World health day round-up

With World Health Day 2004 on 7 April taking the theme Road safety is no accident, a number of authorities across the UK took the opportunity to stage events to maximise publicity. Here’s a round up of a few of these events.

Kingston Upon Thames – crash reconstructions
The London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) joined forces with the road safety team at the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, London's emergency services and other road safety groups on Saturday 3 April, when a day of crash reconstructions, road safety exhibitions and competitions was held in Kingston.

In the reconstruction casualties were cut free from the crashed car and motor bike and then treated by officers from Kingston's Fire Service, London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police - to demonstrate how the emergency services deal with the aftermath of a serious road crash.

"We have been tackling speeding problems in the borough for some time and this realistic initiative will have reminded drivers of the consequences of driving too fast," said James Parker, Kingston’s RSO.

"This event reinforced the message that drivers can reduce the risk of being involved in collisions and causing injury to other road users by simply slowing down."

Tom Duckham, LSCP Project Manager added: "There is no doubt that excessive speed kills. Since the speed limit on the A3 in Kingston was reduced to 50mph we have seen a 41 per cent decrease in the number of people killed and seriously injured - these figures speak for themselves."

Preston – road safety roadshow
Shoppers in Preston were greeted by road safety experts from Lancashire County Council on 7 April.

The Council's Road Safety Group was on-hand at the Deepdale Retail Park to explain how residents can make a difference to a global campaign by helping to reduce road casualties locally.

"Our roadshow provided information and advice for people about how they can help to make local roads safer," said senior road safety adviser, Christine Gibson.

Brake - Slow down for kids!
Nearly half (46 per cent) of residents in communities across the UK believe the road where they live is dangerous for children, according to a survey released by the road safety charity Brake on World Health Day.

The survey also found that 40 per cent of residents are more concerned about their child being involved in a road crash than being abducted or a victim of crime.

Brake has written to road safety minister David Jamieson calling for the implementation of 20mph speed limits in residential areas throughout the UK. Brake believes this policy will help stop speeding drivers causing death and injury to children and other road users, and says that 20mph zones have been advocated by the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Government’s Health Development Agency.

"Today’s figures shows that parents are desperately worried about the risk speeding drivers pose to their children," says Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake. "Deaths from road crashes are a worldwide epidemic, especially among children. Following the lead of the World Health Organisation, the UK Government must do more to tackle the biggest threat to our children - speeding drivers. The Government urgently needs to provide more safety awareness for drivers, implement road engineering schemes and toughen up enforcement for those who break the law and put children in danger."

For further information contact Brake’s campaigns officer, Simon Collister, on 01484 559909 or 07971 612 857.