RAC Report on Motoring 2016

RAC call to action: Road safety: see page 88

RAC Report on Motoring 2016

1.0 What’s on motorists’ minds?

While not as potentially hazardous as handheld phone use or drink and drug-driving, rudeness is also a more serious issue for motorists in 2016: over a fifth (21%) now say this is a concern, up from 15% 12 months ago. There has been a further small increase in concern about the behaviour of cyclists on the road: 18% of motorists cite this as an issue, up from 16% in 2015.

The continuing year-on-year decline in the number of dedicated roads policing officers over recent years 7 is likely only to have fuelled fears that irresponsible driving will go unpunished: 6% of motorists say this issue is a top-four concern. Finally, concern about untaxed vehicles and/or uninsured drivers remains high: 27% name this as a top-four concern, up very slightly from last year’s 26%. The RAC warned that Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) revenues could suffer as a result of increased evasion after the tax disc was scrapped in October 2014, and motorists were no longer required to display evidence they have paid their road tax.

Figures published in the DVLA’s annual report and accounts in July showed VED revenue fell by £93m in the year following the abolition of the paper tax disc.

7. www.rac.co.uk/press-centre#/pressreleases/2015-sees-further-fall-in-numbers-of-dedicated-roads- policing-officers-1414666

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