way road traffic injuries are recorded is "flawed".

A new report from MPs suggests there is strong evidence that the way road traffic injuries are recorded is "flawed".

The transport select committee also said that the current drink-drive limit should be lowered, roadside breath test devices should be approved and there should be tougher penalties for alcohol-related offences.

In addition the committee also repeated its call for restrictions on young drivers carrying teenage passengers between 11pm and 5am and added that there should be more 20mph speed limits.

The death toll on the roads should be seen as "the major public health problem of our age", said the committee's chairman, Louise Ellman.

Calling for a review of the gathering of road casualty statistics, the report said: "There is a significant body of evidence that the current methods for recording road traffic injuries are flawed."

MPs also said that there should be new road death reduction targets separate from those set for serious and slight injuries. Ellman said: "The number of deaths and injuries on our roads far outweighs the deaths and injuries in other transport modes or in other work-related accidents.

"We need to start seeing this not only as a collection of individual tragedies but also as the major public health problem of our age. The deaths of 3,000 people and injuries to a quarter of a million are a staggering annual toll to pay for mobility."

Although 2007 saw a seven per cent fall in road user deaths, the committee pointed out that overall progress since 2000 has been disappointing.

Little progress has been made in reducing deaths among car users and there has been a significant rise in motorcyclist deaths, which rose by 26 per cent between 1994-1998 and 2007.

The report said: "It is imperative that the Home Office gives much higher priority to enforcement of drink-drive and drug-drive offences.

"This should include the type approval of roadside evidential breath-testing devices and development of equipment to assist the police to identify and prosecute drug-impaired drivers."

Assembly election and New Labour Environmental Policy

ASSEMBLY ELECTION TIME 2007
Labour CLAIM THEY will meet head on the challenge of climate change, by building a sustainable Wales that is cleaner and greener by minimising Wales’ carbon footprint, supporting environmental technology and developing an integrated public transport network. Not managed much so far. Traffic Congestion? Want to cycle, not if the Welsh Assembly can help it, they don't do cycle lanes - they do do roads. See below the campaign for a cycle/pedestrian bridge over the river Ely.

Don't do traffic wardens either - Can we travel in Wales from South to North qickly. Highspeed trains in Europe have been in the news this week - it takes a hour to get to Merthyr Tydfil from Cardiff and try getting to Brecon by bus, you could be away all day but don't reckon on getting back. Want to go to from Cardiff to Caerphilly by bus, not after 6.30 or on a Sunday. Lousy public transport may affect the economy as well!!!
New Labour promise to increase fines for litter and graffiti and to ensure the establishment of an Anti Social Behaviour Unit (big brother) in every local authority area but this will NOT include tackling more dangerous antisocial behaviour such as inconsiderate parking, parking on the pavement, blocking access to schools for pedestrains and cyclists, parking on cycle lanes, speeding ..Life is hard for the pedestrain or cylist ..See the pictures of Cardiff Bay this weekend above

CPZ - Cardiff Bus boss warns of anarchy

Cardiff Bus managing director is quite right that we must have enforcement of parking controls. It is a disgrace that this has to be argued for. Parking at bus stops means that the bus can't pull in and elderly and disabled passengers can't board the bus. Whitchurch Village Cardiff is an example of the thoughtlessness of motorists and an example of the blatent disregard for the parking laws. But they know they will not be punished or even retrimanded. Time for a change. Picture from Whitchurch Village bus stop. Why are are local politicians not doung something to stop this? Are they afraid of the MOTORISTS? See the Living Streets parking policy.

Plans for Cardiff council to take over enforcement of parking controls from the police must carry on if the capital is to kept moving. That is the claim of Cardiff Bus' managing director David Brown. Mr Brown believes the abandonment of controlled parking zones should not stop a city-wide 'decriminalised' scheme because it could lead to anarchy as motorists continue to ignore traffic regulations.
Mr Brown went on: 'I don't think the benefits of CPZs were fully understood. That decision has now been taken so we have to move on. 'But there is still clearly unanimous support for enforcement of parking controls and tackling illegal parking.
'That will benefit residents but also the bus company because discourteous drivers parking at junctions or on double yellow lines do slow buses through traffic.

'Funding sources need to be found to ensure decriminalised parking can go ahead.
'Proper enforcement is recognised as critical to keeping the city moving and open for business and illegal parking affects everyone.

'The best way forward for the council is to keep the programme of decriminalised parking so we avoid the city descending into anarchy.'
Mar 20 2007 Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

Have your say on the city's parking problems at forums.icwales.co.uk
Look at the album of parking on double yellow lines here.