Peter Rhodes on power cuts, trains (again) and the wrong sort of statistics
According to the Welsh Government, the controversial new 20mph speed limits will save “between six and ten lives” per year. It seems a small yet imprecise number. Does it include all road deaths?
For example, has anyone calculated the effects of thousands of Welsh drivers who have not exceeded 20mph for many months suddenly venturing on to a 70mph motorway and discovering they no longer have the skills for such driving? Britain's traditional road network, with limits of 30-50mph, is not a racetrack but it is a place where you can improve your driving skills. Take that away and how many additional motorway crashes will result? Has anyone done the sums? Or are these the wrong kind of statistics?
There's a statistical glitch, too, in the Black British Voices survey of 10,000 black British people. Fewer than half - 49 per cent - considered themselves “proud to be British.” It's difficult to assess that figure without knowing what percentage of white British people are “proud to be British.” More than 49 per cent? Fewer? Who knows?
