'Fatigue-alyser' could catch worn-out drivers

The information emerged after the House of Commons transport committee published a report this week examining the role of policing in reducing road casualties, and how police performance could be improved.

According to the Government, fatigue is a principal factor in around 10% of all car crashes, with this figure increasing to up to 20% on motorways and in the early hours. It has also been estimated that around 40% of all sleep-related collisions are work-related.

According to the cross-party committee's report, the Home Office Scientific Development Branch is currently developing a device for measuring all types of driver impairment, including fatigue.

The device, known as the "Roadside Impairment Test Apparatus" is understood to carry out six tests of abilities needed for driving - "tracking ability; short-term memory; gap estimation; information processing; sustained attention; and choice."

Decisions concerning the future of the "fatigue-alyser" are expected to be taken before the end of this year, with further studies involving field trials needed before any such device could be available for operational use, according to the Home Office.

However, if the device proves to be effective, the transport committee wants police officers to be able to use it sooner rather than later.

The committee's report said: "We welcome the research being undertaken by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch into a device which would help police officers reliably detect impairment in drivers.

"If such a device is shown to be effective, the Home Office should ensure that police officers have access to this equipment as soon as possible, and that they are adequately resourced and trained to make best use of it."

Visible policing

The wide-ranging report also called for an increased effort in tackling drink and drug-drivers and those who persisted in using hand-held mobiles while at the wheel.

It added that it was a "disgrace" that current Department for Transport (DfT) guidelines required "preventable deaths and injuries" to have taken place before a speed camera was considered in a specific location. The committee said there should be speed cameras at some sites, whether it had a history of accidents or not.

The MPs also said they found "disappointing and bewildering" that the head of road policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) had said he did not wish to see any more speed cameras. The committee urged the Government to look at using time-distance cameras, that record average speeds, to enforce 20mph limits on residential roads.

Also, alcolocks - systems by which a vehicle can be immobilised if the driver is above a certain alcohol limit - should be introduced as soon as possible.

However, despite these calls for further use of gadgets to assist in the policing of roads, the committee of MPs acknowledged that road traffic police were "vital" and that technology should never be allowed to replace people.

The report said that police should take regular, highly-visible enforcement action against road traffic offences. It also highlighted how it was "no longer possible to say with certainty" how many police officers were now engaged with roads policing.

Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, commented: "It is essential that the Government re-introduces traffic policing as a central function, not only for detecting crime but also road safety purposes."

Shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling added: "There is a real concern that the Government is trying to police the roads on the cheap by using technology to replace highly-trained and specialised road traffic police.

"There should be no substitute for visible road policing to help to combat the problem of rogue drivers."