MAKING MORE EFFICIENT USE OF ROAD SPACE

This paper outlines several aspects of the approach of the Automobile Association (AA) to transport policy in the UK. The AA welcomes the new Government's commitment to increased investment and long-term stable finance for roads and transport. Many schemes are also needed to address changed travel demand and implement higher environmental standards. Transport policy packages must be realistically adapted to solving actual problems. Urban remodelling schemes are needed to raise environmental standards and help walking and cycling. Quality public transport is needed. Many small bypasses are needed for rural areas and small towns; they need complementary traffic and environmental management. Missing road links must be provided, and bottlenecks removed. Minute-by-minute traffic management can be improved massively by applying Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) technology. Transport, land use, and development need to be integrated, and be examined in each region, as is already happening in some other countries. Good transport and environmental science need to be applied during planning. There needs to be more understanding of consumer appeal and expectations. The financing of road and local transport needs reform, by separating taxes for general expenditure from charges for roads and local transport. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 896867.