Train wheelchair-using children, former RSO urges
A former RSO is claiming that the 100,000 wheelchair-using children in England are not receiving anything like the road safety training enjoyed by their able-bodied friends.

Tony Barefield - former RSO at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham - is now road safety co-ordinator for The Association of Wheelchair Children, a charity that trains children in wheelchairs to live as independently as possible.

"In order to redress this imbalance I am trying to encourage road safety sections and/or Kerbcraft projects up and down the country to provide a full day's training for local wheelchair-using children," Tony Barefield explains. "We will supply the children and each one will be accompanied by a parent/carer. I have also written a training manual highlighting the differences between training able-bodied children and those in a wheelchair."

To date, Tony has been disappointed with the response. "The most common reply is that wheelchair-using children do not show up in accident statistics and are therefore not considered an at-risk group," he says.

Tony argues that the reason they are not considered 'at-risk' is because they are not being encouraged to travel independently - and therefore do not receive training. "These kids are as entitled to receive training as able-bodied children, and in fact need it more than most."

Anyone interested in knowing more can contact Tony Barefield on 0870 121 0057 or barefield29@yahoo.co.uk .

Powered two wheelers -a major challenge, study concludes
Motorcyclists need a greater understanding of the risks associated with their mode of transport if they are to be persuaded to adjust their riding style, TRL researchers have concluded (Surveyor, 12 August).

The study for the DfT on the accident risk of motorcyclists confirms that road safety professionals face a major challenge with regard to powered two wheelers.

The TRL team concluded that 'an important part of the motorcycle safety problem stems directly from the motivations for choosing to ride'. These motivations include 'getting pleasure from motorcycling' and 'a liking for speed', which were identified as predictors of behavioural errors among motorcyclists.

RoSPA has produced a new guide to help the media when it is involved in making television programmes, advertisements or writing stories about road safety issues.

RoSPA often receives complaints from members of the public and local authorities about the way in which road users are portrayed on television or in print. The Society believes the media can play a significant role in influencing attitudes and behaviour to the benefit of road safety.

"It is clear that the issues raising concern among people who contact us are often unintentional on the part of the producers and could be fairly easily avoided," said Kevin Clinton , RoSPA head of road safety. "We hope the guide will help programme makers and advertisers to show road use positively.

"We fully appreciate that there are times when poor road use is integral to a plot or character. But, for example, rather than simply showing a drink-driver or a mobile phone user at the wheel, it would be useful to indicate the potential consequences with a crash or court appearance."

Presenting Road Safety: A Guide for the Media has been funded by the DfT and is available in CD-ROM format. It is being sent to programme makers and advertising agencies and is downloadable from the internet at http://www.rospa.com/road/pdfs/roadmedia.pdf

Bristol Oilskins develops new SCP poles
Bristol Oilskin & Overall Company has developed new Class Two and Micro Prismatic (Diamond Grade) SCP signs, with either a collapsible or a rigid pole. Both new signs conform to the DfT special authorisation of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 - Section 28, which is effective until 31 July 2006.

In addition, the DfT's traffic sign division has approved the new signs after dimension and performance testing. As such, the signs will conform to the new regulation that is expected to come into force around mid 2005. The new regulation is open ended and will become the only standard for school crossing patrol signs once the special authorisation expires in 2006.

The TRL study covers before and after monitoring since the scheme was launched in July 2001. Overall, it concludes that the Kent scheme should only be viewed as a partial success after achieving some of its aims.

Quiet lanes are intended to form a network of country lanes suitable for use by walkers, cyclists and equestrians, as well as by motor vehicles - the aim is to encourage non motorised users while maintaining vehicular access.

A campaign against the speed limits, led by the Association of British Drivers , prompted councillors to reject the county's RSOs proposal to introduce 14 such schemes next year.