Road Rage Unit To Be Set Up To Cut Dangerous Driving news.sky.com

A road rage unit is to be created to crack down on dangerous driving.

The new police unit will analyse evidence caught on drivers' cameras, such as dash cams.

The team will be one of 50 proposed new measures in a two-year plan to protect vulnerable road users and combat road rage announced by the Department for Transport (DfT).

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A pilot operation was carried out by North Wales Police in October 2016. By the following August, 129 cases had been dealt with using footage submitted from other road users.

Other new measures to boost road safety include:

Giving councils powers to tackle dangerous parking in mandatory cycle lanes
Encouraging local authorities to spend around 15% of their local transport infrastructure funding on walking and cycling
A review of the Highway Code is being carried out
The appointment of a new cycling and walking champion to to ensure the new policies meet the needs of all road users.

Local councils are being encouraged to spend more on cycling and walking infrastructure
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Local councils are being encouraged to spend more on cycling and walking infrastructure
The government also plan to assess whether insurance companies could offer discounts to drivers and motorcyclists who have passed a cycle training course, including offering incentives to couriers who complete it.

Cycling and Walking Minister Jesse Norman said: "Greater road safety – and especially the protection of vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders – is essential.

"We want to improve air quality, encourage healthy exercise, reduce obesity and boost our high streets and economic productivity. That means more support for cycling and walking, and that's why these new measures are designed to deliver."

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An alliance of walking and cycling organisations supported the proposed Highway Code review but criticised a lack of emphasis on speed reduction.

One member of the alliance, Cycling UK chief executive Paul Tuohy, said: "Lowering vehicle speeds around people walking, cycling and horse riding doesn't just reduce the danger to them, but also their perception of the danger.

"While the DfT's proposals for amendments to the Highway Code will help save lives, ignoring the threat and dangers of speeding is disappointing."

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A consultation into whether a new offence equivalent to causing death by careless or dangerous driving should be introduced for dangerous cyclists is in its final stages.

It came after Kim Briggs died when Charlie Alliston crashed into her on a bike with no front brakes.