 
|
ROAD
SAFETY NEWS - WEEK COMMENCING 1 DECEMBER
|
Scottish
road deaths hit 50 year low
The number of people killed in road accidents in Scotland in 2002
was 305 - a fall of 43 (12 per cent) over 2001, and the lowest
number for more than 50 years.
The total number of casualties fell by three per cent to the lowest
figure since 1954. Also, of 30 countries in Western Europe and
elsewhere, Scotland had the sixth lowest number of road deaths
per head of population in 2001.
The figures were revealed in Road Accidents Scotland 2002,
which was published last week, and provides the totals for road
accidents and casualties in 2002.
More @ http://www.srsc.org.uk/news
|
Queen’s
Speech – ‘huge disappointment’, according to PACTS
Commenting on proposals contained in last week’s Queen's Speech,
Robert Gifford, executive director of PACTS, said:
"This Queen's Speech is a huge disappointment for anyone concerned
with transport safety. Three years into the target period for road
casualty reduction, the Government has missed a golden opportunity
to resolve outstanding issues that could improve road safety, including
evidential breath testing, increased penalties for speeding motorists
and statutory registration of fleet, HGV and bus and coach driver
trainers.
"These were not controversial measures but further incremental
steps towards our goal of achieving and maintaining our position
of having the safest roads in Europe.
"The proposed Bill on Traffic Management will raise serious
questions about the roles and responsibilities of police and Highways
Agency personnel in the aftermath of crashes. It will achieve little
for road safety. Fiddling at the margins is no help to the bereaved
and injured on our roads."
More @ http://www.pacts.org.uk/news.htm. |
French
wine industry ‘reckless’, says TTC
A Shropshire organisation campaigning for motorists
not to drink anything before driving has accused France’s wine
industry of being ‘totally reckless’ in its support for
drink driving.
TTC 2000, of Telford hit out at the French wine industry, which
claimed it was alright to have a drink ‘or three’ for
the road.
"It is totally reckless. They have no idea of the impact such
a statement can have," said TTC 2000 director Jenny Feehan.
"The wine industry in France has a vested interest in people
drinking. Their comments are absolutely outrageous in trying to
encourage people to get behind the wheel of a car after consuming
a number of drinks.
"It is really important that people don’t get sucked into
believing that it is OK to drink and drive because just one glass
can, and does, impair judgement."
The director of the French national wine producers’ association
said the French Government was scaring people away from ordering
a glass of wine with its campaign to discourage drink driving. French
restaurants had reported a 15 per cent drop in wine sales because
people were afraid of the police, said Pascal Bobillier-Monnot.
French wine makers have always promoted moderate drinking to comply
with the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.5 grams per litre. But people
in France were 'so afraid' of the police that they were not drinking
at all, he said.
For more information contact TTC 2000, 01952 292246, train@ttc-uk.com
or visit www.ttc-uk.com. |
Regional
transport statistics published last week
The third edition of Regional Transport Statistics, which
brings together a wide range of transport statistics, was published
last week.
Regional variations are complex, particularly because of the widely
varying local circumstances. In particular, these include differences
in economy, population structure and density, and transport systems.
London, in particular, is a unique region in transport terms.
The publication represents a rich and varied source of transport
statistics at regional level. Key points can be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups |
Teens
urged to attend road safety show in Belfast
Young
people in Northern Ireland are being urged to attend a road safety
roadshow in the run up to the festive period.
The
PSNI It Could Be You roadshow has already been seen by around
8,000 young people across the Province. But demand for the award-winning
show has been so high that organisers have issued free tickets for
a special showing at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast on 2 December.
The provocative and disturbing roadshow, supported by AXA Insurance
and Cool FM, graphically depicts how a night out can end in permanent
disability or death.
Aimed at a target audience of 17-year-olds and above, a horrific
tale is related by real police, paramedics, fire officers and doctors.
Philip Donaghy, aged 26, who was left paralysed by a car
crash, also reveals how his life has been wrecked.
Philip was a back seat passenger who was thrown 37ft through the
rear window of a car. He spent six weeks in a coma and now needs
24-hour care.
