Tax Payers' Alliance Favour Tax and Public Spending

Oh yes, another TPA story. This is like shooting fish in a barrel.

In this article, the author asserts (in response to Theresa Villiers' pledge that a future Conservative government would not fund any new fixed speed cameras) that "the shadow transport minister could have been bolder and committed a future Conservative government to investing in improved road infrastructure. Studies indicate improved road standards would cut fatal and serious accidents by 20 per cent, as well as providing a platform for Britain to return to economic growth."

You may or may not be surprised to learn that the 'studies' referred to point to a document from the Road Users Alliance. Sponsored by Shell Bitumen (no conflict of interest there then) . It's not a study of road safety, it is a general study of roads with the overall message that we need more of them. You might expect to see citations to respected road safety organizations, but there aren't any, and the 'safety' chapter is a few paragraphs that say better roads = fewer accidents. Come on TPA, how are you going to convince anybody if you can't be bothered to do your research?

There's not a chance in hell that the TPA or the Road Users Alliance will get their way, given the certainty of savage cuts in public spending, and the fact that the parties have committed to preserving spending on sexy things like schools and the NHS. Roads is one area where if less public money were spent, things might actually improve...