Inside U.K. Traffic Woes Push U.K. To Rev Up Safety Reforms By STEVE HILL	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
深刻な交通渋滞に政府が対応 イギリス人の間で頻繁に話題になるものの一つに、道路事情の悪さがあります。近年急増した車人口が原因で、特に都市部では、一日中渋滞に悩まされる場所もあり、事故も多発しています。政府は交通違反の罰則を厳しくするなど、解決策に乗り出しましたが——

After having a good moan about the state of the national health service and the weather — too hot, cold, windy or dry — a favorite topic of conversation from Land's End to John o'Groats is the state of Britain's roads.

According to an older generation, driving was once a leisurely and pleasurable activity. Now it is anything but. Not only does the condition of many of our roads leave much to be desired, Britain is also fast approaching a state of constant gridlock because of the sheer volume of traffic.

In many major towns and cities, the term "rush hour" has taken on a new meaning. "Rush day" is a more accurate description of what drivers face.

Nationwide, a vicious circle has evolved. The standard of public transport systems has in general terms dropped. Where it exists at all, it is often expensive and unreliable. With members of the general public unable to put their trust in local train and bus services, more and more people have turned to owning their own cars. This is despite the fact that the costs — of vehicles, insurance and petrol — are prohibitively expensive.

More and more drivers, therefore, are trying to find their way around a network of motorways and roads that is struggling to handle the volume of traffic.

The problem is most acute in city centers. Here, in my home city of Bristol in the west of England, it can take me some 40 minutes to travel home 8 miles (12.8 kilometers) if the timing of my journey is particularly bad.

It would almost be quicker to cycle, but then I would be risking my life attempting to find a way between cars. At best, drivers tend to be unsympathetic to those of us on two wheels and, at worst, they are determined to knock us off.

Apart from the threat of broken bones, there is the real worry of permanent lung damage from breathing in the exhaust fumes spewing from so many cars stuck in traffic.

All in all, it's not a happy picture — and I haven't yet mentioned the number of child pedestrians killed on Britain's roads each year, a statistic that has concentrated the minds of government officials in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said new targets are needed to prevent families being devastated as he introduced a range of proposals aimed at making Britain's roads safer. One initiative is to introduce more 20 mph (32 kph) zones around schools and residential areas, following the example set in many North American cities.

Improved training for lorry drivers and motorists is another idea, as is plowing the money raised from fining speeding drivers back into catching more culprits.

Despite an annual and often harrowing advertising campaign around Christmastime, Britain still continues to suffer from drunk driving problems. The numbers are now far lower — it has finally become socially unacceptable to booze and cruise — but still too many people die needlessly at this festive time of year.

The government is to consider a tougher range of penalties for those who are caught "over the limit," such as an automatic two-year ban for drivers who persistently infringe and far heavier fines, possibly raising the maximum to £5,000 (¥850,000) from the current £2,500 (¥425,000). Drivers without insurance could also be risking a £5,000 penalty, while those convicted may also be ordered to go through the humiliation of taking their driving test again.

The safety message also rang loudly through another announcement, that the government is considering increasing the minimum driving age from 17 to 18. It may also force newly qualified drivers to carry a special plate on their vehicle for up to a year after passing their test.

As if that weren't a lot to digest, here's something else to chew on.

A senior transport adviser to the government recently recommended that the owners of older cars should be invited to scrap them in an effort to fight pollution problems.

In return, free travel passes or cash incentives would be offered in an attempt to make Britain's roads cleaner and a little less congested. The proposal has sparked plenty of public debate. Ministers and council officials wonder how the innovative proposals would be implemented, while drivers fear losing the independence.

Groups representing the interests of motorists have also had plenty to say, as have environmental organizations, who want quick action to protect our planet's fragile atmosphere.

It's going to be a long while yet before our cities are free of traffic jams, before our motorways again allow unhindered and quick travel connections, and before our air is once more clean to breathe.

Shukan ST: March 24, 2000

(C) All rights reserved