters 2 - 4 of this report. The reports drawn up by Working Groups are submitted to the full Forum for consideration before being presented to Ministers.
Reports are published on the Forum's website at: http://www.cfit.gov.uk/mf/.
Chapter 2: Advising on Specific Topics
The Forum has continued to act over the past year as a consultative body for Government in the preparation of its policies on motoring issues. Areas where the Forum has helped Government to shape its policies are:
Congestion Measurement
CfIT asked the Forum in 2001 to:
- look at how motorists perceive congestion;
- assess DfT's proposed criteria for measuring/reporting changes in congestion; and
- see whether the proposals could be made more meaningful to motorists.
A Congestion Measurement Working Group (CMWG) was established to take this work forward. The Group's Interim Report - set out in the Forum's 2001-02 Annual Report - concluded that the DfT choice of indicator (average delay per vehicle kilometre) was broadly sound but limited and needed to be supplemented by information which is more meaningful to motorists. The Report also set out a number of potential areas for improvement.
The Forum then took its work a stage further by investigating the possible next steps identified in the Interim Report, particularly with regard to producing supplementary measures to the DfT choice of congestion indicator.
The Group's Final Report suggested that the indicator should be supplemented by:
- measuring performance of the road network in terms of the recognisable effects of congestion (eg impacts on journey speeds, times and reliability) on specific links/routes/locations; and
- ensuring that motorists have access to information on the predictability of journey times, which enables them to plan better the way in which they use the road network.
In addition to this, the Forum recommended specifically that, as part of the outcome of the 10 Year Plan review, DfT should commit to:
- adopt by 2003 (in principle, and subject to further work) new indicators of congestion to supplement its current form of measurement, with a view to making these operational by 2005;
- work with motoring organisations and key private and public sector players to promote the provision of information on journey time predictability by 2005 (if not earlier), to enable motorists to improve their journey planning;
- establish the desirable level of disaggregation of information for indicators of congestion and predictability, through consultation with motoring organisations and key private and public sector players;
- work with key players in the public and private sectors to improve the data collection needed to ensure the robustness of the proposed indicators;
- build on existing research into the reaction of motorists to the expression and use of any congestion indicators to establish the user-friendliness and accuracy of any selected new indicators;
- identify how the package of measures in the 10 Year Plan (or any further iteration of it) is likely to affect road performance, as measured by any new indicators; and
- continue to monitor changes in congestion using DfT's current approach, until such time as any new indicators can be measured alongside it.
In response, the Government thanked the Forum for the work it had done in this area, which it said formed a coherent body of proposals. They provided a detailed explanation of how they would take the Forum's recommendations into account in developing policy in this area, particularly as regards the publication of complementary congestion measures.
Driver Awareness, Behaviour, Communication and Training
DfT sought the Forum's advice on a number of issues where it was felt that the Forum could have a useful input into future policy formulation. The issues included:
Driver Awareness/Behaviour
Here DfT asked the Forum for advice on how driver awareness about road safety issues could be raised and how driver behaviour could be influenced. The Highways Agency also sought advice on how driving standards could be raised through roadwork sites on the strategic road network.
Forum Recommendations
- Ensure speed limits are appropriate for the road and conditions, and that they are properly advertised to motorists;
- Place speed limit signs, on an experimental basis, where current signing is allegedly ambiguous;
- Place more speed limit signs in high-risk accident sites;
- Display speed limits on speed camera warning signs;
- Require local authorities to maintain full visibility of speed limit signs throughout the year;
- Require vehicle manufacturers to design and install speedometers clearly indicating the primary speed limit thresholds, ie 30, 50 and 70 mph;
- Change the emphasis in the way speeding prosecutions are administered - ie look for ways to educate drivers on the danger of driving at inappropriate speeds and on the benefits of driving sensibly, as opposed purely to applying punitive sanctions; and
- Increase traffic policing capacity to aid enforcement.
Roadworks
(a) In coned-off areas:
- Consider employing digital speed cameras through the coned-off area at roadworks in place of single site cameras; and
- Consider imposing alternative speed limits at roadworks linked to whether contractors are working on site.
(b) On the approach to roadworks:
- Introduce a mechanism advising motorists not to lane change too early (to make better use of road space and reduce "road rage"); and
- Consider more widespread use of "Merge in Turn" signs.
Effective Communication with Motorists
DfT sought advice on how they could communicate more effectively with motorists while they were driving, thereby improving the effectiveness and clarity of DfT's communication strategies; how they could enhance their publicity/advertising campaigns, in respect of both the messages and target audience; and how motoring organisations and others could enhance DfT advertising campaigns.
