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ROAD
SAFETY NEWS - WEEK COMMENCING 11 AUGUST
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Councils
tackle safety disadvantage
The DfT has commissioned consultants to help local authorities
reduce road casualty rates in disadvantaged areas (Surveyor, 31
July).
WSP’s integrated transport group, in association with Social
Research Associates, has been appointed to assist 10 local authorities
in the north west under the DfT’s pilot ‘Dealing with
disadvantage’ initiative.
The initiative was established to tackle the significantly higher
incidence of child casualties in disadvantaged communities. The
10 authorities were selected for funding as they demonstrated
a strong correlation of acute road safety problems and deprivation.
A total of £10m will be provided over three years, which
will allow these councils to demonstrate how careful management
of an inner city environment can deliver improved road safety
through partnership with other agencies.
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‘First
chance’ to discuss new HSE fleet guidance
A seminar to help fleet bosses deal with imminent HSE guidance on
employers’ duties for managing the safety of their company
car and van drivers is being staged by RoSPA. The seminar will also
look at what companies need to do to prepare for the new legislation
on the use of mobile phones while driving.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is expected to announce managing
occupational road risk (MORR) guidelines next month, as part of
the continuing campaign to cut the number of accidents involving
people at work on the roads.
RoSPA’s ‘Focusing on Performance’ event at the National
Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, on September 22, will take a close
look at how the new guidance will affect organisations employing
people who drive for their job.
The key points will be outlined by Sharan Bains of
the HSE’s work-related road safety unit. Other experts will
then look at day-to-day issues facing fleet bosses and tell them
where they will need to adapt to match the new advice.
"Fleet bosses can no longer ignore the fact that managing at-work
road risk is a mainstream health and safety issue," said Charles
Davis, RoSPA’s head of driver and fleet solutions.
"RoSPA has led the field in this area - that is why we want
to give anyone involved in fleet safety the chance to discuss and
have a clear understanding of what the new guidance will mean. Delegates
will be able to talk to our experts about their worries during informal
networking sessions."
For bookings and details call 0870 777 2120 or visit www.rospa.com/morr |
Figures
show slight increase in traffic volumes
The estimated traffic volume on Britain's roads rose by one per
cent between the second quarter of 2002 and the same quarter of
2003. This follows similar growth in Q1, leaving traffic levels
in the first half of 2003 1.2 per cent higher than the same period
last year.
These figures, and analyses by vehicle type and road class, were
published last week in Traffic in Great Britain – 2nd Quarter
2003.
There was little change between the second quarter of 2002 and the
second quarter of 2003 in the overall volume of car traffic, which
accounts for about 80 per cent of all traffic.
Goods vehicle traffic in urban areas increased on major roads by
6.2 per cent and decreased on minor roads by 1.2 per cent.
Light van traffic, which represents 11 per cent of all motor vehicles,
increased by 5.9 per cent, following the general trend for the last
10 years.
More @ www.dft.gov.uk |
Problems
with cycling infrastructure continue
There are still ‘widespread problems’ with the quality
of cycling infrastructure across England, according to the English
Regions Cycling Development Team (Surveyor, 7 August).
The team concluded there was a ‘clear need for improvements’
to on-road cycling provision on England’s highway network. |
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