Highway Code - revisions published

A draft revised version of the Highway Code has been laid before both Houses of Parliament.

Dr. Stephen Ladyman, minister for transport, said: "The draft revised edition of the Highway Code takes account of responses to the public consultation held between February and May 2006.

"I have also published the Response to Consultation reporting on the results of the consultation on the proposed revision of The Highway Code."

The most significant issues raised during consultation were:
• a variety of cycling-related issues
• stopping distances
• road users' attitudes and greater consideration for vulnerable road users.

The Response to Consultation is available from the DSA website, www.dsa.gov.uk, or by ringing 01234 744054.

The revised Highway Code is planned for publication in Summer 2007.

For the full DfT statement go to: http://www.dft.gov.uk

Sultan recognised for safety leadership

His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent has visited Muscat, Oman to present his International Road Safety Award to the Sultanate in recognition of the country's outstanding effort to promote global road safety issues at the United Nations (Roadsafe News, March 2007).

The visit coincided with the sixth meeting of the UN Road Safety Collaboration, which was held in the Omani capital.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Prince Michael said: "For a small nation, Oman has achieved a tremendous amount in promoting the issue of global road safety onto the international agenda."

Success for Drive & Survive

Driver risk management specialist, Drive & Survive, won the 'Best Risk Management Company' category at the recent 2007 Fleet News Awards.

The judging panel described Drive & Survive as 'genuinely innovative, and we admire the way it continues to contribute to the fleet industry'.

For further information about the company's products and services go to: www.drivesurvive.co.uk.

Behind the wheel - at 16
Buckinghamshire's Youth and Community Service team is once again running its 'Road Sense' driving course, which gives 16-year-olds an opportunity to get behind the wheel.  

Developed in partnership with the council's road safety team and Thames Valley Police, the three-day course is designed to give young people a taste of the driving experience in a safe environment with trained professionals.

'Road Sense' covers driving with an ADI, the Highway Code, car maintenance, car ownership and a safety session with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue service.

The project is aimed at 16 year olds, who have not yet passed their test.

For further information contact Paul Williams on 01494 725630.

DVLA increases fees
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has increased the one-off first vehicle registration fee from £38 to £50.  

The first Driving Licence fee also rises from £38 to £45, but that for replacing a paper licence with a photocard version drops from £19 to £10.  

The DVLA says these are the first fee changes in three years.  

For the full story go to: www.dvla.gov.uk

MIB launches helpline
The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) has launched a dedicated helpline 'to support the police in the fight against uninsured driving'.

The MIB compensates victims of road accidents caused by uninsured and untraced motorists.

The helpline was piloted during 2006 to assist the police with roadside situations where there is doubt over the validity of insurance cover for a suspect vehicle.

Susan Beck, head of communications for the MIB says: " When traffic police pull over a vehicle there can be occasions where the driver claims to be insured. In these circumstances the police helpline can provide the officer with a definitive answer in the majority of cases."

For more information contact Susan Beck on 01908 821985, or sbeck@mib.org.uk

Brake welcomes new surcharge
Brake, the road safety charity, has welcomed the introduction of a levy for offenders that will go towards a victim fund.

As of 1 April, anyone given a fine after being convicted of a criminal offence in court will have to pay an additional £15.

The levy will go towards the government's Victims Fund to help improve services for victims of crime, including families devastated by a death or serious injury on the road.

The surcharge will not apply to fixed penalty fines at this stage, although this is planned to be introduced at a later date.

Brake says the government has promised that the new Victim Fund will make extra money available to groups providing support to road crash victims.

Bereaved mums urge fans to 'sober up'

Football fans turning up for the game at Ipswich Town Football Club last Saturday received warnings about drink-driving and risk-taking behind the wheel from two bereaved Norfolk mothers.

Bridget Wall and Liz Voysey, volunteers with the national road safety charity Brake, were joined by Suffolk Fire and Rescue officers outside the Portman Road stadium from 1pm until kick-off at 3pm. They were fundraising for Brake and handing out life-saving tyre tread indicators and 'sober-up' leaflets to home fans and visiting supporters from Barnsley.

Speeding convictions upheld
Hundreds of speeding convictions in Cheshire have been upheld after fears that they may have been issued in error.

More than 1000 drivers were originally convicted of speeding in 2005 following detection by a speed camera on a stretch of motorway road works on the M6.

It transpired that the camera was only intended to monitor lanes one and two of the stretch - but 1,200 drivers in lane three also received a notice of intended prosecution, according to a report in the Northwich Guardian.

Home Office guidelines say that cameras on the hard shoulder are technically in the wrong place, and on the strength of this that the convicted motorists claimed that they had been wrongly targeted.

Despite the fact that they were driving in a lane that was not supposed to be monitored by the camera, independent legal advice claims 'reliable evidence' of speeding - and as a result, the convictions will be upheld.

For the full story go to: http://news.intranetics.co.uk/articles/3388.html

Fines loophole
Hardly anybody bothers to pay traffic fines in Bulgaria - because there is no one to collect the money.

The legal loophole means that although the police are empowered to hand out everything from speeding fines to parking tickets, there is no official body to collect the fines.

Last year only 6% of fines slapped on motorists were paid.

Most drivers pull over to take a ticket and then drive off knowing they will never have to pay the fine, which has caused a massive shortfall in funding for the transport ministry and fewer police on patrol on the roads.

Last year only £690,000 out of a total of £11m was paid - mostly by foreigners unaware that they could avoid the fine.

For the full story go to: http://www.ananova.com/