Music can be a big part of driving, especially on special occasions such as Christmas. For John Lamb, Past President of Local Government Technical Advisers, one example is Driving Home for Christmas, by Chris Rea. “For me, that song takes me back to when I was working in the south and heading back up the M1 to Sheffield – literally driving home for Christmas,” he recalls. “I love that song – it is still essential listening on Christmas Eve.”

Lamb believes that, while advances in road safety and accident prevention have made a huge difference in the 36 years since the yuletide classic was first released, it all starts with the person behind the wheel. “First and foremost, for me, change comes from the driver having the appropriate degree of respect and understanding for the fact that they’re in control of a one-tonne metal structure that has a very high degree of lethality associated with it,” he reasons. “With that mindset, the driver has a far more holistic understanding of their sense of mortality and the mortality of others.”

As an extension of that shift in mentality, Lamb maintains historical educational campaigns have gone hand-in-glove with expectations and legislation surrounding driving standards. “Legislation, in particular, has played a key role because there is a consequence in your pocket with penalty points if you are, for example, not wearing your seatbelt or drink-driving,” he says. “Certainly now, drink-driving is universally considered unacceptable – and the concept of ‘one for the road’ doesn’t really exist. But, on the flip side, there is an issue with drug driving where, despite the fact that it is against the law, it’s on the increase. That’s where a lack of the same level of educational campaigns to say it isn’t acceptable has made a difference.”

French speed limits

When it comes to managing drivers’ speeds on motorways, Lamb has mixed views on the technologies used. “Motorways are among our most ‘safest’ roads,” he believes. “While new and improved systems – such as variable speed messaging – help to create safe and consistent driving conditions, the approach needs to mature. Instead of the limit moving from, say, 50mph to 40mph and to 60mph, it would be better to keep it at 50mph.

“In my opinion, what we should be doing is standardising around weather-related variable speed limits, like the French do, for example,” continues Lamb. He cites the investment in variable speed limit camera technology, but questions whether it is always money well spent.

Meanwhile, Lamb is a fan of average speed limit cameras and praises their impact since 1986. “Stocksbridge Bypass near Sheffield is a clear illustration of how average cameras have saved the knock on the door from the police [after an accident],” he says. “GATSOs have played a role in highlighting accident blackspots, but signs saying ’15 fatalities in this location’ or similar are more effective. I also think there should be more mobile speed cameras rather than just fixed site ones.”

Sure enough, Lamb will be driving home for Christmas – across the Pennines, in fact, to see family. But he admits that he’ll be clocking up more miles than expected because of the lack of credible alternatives. “Living in the north-west, the level of rail service that millions of people in Greater Manchester and across the Northwest are experiencing is the worst it has been for more than 50 years. As a result, I’ve spent hundreds of extra hours in the car, because I just can't rely on the railway.”

In 36 years’ time, will Driving Home for Christmas still be playing? And will more people be getting the train home instead?

Do you agree with the changes highlighted? CIHT members can share views on CIHT Connect’s discussion thread: ‘What has been the biggest change to our roads in the last 36 years to make Driving Home for Christmas safer?’