Forum Recommendations
- Use information avenues other than mainstream TV to carry advertising campaigns aimed at young audiences;
- Incorporate public service information with traffic reports on the radio to communicate with motorists while driving; and
- Disseminate key motoring and traffic information by issuing leaflets at motorway service areas.
Keeping Drivers with Reducing Abilities Mobile
Here DfT sought ideas on how mobility for older drivers could be extended without compromising road safety.
Forum Recommendations
- Consider widening the scope for providing driving courses for older motorists;
- DfT to address safety issues surrounding taxi/private hire vehicles (both inside and outside the vehicles);
- Consult specific organisations representing elderly people, such as Age Concern and Saga;
- Seek insurance industry assistance in tailoring suitable and affordable car insurance polices (for those who obtain "medical clearance" to continue driving);
- Use local GPs to determine an elderly person's ability to drive (as it was thought more acceptable to an elderly person than using an independent assessor); and
- Forum members to challenge any over-reaction to Government proposals aimed at maintaining older drivers' ability to continue driving.
Driver Refresher Training
DfT were keen to explore whether there is a need to encourage voluntary refresher training - ie encouraging motorists to look at driving as a life skill rather than a one-off test, thereby refreshing skills on a regular basis and how persistent "violators" could be targeted, ie through re-training and re-testing.
Forum Recommendations
- Following a motoring conviction, target retraining courses to the specific area of driver improvement required and consider whether voluntary schemes are more effective than those which are mandatory;
- As a means of refresher training, consider highlighting any new references in the Highway Code for easy identification;
- Seek insurance industry assistance to identify which "errant" drivers (those with a poor accident history) might be subject to general retraining;
- Use speed cameras, and, especially red light cameras to identify "high violators" who are potential "crash magnets" and therefore in particular need of help in changing their driving style; and
- Enlist the views of young people on driving tuition, the driving test and post-test training.
We were very pleased to offer advice on these important matters and hope that Government will give our recommendations serious consideration as policies are developed to tackle these issues.
Vehicle Security
There has been a recent increase in breaking into houses in order to steal car keys. The Forum was therefore asked by the Home Office to consider the merits of encouraging manufacturers to fit additional security to reduce the risk of keys (and consequently vehicles) being stolen.
The Forum contended that the widespread use of vehicle tracking devices - in preference to more sophisticated locking systems for cars - was the most effective deterrent against vehicle theft. However, it also recognised that tracking devices do not stop the crime being committed in the first place.
The Forum has subsequently advised the Home Office on what steps vehicle manufacturers are already taking themselves to move to keyless entry systems. We will revisit this issue when it is determined whether what is already in hand will address the emerging problem of key theft.
Active Traffic Management
The Forum held discussions with the Highways Agency (HA) on a number of important initiatives arising in the area of Active Traffic Management (ATM). These initiatives, such as improved real-time traffic information and variable mandatory speed limits, are designed to help ease congestion by making better use of existing road space.
The Forum is generally supportive of these initiatives and hopes that they will lead to less congestion. The HA is to keep the Forum in touch with the trial project proposed for the M42.
Signing and Branding of the Trunk Road Network
The HA sought the Forum's views on proposals to use new technology to enable better interaction between the HA - as network operator - and motorists. Views on "branding" the trunk road network (ie more clearly delineating the trunk road network operated by the HA) were also invited.
Among the initiatives proposed by the HA included the use of variable message signing, improved location identification markers at the roadside and better signing of public transport services.
The Forum is supportive of such proposals recognising that those initiatives that give more information to motorists are to be welcomed.
Mobile Phones and Driving
DfT consulted the Forum on its proposal to create an offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. The proposal would apply to the driver of any motor vehicle who used a hand-held mobile phone while driving on a road. It would also apply to anyone who "caused or permitted" someone to drive whilst using a mobile phone, such as an employer.
The Forum recognised that motorists' ability to drive safely was constrained when using a mobile phone. However, given different views around the table as to how an offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving should be introduced and enforced, the Forum did not come to a collective decision on this matter.
10 Year Plan Progress Report
The Forum made a number of inputs into the Government's 10 Year Transport Plan in the lead up to the Plan's implementation in 2000.
The Government has continued to keep the Forum in touch with the progress of the Plan. It is intended that the Forum will hold discussions with DfT later in the year on issues relating to the Plan that are of specific concern to members.
Chapter 3: Raising Issues of Concerns to Motorists
Incident Management
The Forum asked DfT to consider whether it was possible to improve the speed at which the effects of serious incidents on the primary route network are cleared. An Incident Management Working Group (IMWG) was set up to oversee this task.
