Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the increasing danger faced by vulnerable road users and the lack of specific targets to improve their safety.
What steps he is taking to help ensure the safety of vulnerable road users. I am concerned about the increasing danger faced by people walking, cycling, and riding due to a lack of specific targets for improvement in recent years.
In January 2022, the Government updated the highway code to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding. The changes aimed to make a positive shift in road-user behaviour, by making road users aware of their responsibility to use roads safely and to reduce the dangers they may pose to others. The Government's flagship multimillion-pound road safety campaign, THINK!, also plays a crucial part in reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide specific steps taken beyond general initiatives and lacks concrete statistics.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP criticises the government for neglecting road safety targets and enforcement, leading to increased danger for vulnerable users.
Are the Minister and his team aware that our country, once known to be one of the best places in the world for road safety, is now, after 14 years of neglect, no targets—in fact, there is a hatred of targets—and little enforcement, a very dangerous place to be a vulnerable road user? When will this Government wake up and start doing something about that?
With no disrespect to the hon. Gentleman, who I like as a person, he is simply wrong. In the last year, ending June 2023, there was a decline of 9% in fatalities compared to the year ending June 2022. Look at the specific measures taken: we have toughened up the driving test, made the highway code more robust and introduced tougher criminal sentences. Those are the actions of a Government who are listening and taking action.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer criticises the MP's claim without addressing the specific ask about future actions to improve safety for vulnerable users.
Criticising The Questioner
Response accuracy