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ROAD SAFETY NEWS - WEEK COMMENCING 29 SEPTEMBER

Global road safety experts seek to address rising death toll
With more than two people dying each minute from traffic accidents, representatives from more than 20 of the world's leading road safety organisations gathered for the first time to embark on a global initiative to stem the rising toll of injuries and fatalities caused by collisions on the road, the United Nations health agency said last week.

"This is the first gathering of many of the most influential players in the road safety field, from victim associations, foundations, the automobile industry, and ministries of transport and health," said Dr. Lee Jong-Wook, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva.

"Combining such diverse expertise in road safety and taking action will help to reverse the unnecessary death toll on the world's roads."

More than 1.2m people are killed each year on the road, with millions more injured or disabled. In some low and middle-income countries road crash victims occupy up to 10 per cent of hospital beds.

Globally, estimates suggest that the economic costs of road traffic injuries amount to $518bn per year. In developing countries the costs are estimated to be $100bn.

This new initiative will seek to advocate policies and programmes that address speed reduction and alcohol consumption, re-enforce the use of seat belts, helmets and child restraints, improve emergency response systems, promote safe vehicle design and introduce the implementation of road safety standards.

More @ http://www.un.org/apps/news
DfT welcomes European pedestrian initiative
A new European Directive to make protection for pedestrians compulsory on all new cars has been welcomed by road safety minister, David Jamieson.

The Directive will apply to new cars and car-derived vans under 2.5 tonnes. From 2005 all new models in these categories will need to have approved pedestrian protection, as will existing models from 2012. When fully implemented the new Directive could reduce pedestrian casualties by up to 20 per cent.

Under the Directive new car models will be subjected to a series of technical tests to indicate how they would interact with a pedestrian in an accident. There are also likely to be some benefits to cyclists.

"The Government is committed to continuing to improve road safety and we attach great importance to reducing pedestrian casualties, especially as so many children are involved in pedestrian accidents," Transport Minister David Jamieson said.

"The UK has sponsored research into this area over the last 25 years and we have made a major contribution to much of the technical content of this Directive. I'm delighted that it will be coming into force so soon." the minister added.

More @ www.dft.gov.uk
Study shows links between pedestrian fatalities and alcohol
An increasing proportion of adult pedestrians killed in road accidents show evidence of having recently drunk alcohol, according to research for the DfT (Local Transport Today 18 September).

The study, by TRL, found that over 40 per cent of adult pedestrian fatalities aged up to 60 had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in excess of 80mg/100ml – the drink drive limit.

The study analysed pedestrian fatality test results obtained from Coroners in England and Wales and the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland, over a five-year period from 1995/99. The results were then compared with earlier studies.

TRL reports that comparisons between 1989 and 1999 show that the proportion of adult pedestrians killed who had been drinking had increased from 40 per cent to 48 per cent. The percentage of adult pedestrians found to have a BAC level in excess of the drink drive limit of 80mg/100ml had increased from 31 per cent in 1989 to 39 per cent in 1999.

Furthermore, according to TRL the number of adult pedestrians killed in road accidents and found to be at least two-and-a-half times over the legal drink drive limit rose by 50 per cent between 1979 and 1999.

The incidence of alcohol in fatally injured adult pedestrians (TRL 579) is available from TRL, priced £25, 01344 770783.
Councils defend their efforts on ‘dangerous’ roads
Local authorities identified in the latest EuroRAP survey as having some of Britain’s most dangerous roads have defended their safety efforts, insisting that the AA-led survey fails to recognise improvements made in the last two years (Surveyor, 25 September).

This item will be covered in more detail in next week’s column.
Scotland plans 20mph zones for every school
The Scottish Executive is to give local authorities the money to introduce 20mph zones around every school in Scotland (Surveyor, 18 September). Under the programme £27m will be distributed to councils over three years, accompanied by increases in resource funding.

For this year, councils are to receive £5m in new capital grants followed by £11m per year in 2004-5 and 2005-06.

"The level of road accidents around our schools is unacceptably high and must be reduced," finance minister Andy Kerr told MSPs as he announced the funds.

But SCOTS transport policy chair, Alan Malcolm, warned that 20mph limits might not be appropriate at every school. "Any speed limit has to be seen by motorists as reasonable," he said. "We have to accept that people generally drive to suit what they regard as the prevailing conditions."
RoSPA launches guidance to cut fleet accidents
RoSPA last week launched a new document to cut accidents involving company car and van drivers.

Managing Occupational Road Risk – The RoSPA Guide sets out help businesses and organisations adapt to recent guidance from the HSE and the DfT on driving for work.

It will be particularly valuable to fleet managers as high-mileage company drivers are known to be among those most at risk on the road.

"It has been estimated that between 800 and 1,000 road deaths a year are in some way work-related, Roger Bibbings, RoSPA’s occupational safety adviser said. "Many bosses have ignored this problem in the past, but the HSE has now made it clear that employers have duties under health and safety law to manage the risks faced by their workers on the road.

The document covers the problems facing businesses with employees who drive for work. Topics explained in detail include benefits to be gained from introducing a policy for managing occupational road risk (MORR), the law, developing a risk management approach, risk assessment and control measures.

As well as the moral case for preventing road accidents, there are sound business reasons. In just over three years, Palmer and Harvey McLane Ltd, the first winners of the RoSPA award for MORR, almost halved their accident rate and dramatically reduced costs.

Copies of the RoSPA guide (priced £25, plus package and posting) can be obtained by ringing 0870 777 2090, e-mailing sales@rospa.com or visiting RoSPA’s on-line shop at www.rospa.com
IRSO presents TIE workshop
IRSO’s North West Area Group, in association with LARSOA, is providing a two-day training workshop on the subject of road safety drama. The workshop, ‘To Do or Not To Do’, will take place 15-16 October at the Hough End Centre, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester.

The workshop will show how to build a drama skills base and how to run drama workshops. It will also help delegates build a toolkit of ideas and programmes to use with schools, with the objective of giving them the confidence and enthusiasm to change the way schools think and plan their road safety content.

The cost of the two-day seminar is £100 for IRSO members and £120 for non-members.

Further details can be obtained from Julie Windelar, 0151 471 7365, julie.windelar@halton-borough.gov.uk or Claire Waterhouse, 01254 585471, clairewaterhouse@capita.co.uk.