Superintendent Ian Hamill, PSNI
head of road policing development branch, said: "We have had
an overwhelming response to the roadshow. But we want to reach even
more young people. We also want to put an onus on parents not to
let their sons and daughters take their car until they have seen
the show.
"Research has shown that the roadshow has had a profoundly
positive effect on the attitudes of 97 per cent of those who have
seen it. The young people will leave with images and thoughts that
we believe will stay with them for the rest of their lives."
More @ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news |
Satellite
navigation system provides basis for new road safety technology
The
European Space Agency (ESA) and a number of Portuguese organisations
are working together to develop new road management technology,
based on the EGNOS satellite navigation system.
As Europe's first foray into satellite navigation, EGNOS (European
Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) works by enhancing
the data provided by the US GPS system, offering greater precision
and signal continuity. When its signal is available - from mid-2004
- EGNOS will provide the basis for the road safety project currently
being developed by ESA and its partners in Portugal.
Known as ARMAS (Active Road Management Assisted by Satellite),
the project's applications are currently being tested on Portugal's
Vasco Da Gama Bridge. One of the most beneficial facilities being
developed is an early warning system for drivers who may be about
to enter a hazardous area. Drivers can receive notification of incidents
they are likely to encounter on their journey, with the problem
highlighted on an in-car display screen and through sound messages.
The ARMAS system also allows an individual vehicle to send back
information to a centralised control centre. Personnel in the control
centre are then able to send assistance immediately as the system
gives the exact location of the vehicle. It is also possible for
an individual driver involved in an accident to alert nearby motorists
to slow down.
More
@ http://dbs.cordis.lu |
Victims
families urge drivers to hang up phones
The families of two people killed in mobile phone road accidents
last week joined RoSPA in urging drivers not to try to get
around the new law banning the use of hand-held phones while at
the wheel.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA head of road safety, said many
motorists seemed more interested in trying to find ways to continue
using a phone, rather than accepting that any form of phone conversation
while driving made people four times more likely to crash.
More @ http://www.rospa.co.uk/CMS/. |
PACTS
conference to take stock of targets progress
A conference organised by PACTS will take stock of progress on the
targets set out in the Government's road safety strategy 'Tomorrow's
Roads - Safer for Everyone', and will also look ahead beyond the
current strategy date.
The conference, Targets 2010: No Room for Complacency, will
be held on 10 February. Speakers will include: David Kidney,
MP for Stafford; Michael Barber, Prime Minister’s
Delivery Unit; Richard Brunstrom, North Wales Police;
Oliver Carsten, Leeds University, Emma Hoyler,
Direct Line; Clare Hutchinson, AMVBBDO; Chris
Lines, Transport for London; Nick Lloyd, Staffordshire
County Council; Adrian Walsh, RoadSafe; David
Ward, FIA Foundation.
Further details are available on the PACTS website www.pacts.org.uk
or by contacting Sally Verkaik, sally.verkaik@pacts.org.uk
or 0207 222 7732 |
Higher speed limits linked to 1,900 road deaths in USA
The rise in speed limits in many American States
has caused up to 1,880 more deaths, according to a new study by
the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The report compared 22 States that raised speed limits to 70 or
75 mph when the Federal speed limit was abolished in 1996, to 12
States where the limit stayed at 65 mph.
The report found that there were 1,880 more deaths between 1996
and 1999 on the Interstates with higher limits.
The study also found that drivers in States with the higher limits
drive significantly faster.
More @ http://www.pacts.org.uk/news.htm
|
New Zealand Government introduces road safety scratch card
The New Zealand Government is planning to make
a voluntary test of instant scratch road safety questions available
early next year, to help improve road safety awareness.
If a competitor gets nine out of ten questions right, they go in
to a draw to win a car.
But the country’s opposition party, the National Party, says
the motoring public needs to question whether this is the most effective
use of resources. It says that the transport minister must be out
of touch with reality if he thinks a few scratchy tickets are going
to bring down the road toll.
More @ http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/41626.htm
|
BRAKE
delays Walking Bus Event
The BRAKE Walking Bus Event, which was
originally scheduled to take place in 2003, will now take place
in mid 2004.
LARSOA secretary Brian Hogarth will pass on information
regarding participating schools to members when he receives it. |
|
|