The IMWG agreed that the HA should commission a scoping study to identify the factors affecting the clearance of major incidents on the core network and to advise what improvements could be made. The work focused on unplanned incidents causing unexpected delays and involving the emergency services.
The study put forward a number of recommendations to improve the management of road traffic incidents. These included:
- operational improvements (such as enhanced location signing every mile on featureless highways and permanent symbol signed diversion routes);
- organisational improvements (such as contractual arrangements, cross organisational working practices, management practices, and the allocation of responsibilities at all levels); and
- technological improvements (such as improvements in communication systems, camera equipment, GIS/GPS and transfer of CCTV images to other emergency services and clear-up contractors).
The Forum approved the recommendations arising from the IMWG's work and, in order to ensure progress in this important area, invited:
- the HA to work with the police, fire and ambulance services to take forward the conclusions and recommendations on ways to improve the management of road traffic incidents;
- the HA to report progress to the Forum in summer 2003 on the recommendations and the production of the best practice guidance; and
- the emergency services to be encouraged to have best practices in place by summer 2004.
These proposals were accepted and the Forum looks forward to receiving a progress report on this matter later in the year.
London Congestion Charging Scheme
The Forum held a number of detailed discussions with senior Transport for London (TfL) officials prior to the implementation of the London congestion charging scheme to ensure that motorists' concerns were brought to the fore.
Since the Scheme's inception, the Forum has sought to establish with TfL how it proposes to monitor the impact of the charging scheme against previous levels of congestion. Specifically, the Forum has been keen to ascertain the baseline figures used by TfL to measure changes in travel behaviour, and how these have been arrived at.
We will continue to watch the progress of the London scheme very carefully as this will have important implications for the possible future development of this policy.
Traffic Management in Central London
The Forum also raised with TfL officials concern over changes in traffic lights phasing in central London. The Forum stressed that this was contributing to a significant increase in congestion in London during 2002 and that journey times by road were getting longer. The Forum also drew attention to the prevalence of roadworks in London that was leading to major traffic delays.
In these discussions, TfL confirmed that a proportion of lights had been re-phased (giving pedestrians greater priority) to assist with the work being carried out on Trafalgar Square as part of the World Squares project, and that they would be reversed on completion of the project in the first half of 2003.
The Forum will continue to watch developments in this area.
Street Works
The Forum has continued to press the Government to take decisive action to tackle the unnecessary congestion experienced by motorists due to the disruption arising from street works.
The Forum has supported the concept of lane rental - allowing highway authorities to levy a daily charge on utility companies where the latter carry out works to the highway - as the best way to achieve increased co-operation between undertakers.
Accordingly, the Forum has offered its support to the lane rental pilot schemes operating in Middlesbrough and the London Borough of Camden and has recommended that the powers to charge for lane rental should be extended to all highway authorities across England. We also welcome Government attempts to bring in a Traffic Management Bill which will allow, amongst other things, a requirement for those who wish to dig a road up to obtain a permit before they are allowed to do so.
Blue Badge Scheme
Following our response to the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee's (DPTAC) discussion paper on the working of the Blue Badge Scheme, the Forum has raised separately with Government the issue of the exclusion from the scheme of the London Boroughs of Camden (part only), Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and the City of London.
The Forum has recommended that the four central London authorities should not be exempt from the national scheme - ie that the parking concessions available to badge holders elsewhere in Britain should additionally be conferred upon those wishing to visit central London.
The Government is to research the impact that such a move would have. The Forum will monitor developments carefully.
Multi-Modal Studies
The Forum has held discussions with Government on its programme of Multi-Modal studies. These studies are aimed at identifying sustainable and deliverable strategies designed to solve the most severe transport bottlenecks on the strategic network.
The Forum was pleased to note that action was being taken to speed up the studies but remained concerned about the delay in taking forward road schemes that had long been ready to go. The Forum also urged that the consultative processes surrounding the studies should be streamlined.
Greening the Public Sector Fleet
The Forum has continued to press Government and its agencies to take the lead in greening the vehicle fleet by ensuring that its own fleet comprises clean and fuel efficient vehicles - with a view to encouraging other public and private sector fleets to follow suit.
In addition, and under the auspices of the Forum, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the UK Petroleum Industry Association are working co-operatively on ways to better deliver the message to central and local government.
Fuel Duty Differential
The Government has pledged to maintain a fuel duty differential for gas fuels, such as Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), until at least 2004 in order to encourage the transition to low carbon vehicles. Whilst this is a very welcome initiative, the Forum considers that it is an insufficiently long enough period for companies to make the substantial investment necessary to help drive forward the move towards cleaner vehicles (as companies require greater certainty when making their investment plans).
