Safer roads - Let’s apply this formula to smoking

That the number of people killed on our roads last year was at a record low is a considerable victory for public health campaigning and those who embraced the great cultural shift required to achieve its objectives.

Behaviour, especially around alcohol and driving, once widely tolerated if not routine, is no longer acceptable and the dividend — a 56% reduction in road deaths and a 51% fall in serious injuries since 2007 — more than justifies the effort and commitment made by a range of government agencies and individuals. Last year 161 people lost their lives on our roads, 25 fewer than in 2011 and 51 fewer than in the previous year.

That the great majority of people, especially those yet to reach middle age, have been convinced never to drink and drive is, in a society so very enthusiastic about alcohol, an achievement that should not be underestimated. Importantly, it shows that destructive behaviour can be modified if tackled properly.