Colossus of roads
Sir: Radio Four's Today and Brian Red- head have twice had the good news-bad news routine.
When the Policy Studies Institute pro- duced a report indicating that racial discri- mination in employment had not changed in 17 years, Brian asked if I accepted the findings or would I dispute the methodolo- gy. Agreeing the results, I pointed out that two thirds of employers did not appear to be biased. They should be praised and we could try to change the rest.
After suggesting that young people with other ethnic backgrounds would benefit from vocational training or recognised job qualifications so they could be chosen on merit rather than be disqualified by pre- judice, Brian said, 'You don't expect any- one to believe that, do you?'
'I don't know. The Today programme employs 42 people. Not one is black or brown. Is that discrimination or the abs- ence of vocational qualification?'
The programme producer made a throat-cutting gesture from behind the glass partition and the interview ended.
Last week, having switched from the caring side of Employment to the roads of Transport, I helped to re-launch the cam- paign to continue the reduction of the numbers of people injured and killed in drink-related crashes and collisions. Again on Today I claimed that two thirds of those of us who were drinking drivers ten years ago have broken the link.
The remaining third of us now number up to 7 million. Over 1,100 people die in accidents involving us. Others are maimed and hurt. Each month, 8,000 people like me are convicted for driving over the alcohol limit. Half of us, 4,000, have alcohol in our bodies showing we are at twice or more the legal limit. At this level we are about 20 times more likely to be involved in an accident.
There were years when I was invited to the Spectator 'Highland Park' lunch. Re- cently, instead, I watched the drinks table at the ITN reception in the Banqueting House. One quarter of the drinks were orange juice and water. They went as fast as the wine. Then each person took wine until the non-alcoholic glasses were re- placed.
If we as hosts allowed our guests to have a choice without having to ask, we as drivers would find it easier to avoid mixing alcohol with car keys.
On the wall behind me there is a Cruikshank cartoon with verses about the controversial proposal to bring safe drink- ing supplies south of the Thames. The cholera then endemic could without distor- tion be described as an epidemic on the way out. The public campaign to make it easier for each of us to drive more safely is designed to avoid a sense of crisis. The objective is to make it natural to provide and consume no alcohol before driving. That is calm and rational — and important. Peter Bottomley
Minister for Roads and Transport 2 Marsham Street, London SW1
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