The Forum has therefore recommended that the period in which the fuel duty differentials for gas fuels such as LPG and CNG apply should be extended to 2010.
Good Garage Scheme
The Forum has held discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on its proposal to develop a Good Garage Scheme aimed at improving standards in the garage servicing and repair industry.
The Forum is totally supportive of measures designed to tackle "rogue" and poorly performing garages. However, whilst the Forum itself did not take a collective position on the specific proposals under consideration, some members expressed concern as to whether the proposed Good Garage Scheme would tackle the problem of poorly performing garages in the most effective manner.
The Forum agreed that the motoring industry should continue to work with Government to promote improved standards. In the light of these discussions, we are pleased to note that it is now intended to incorporate the essential elements of the Good Garage scheme into an enhanced motor industry code of practice. This move is in accordance with a new approach by the Office of Fair Trading to voluntary codes of practice that aims to encourage trade associations to re-assess their existing codes of practice or introduce new codes of practice which address consumer detriment within their sectors.
Untaxed/Uninsured/Unlicensed Driving
The Forum has continued to emphasise to Government the importance of tackling those who drive untaxed, uninsured and/or unlicensed, particularly in the light of evidence suggesting that transgressors are often likely to be involved in other criminal activities.
In response, the Government has drawn attention to the various enforcement initiatives underway - including automatic number plate recognition, new rules on number plate purchasing, updating DVLA's registration database and MOT computerisation (from 2005). The Forum welcomes such initiatives, recognising that they have an important part to play in tackling untaxed, uninsured and/or unlicensed driving. However, we have also stressed to Government the need for a continued traffic policing presence, both to help tackle these issues and to encourage greater road safety.
Wheelclamping on Private Land
The Forum has continued to stress the need for the excesses of wheelclamping on private land to be curbed.
We are pleased to note the setting up of the Security Industry Authority and hope that this body will introduce a licensing system for wheelclampers at the earliest opportunity.
ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns) Car Litter Campaign
The Forum has given its support to an ENCAMS campaign due to run during July/August 2003 designed to combat the problem of car litter. We hope that ENCAMS will build on this support to take their campaign forward.
Chapter 4: Work in Progress
Road Safety Research Project
Though Road Safety is a success story for the UK, CfIT asked the Forum to provide the Commission with advice on how the Government could make even more effective delivery of its Road Safety Strategy.
In order for the Forum to provide the robust advice necessary to enable the Commission to influence the environment and manner in which the Government is delivering its Road Safety Strategy, the Forum commissioned a two-stage research project.
The first stage of the project consists of a scoping exercise that draws together current knowledge and on-going research. This work is designed to:
- provide the Forum with a clear assessment of the relative priorities and importance of the factors that can influence delivery of the Government's Road Safety Strategy;
- provide a clear assessment of the constraints that are stopping that strategy being delivered to its maximum effect;
- provide a clear assessment of the key factors (and their inter-relationship) that influence the casualty reduction "limit" that is practically achievable; and
- illustrate clearly the key issues arising in this initial stage of the project that should be investigated further in Stage 2.
The first stage of the work will be completed shortly. We shall then move to the second stage of the project that is designed to investigate further the key issues identified in the initial stage.
Local Authority Parking Attendants
The Forum is currently exploring the background to allegations of excessive enforcement activity by local authority parking attendants in London. This is in response to a perception that a number of authorities are applying an over-zealous approach to the way they enforce parking regulations and that some parking attendants appear to be issuing tickets incorrectly.
The Forum is currently seeking to ascertain - through the Association of London Government - the facts relating to the number of penalty charge notices issued and the number of notices that are appealed against and the number of appeals upheld. In the light of this, a decision will be taken on whether to call for an independent review of local authority practice.
Parking at Railway Stations
The Forum believes that many suburban railway station car parks provide insufficient levels of parking for commuters. Additionally, local authority controlled parking zones restrict parking in streets around many stations, making it impossible for motorists to park and continue their journeys by train.
The Forum believes that the problem of insufficient car parking space at and around stations is a major deterrent to the development of a fully integrated transport system. We are looking at ways to influence decision-making in this respect in order to obtain a better deal for motorists.
Use of Hard Shoulder by Accredited Recovery Operators
Emanating from the Forum's work on Incident Management was the establishment of a Working Group designed to consider the possibility of allowing recovery and rescue operators access to motorway hard shoulders, particularly in those instances where the incident is relatively minor and there is no involvement of the emergency services.
