Stop Seeing the World Through a Windscreen, Says Health Professor
Orthopaedic surgeon Professor Scarlett McNally says that we should stop seeing the world through a windscreen.
In her article published in the British Medical Journal, she notes that 27,450 people were killed or seriously injured (KSI) on Britain’s roads in 2021. Sixteen children were KSI every week on the way to or from school.
Sedentary Lifestyles
Too many people have sedentary lifestyles. Categorised as not active enough for good health are:
- 34% of men and
- 42% of women
There are clear health benefits, and environmental benefits, in reducing sedentary lifestyles.
How to Enable Active and Sustainable Travel
34% of children are driven to school, and 59% of car trips are less than 5 miles.
62% of adults say it’s too dangerous for them to cycle, according to the DfT National Travel Survey.
Recent changes to the Highway Code should be positive for active travel, but 61% of drivers are unaware of the changes. We need better infrastructure for walking and cycling, and better public transport.
In Edinburgh, road traffic casualties are down 40% after a change to a default 20mph.
In Oslo and Helsinki, a Vision Zero policy which includes car-free zones around schools has eliminated pedestrian deaths.
In San Francisco, all types of fatal collisions are down by 49% after the introduction of segregated cycle lanes.
£27 Billion for Roads
The British government is spending £27 billion on increasing capacity for motor vehicles. It is justified on the basis of hypothetical reductions in traffic delays, without acknowledging induced demand and increased crashes that will result.
Professor McNally says we should prioritise our health by making roads safer. ‘We can’t afford not to if we want to look after our planet and the coming generations.’