Road safety links to anti-social behaviour
Crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) are the key local bodies for tackling anti-social behaviour. The Home Office typology of anti-social behaviour (ASB) includes: joyriding; racing cars; off road motorcycling; and cycling/skateboarding in pedestrian areas/footpaths. These are issues that continue to blight the daily lives of people across the country.
A one-day count of reported ASB in 2003 found 'vehicle-related nuisance and inappropriate vehicle use' to have the third-highest number of occurrences in a list of 13 types of ASB recorded. ASB recorded on the day of the count cost agencies in England and Wales at least £13.5m. Anti-social use of vehicles is threatening to local people. Because people may be injured as a result, these should be seen as potential road safety issues.
The CDRP contribution
In some parts of the country, the link between anti-social behaviour on the road and road casualty reduction does not appear to have been made. Often, surveys about perceptions of crime and ASB do not ask about threatening use of vehicles.
In some areas, CDRPs do make a meaningful contribution in addressing anti-social use of the road and reducing road casualties.
The pages on this website should help other CDRPs achieve this, covering:
- Engaging the public and teasing out road safety issues in consultation exercises
- CDRPs have a strong culture of joint working, but may be missing opportunities to engage with other bodies. CDRPs may, for instance, collect data that could be useful for tackling road casualties
The way forward
The national report contains two challenges for CDRPs:
- to specifically seek comments on road safety issues when consulting with local people and invite road safety specialists to work with them to address local concerns over anti-social use of vehicles
- to collaborate with partners (led by the council) to:
- share intelligence about local road safety problems
- pool funding, skills and other resources
- coordinate publicity