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How "Stop the Child Murder" works in Scotland

(6 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by crowriver
  • Latest reply from Instography

  1. crowriver
    Member

    Cycling advocates sometimes cite the 1970s campaigns in the Netherlands to "Stop the Child Murder" as a model for how we in the UK should put pressure on government to build decent cycling infrastructure.

    However, in Scotland we do things differently. Here, popular campaigns use the "Stop the Child Murder" tactic in order to get more investment in faster roads!

    You see, faster roads = safer roads = fewer dead babies. Brilliantly simple isn't it? Everyone knows it is unsafe roads that kill babies, nothing to do with the drivers or their vehicles.

    "Surely you jest?" I hear the cyclists cry. I'm afraid not. Yesterday's Dumfries & Galloway Standard:

    "A75 petition being presented to the Scottish Government

    Jun 27 2012 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

    THE SIGNATURES of 4,352 Standard readers will be presented to the Scottish Government today – with an emotional plea for action.
    Transport Minister Keith Brown will be handed our petition calling for the upgrade of the A75 between Hardgrove and Kinmount.
    And he will be given a personal letter from Eddie and Suzanne Hewson who lost 18-day-old Oliver in an accident on the route in March."

    “The Dumfries and Galloway Standard launched their campaign for the upgrade of the Hardgrove to Kinmount section of the A75 in response to Oliver’s death and we are grateful to the thousands of readers who have signed up to it.”

    Miraculously, THE VERY SAME DAY Ayr resident Alex Neli MSP announces a £20 million "shovel ready" upgrade to that very section of the A75!

    Wow! "Stop the Child Murder" does work!

    It just works differently in Scotland from how it works in the Netherlands.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Min
    Member

    Yes I saw this story yesterday but don't even know what to say about it. It does sum up attitudes pretty well though.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    I'm sure everyone interested in Road Safety will welcome the heartwarming support for this campaign from local politicians from across the political spectrum. Even the dead baby's mother is pleased!

    "Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray said: “I am delighted at this news, like many of my constituents I have been campaigning for this improvement for many years.
    “The reversal of the decision by the Scottish Government to suspend the scheme is a testament to ‘people power’, with over 4,000 signatures to the petition run over recent weeks by the Dumfries and Galloway Standard.

    “It is tragic that lives have been lost and people seriously injured on this stretch of road over the years and I would like to pay tribute in particular to Oliver Hewson’s brave family, who have campaigned for this improvement despite their terrible loss.”

    Oliver's mother, Suzanne Hewson, said: "This is brilliant news."

    Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell said: "The A75 upgrade is a testament to democracy and highlights the hard work and determination of everyone involved.
    "The people have spoken and ultimately common sense has prevailed.

    "As this project goes ahead we should all pause to remember those for whom this announcement came too late and in particular their families who have fought so hard to prevent further fatalities."

    The Hardgrove area of the A75, near Carrutherstown, has been at the centre of upgrade talks since 1986.

    And a £10 million plan to build a three-lane bypass of the area has been put off twice since 2008."

    There you have it.

    Simply build three-lane bypasses for every town and village in Scotland, thereby improve overtaking opportunities, and there will be no more dead infants. Ever. Fantastic!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Instography
    Member

    It works because it's simple and unarguable. It works in the way that "segregated infrastructure along the lines of Copenhagen" doesn't.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. crowriver
    Member

    Hold on though, POP had a grieving family expressing vocal support. Ah, but the dead victim was an adult, and a cyclist. If he had been an 18 month old infant, presumably the government would have announced £20 million worth of cycling infrastructure for Lanark Road? Or just Scotland in general?

    Instead we got "We already spend a lot of money on cycling" and some meetings.* So, "Stop The Adult Cyclist Murder" doesn't work then.

    * Notwithstanding the much more positive attutude of Edinburgh Council.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Instography
    Member

    Sadly, I suspect so. I suspect the "thinking" (not that it's that consciously thought) is that children are innocents with no real choice in what happens to them. Adults are active participants who make their own choices. Even in the Netherlands, when adult road deaths outnumbered child deaths by a factor of 10 the slogan was "Stop the Child Murder". The adults didn't matter.

    This one also works because it has one straightforward objective - improve a road. What politician wouldn't want to associate themselves with something that will stop the senseless slaughter of innocent young lives etc etc? Especially one that also has so many other potential voter supporters. It's obvious.

    At some point it needs to be understood that politics, including the politics of transport infrastructure is not about logic and statistics. Those are useful but only to the extent that they support something that is already in politicians' interests. Find the way in which promoting cycling wins votes and you'll get all the backing you need. POP seems not to have understood that having meetings is not progress, it is how progress is delayed.

    Posted 12 years ago #

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