Motoring law plans could see compulsory changes to all British vehicles to follow European rules
Drivers could be required to carry safety kits under new plans
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Experts are urging the Government to make new legal requirements for all drivers to make a major change to their vehicle for the benefit of road safety.
There are currently no rules as to whether drivers need to carry any safety equipment inside their vehicles when they are travelling.
Some experts are now calling for laws to change to ensure all drivers and any other road users can be protected in the event of an accident.
New data from the Department for Transport found that road collisions in Great Britain caused the death or serious injury of almost 30,000 people in 2022 alone.
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Experts are calling for warning triangles to be mandatory
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According to plans from experts, if new rules were to be introduced, drivers would be required to carry a number of vital items which could help them at certain times.
This includes a first aid kit, reflective jackets, warning triangles and a fire extinguisher.
The experts state that demanding better road safety measures will help keep motorists and pedestrians safe from dangerous incidents.
Tim Alcock, from LeaseCar, believes safety equipment should be compulsory to cut down on serious injuries seen on roads.
He added: "Although the legally mandatory vehicle safety equipment varies globally, many countries stipulate drivers should carry at least some items.
“Greece, Romania and Croatia are just some countries which require drivers to carry a compulsory first aid kit in the vehicle.
“Switzerland, Austria and France also require drivers to carry one or more warning triangles in vehicles to alert other drivers to potential hazards."
Carrying safety equipment is already mandatory in a number of different European countries, with drivers in most Nordic, Eastern European, Baltic and former Soviet nations being required to carry a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
Most other European nations, including Spain and France, require vehicles to be equipped with an emergency triangle in case of a breakdown or accident.
In the majority of European countries, drivers can be hit with fines or other punishments if they do not have the required road safety measures in their vehicles.
Alcock added: "Reflective jackets are also compulsory for the driver and passengers in case of a breakdown in many countries including Hungary, Estonia and Spain.
“Compulsory fire extinguishers are needed in the cars of many European countries like Poland, Turkey and Bulgaria, but in the UK they are only required in PSVs (Public Service Vehicles) and large trucks.
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Some European countries require drivers to carry fire extinguishers in the car
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“We strongly believe making safety kits and equipment a legal requirement for drivers could improve the safety of Britain's roads.
“That’s why we’re urging the Government to consider making safety equipment mandatory when travelling in a vehicle.”
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