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Thumbs up for random breath tests
A significant majority of road safety professionals favour random breath tests, and a smaller majority would also be in favour of on the spot bans as an option for those failing a breath test.
86% of those responding to an online survey on this website two weeks ago supported random breath tests, while 74% also supported the option of an on the spot ban for offenders.
Both measures are under consideration in the Republic of Ireland. They were included in the Road Traffic Bill, which went before the Irish Cabinet recently.
Police drive to cut bike toll
A summer safety programme is being launched by North Yorkshire Police to cut the number of motorcyclists killed on the county's roads.
High-profile crackdowns with mobile speed cameras and information campaigns reduced the death toll of motorcyclists on North Yorkshire roads from 28 in 2003, to 17 in 2004. However, the figure rose to 21 last year and there have been another two fatalities so far in 2006.
The Bike Safe initiative will stage a series of workshops to improve motorcyclists' riding skills. The first classroom skills workshops, on May 15 and May 17, will be followed by a two-hour ride during which participants are observed by police and other advanced riders, then given advice on their riding skills.
For further information go to: http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk
EU considers eCall
The European Parliament last week heard a report backing the proposed eCall system.
Under eCall, by the end of 2009 all new vehicles would be fitted with a device that, in the event of an accident, sends an automatic call to the nearest emergency call centre. It is hoped that eCall can save around 2,500 lives across the EU every year and €26bn in accident and congestion costs.
To read the report go to: http://www.europarl.eu.int
Crash risk linked to speeding 
Drivers who are caught by safety cameras are more likely to be involved in an accident, a study carried out at the Transport Research Institute on behalf of eight safety camera partnerships in the Midlands has revealed. The research also reveals that drivers with penalty points for speeding are more likely to have a crash than those with a clean licence.
Professor Steve Stradling of the Edinburgh-based institute said almost 2,500 motorists were interviewed over six-months to get an understanding of drivers' behaviour on the roads.
He said: "We have been able to highlight the fact that drivers who have been caught by speed cameras were significantly more likely to have had a collision than those who hadn't been caught - a finding which was evident among all groups, independent of age or mileage."
For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Bracknell offers free training for young people
Bracknell Council has recently organised its latest Motorwise day for young people aged over 16 years.
Motorwise has been developed to help young people reach the age of 17 with a clean driving licence - and to survive beyond the age of 22 free from injuries caused by motoring related incidents.
It aims to reduce the number of young drivers involved in traffic related incidents, to raise awareness of the hazards facing new drivers, and improve the knowledge of young drivers when purchasing a second hand vehicle.
The programme comprises five workshops and includes practical driving experience.
For more information contact Chris Pickett, chris.pickett@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
Biggar bike to school 
Pupils at Biggar Primary School got on their bikes to highlight the benefits of cycling during the recent Bike to School Week 2006. The children were visited by South Lanarkshire Council's school travel co-ordinators for a special cycle training session, which included tips on giving your bike a health check and information and advice on safe cycling and safety equipment such as helmets and bright or reflective clothing.
"We have been encouraging pupils to cycle and issued all our Primary 7 cyclists with high visibility vests and bands," said head teacher John Edgar. "We agreed safe cycling routes with them and the pupils signed agreements to ride their bikes to school using these routes."
Campaign captures 130mph driver 
A driver was clocked at an average of 130mph on the A74(M) during an anti-speeding campaign in Dumfries and Galloway. Police caught more than 200 drivers travelling above the limit in the space of 24 hours on the region's roads. Another 29 motorists were found not to be wearing seatbelts.
Sgt Ian Fraser, of the road safety unit, expressed concern at the outcome of the campaign, which was part of national speeding and seatbelt day.
For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk
City looks to blanket 20mph zone
Newcastle City Council is pressing ahead with plans for a pilot 20mph zone on six residential streets, despite the fact the limits will not be legally enforceable (Surveyor, 27 April). The Liberal Democrat-controlled council had been looking at creating a blanket 20mph speed limit for every residential street, with speeding motorists facing the standard penalties if they were caught.
But because of the time and costs involved, the city council's executive has backed an option that will see the creation of 'advisory' 20mph speed limits.
Officers believe that the alternative of creating traffic orders for the 200 residential streets would take up to nine months for each road and cost a total of £5M.
The council is now looking at the use of green-coloured signs stating messages such as Twenty's plenty and Go slow, which are now in widespread use around the country.
An increasing number of authorities are considering making 20mph the norm where people live.
Talks focus on reducing Highland biker deaths
A safety conference last week investigated ways of reducing the number of fatal motorcycle accidents in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Northern Constabulary and Highland Council co-hosted the event in Inverness last week. Delegates heard presentations on road safety education and engineering, and changes to the motorcycle test in 2008.
In Highland in 2004, there were 32 road deaths, including six motorcyclists. During the seminar there was information about schemes already in place, such as Bike Safe and Bike Aid.