The group has agreed that police authorities and the HA will work with the recovery industry to develop a code of practice for the police in dealing with requests for access to the hard shoulder. However, we are disappointed that there does not appear to be a consensus on the need for change regarding access to the hard shoulder for breakdown and recovery vehicles. We are continuing to pursue this matter with Government as we believe allowing such access will help minimise the risk to motorists that breakdown or who are involved in accidents on our motorways and are forced to stop on the hard shoulder and await rescue.
Annex A: Terms of Reference
Working within the framework of the Integrated Transport White Paper and of Government's sustainable development strategy, and recognising that for the foreseeable future the car will be the dominant mode of personal transport in the UK, the Motorists' Forum will:
- seek to establish a consensus of motorists and the motor industry with the Government in regard to the role of the car in our society;
- co-ordinate and represent to Government the voice of the responsible private and business car user;
- seek to ensure that the use of the car continues to develop in a manner which takes account of concerns for the environment, safety, and social inclusion;
- advise on how far the car fits into the integrated transport strategy and how the integration process can be further developed to offer motorists realistic alternatives to the car;
- advise on the development of policy issues by Government and its agencies, and by local government, relating to transport or affecting the motorist, so that they relate to motorists in an understanding way;
- advise the Government in regard to new technology which can be used inside and outside the car to help achieve these goals; and
- advise CfIT on issues affecting the motorist.
Annex B: Other Positions Held by Members' Relevant to the Work of the Forum
Sir Trevor Chinn CVO
Chairman: Kwik-Fit Group Limited; ITIS Holdings PLC;
Vice-Chair: Commission for Integrated Transport;
Life President: RAC plc;
Governor: Motability.
Councillor Tony Brown
Member: London Borough of Ealing;
Board Member: Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership;
Advisor: Ealing Community Transport.
Findlay Caldwell
Directorships: RAC Motoring Services; RAC Insurance Limited; British School of Motoring Ltd; RAC Auto Windscreens Ltd;
Member: RAC Foundation Public Policy Committee.
Trustee: RAC Foundation.
Douglas Campbell OBE
Directorships: Douglas Campbell Consulting Ltd; Mobility Roadshow Ltd;
Trustee: Mobility Choice; Forum of Mobility Centres.
John Dawson
Managing Director: AA Foundation for Road Safety Research;
Policy and International Director: Automobile Association;
Chair: AA Motoring Trust Trading Ltd; European Road Assessment Programme; World Motoring Organisations Traffic Commission;
Member: Independent Transport Commission;
Trustee: FIA Foundation for Automobile and Society;
Vice-President: FIPIC (International Federation for Carbon Sequestration).
David Holmes CB
Trustee: Motorway Archive Trust.
John Lewis
Member: Cars QA Governing Board;
UK Representative: European Car & Truck Rental Association.
Christopher Macgowan
Directorships: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Ltd; Odette International Ltd;
Member: Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT); Road Haulage Forum; CBI Trade Association Forum; Modernising Vehicle Registration Implementation Board (MVRIB); Vehicle Industry Policy and European Regulation Group (VIPER); Retail Motor Strategy Group; Automotive Skills Council.
Tim Matthews
Chair: National Road Users Committee; National Environment Committee;
Member: Commission for Integrated Transport.
Richard Mills
Director General: International Union of Air Pollution Prevention & Environmental Protection Associations;
Chair: Environmental Analysis Co-operative.
John Mumford
Directorships: British Road Federation; Cogent Sector Skills Council; Energy Saving Trust Ltd; United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association Ltd; Institute of Petroleum; Alexander Duckham & Company Ltd; BP Express Shopping Ltd; BP Oil Grangemouth Refinery Ltd; BP Oil Llandarcy Refinery Ltd; BP Oil UK Ltd; Charringtons Fuels Ltd; Lubricants UK Ltd; National Benzole Company Ltd; Scottish Oils Ltd; Shell-Mex and BP Ltd; Yasdan Ltd;
Steering Group Member: Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership;
Member of Advisory Councils: South East Development Agency; National Consumer Council.
Roger Putnam
Directorships: Jaguar Switzerland; Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Ltd;
Chair: Ford of Britain Trust;
Board Member: Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership;
Member: CBI President's Committee; Automotive Skills Council; Motor Retail Strategy Group.
Michael Roberts
Non-Executive Director: The Carbon Trust;
Member: Commission for Integrated Transport.
Roger Wood
Directorships: Centrica PLC; AA The Driving School Agency Ltd;
Trustee: The AA Motoring Trust.