Across Scotland, a total of 986 motorcyclists were injured in road accidents in 2004. Of these, 348 were seriously injured and 41 died.
Bike Aid is a first aid course designed for motorcyclists, which is delivered by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Islington scoops top London transport award
The third London Transport Awards, hosted by Professor David Begg, Director, The Centre for Transport Policy, recognised local authorities and organisations that have made a real difference to transport in the capital.
The main award, Transport Borough of the Year, was awarded to Islington for forging a number of successful partnerships that have delivered better transport services.
The road safety award went to the London Borough of Bexley.
For further information contact Susan Duncan on 01224 263134 or s.c.j.duncan@rgu.ac.uk
Libberton pupils call for drivers to slow down
A speed activated smiley sign was recruited to help celebrate the completion of Libberton Primary's school travel plan.
The rural school enjoys a spectacular countryside location with dramatic views across the Clyde Valley - but while the site brings many benefits it threw up challenges in drawing up the STP.
STP co-ordinator Colin Smith said: "Safety is a key element of STPs and at Libberton the speed of traffic on the road outside was an important element."
The speed activated smiley sign measures how quickly vehicles are approaching and flashes up the vehicle speed and, depending on whether the speed is appropriate, the driver receives an electronic smile or a frown.
It was brought to the school for the launch of the travel plan to help remind pupils of how fast traffic can travel on the road and also to encourage drivers to think about their speed and whether it is appropriate outside a school.
78% car seat failure rate 
Out of 129 car seats checked recently by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, 101 failed the test with at least one fault. The two-day event was organised in support of the All Wales Police Seat Belt Launch, which took place in March. A team of experts carried out the checks and offered help and advice to parents at free testing sessions held at Brynmawr and Ebbw Vale.
36% of the problems identified were classed as major and 37% were minor. The majority of faults found were remedied there and then by the experts. In the remaining 27% of cases, the seats were either unsuitable for the child, incompatible for the vehicle type or condemned as seriously dangerous.
For further information contact Penny Thorpe at Capita Symonds on 01633 463376, or penny.thorpe@capita.co.uk
Edinburgh camera fines fall
The number of motorists receiving speeding fines in Edinburgh has fallen by more than 30% in the past year. While the AA put the dramatic decrease down to drivers becoming wise to where static cameras and speed traps were being set, the head of the region's safety camera partnership claimed speeding has now become as socially unacceptable as drink driving.
Across the whole of Lothian and Borders, motorists captured speeding by both fixed and mobile cameras fell by a quarter from 42,524 to 31,655.
Neil Greig, head of policy with the AA in Scotland, said: "The new figures are good news. We have always said that the best speed camera is the one that slows traffic and issues no tickets. The real acid test of a camera's success comes from a reduction in casualty figures."
Colin McNeil, manager of the safety camera partnership, said: "In today's world the vast majority of law abiding drivers wouldn't dream of drink driving and I truly believe that we are on our way to making speeding as equally unacceptable."
For the full story go to: http://news.scotsman.com
'Killer' back seat passengers
According to the Driving Instructors Association (DIA), only 54% of adult passengers wear seatbelts in the back of the car - and one person is killed each week by a back seat passenger not wearing a seatbelt.
Londoners are the worst offenders for not wearing their seatbelts. Passengers under 35 are far more likely to risk their lives by not wearing a seatbelt than older motorists - and women are more likely to buckle up than men.
Eddie Barnaville, DIA general manager, said: "I am amazed how many parents allow their children and pets to roam around in the back seat of a car without a seatbelt or restraint. It is also shocking how many cars have too many passengers in the back."
The Government has recently announced new seatbelt rules that look set to come into effect in May 2009. Under the new rules in vehicles fitted with seatbelts, the number of passengers carried must not exceed the number of seatbelts.
For further information contact Vikki Carley on 020 8665 8024, or newsdesk@driving.org
Privatise cameras, cycling group says
Privatising road safety cameras would lead to an increase in detection of speeding motorists and make Ireland's roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians, according to the Galway Cycling Campaign (GCC).
The campaign has welcomed Ireland's new Road Safety Bill, which allows for the privatisation of cameras. The GCC is now calling for the new cameras to be rolled out as quickly as possible with a particular emphasis on urban areas.
For the full story go to: http://www.galwayadvertiser.ie
Neil Kinnock banned
Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock has been banned from driving for six months after admitting two speeding offences. The British Council chair was caught speeding twice on the M4 last year when returning from Westminster. He already had nine points on his licence.
His defence said he did not want to plead exceptional hardship as a reason for not getting a ban.
For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Workshop participants discuss agency drivers
15 participants who attended the recent Brake workshop on managing agency drivers were the first recipients of a newly updated report on the subject.
The debate centred on the advantages and disadvantages of using agency drivers. A wide range of ideas was explored to improve the recruitment, induction, management and performance of agency drivers.
For a free copy of the agency driver research report contact willmurray@roadrisk.net |
