Driver Reviver updated

A new edition of the Driver Reviver CD that helps tired drivers get a 15-minute power nap has been released by AWAKE, the sleep and fatigue research organisation linked to the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre.

"Companies have been ordering hundreds of copies at a time for their fleets of company car drivers," said AWAKE managing director, Dr Paul Jackson. "Although Driver Reviver was originally intended for use in the car, when we surveyed our customers we found that a large proportion was also using it in other situations."

AWAKE is a research consultancy linked to the world-renowned Loughborough Sleep Research Centre. As part of its work, AWAKE undertakes risk assessments to determine the extent to which fatigue plays a part in a company's accidents, and provides training for commercial drivers and others involved in safety critical work.

For further information go to: http://www.awakeltd.info or ring 0207 693 6165

Road safety course reaches milestone

An initiative to help learner drivers came of age when its 100th client registered to take part.

The Pre-Pass Support Scheme (PPSS), devised by Lancashire County Council's road safety group, is aimed at drivers who wish to accompany learners - and is the first of its kind in the UK. The scheme enhances the accompanying driver's understanding of the main difficulties that learners encounter, and how to deal with these difficulties.

With one in three drivers involved in a crash within the first year of driving, extra practice has an important role to play in reducing the possibility of crashes.

"New drivers take up to two seconds longer to recognise hazards than more experienced drivers," said road safety adviser Gill Roberts. "This scheme develops driving skills by passing on essential hazard awareness and driving techniques to effectively support the learner driver."

For more information contact Gill Roberts on 01772 531348 or log on at www.lancashireroadsafety.co.uk

DfT announces first congestion busting motorway lane

A scheme to reduce congestion and improve journey times on the M1 motorway by creating a dedicated lane reserved for vehicles carrying two or more people was announced by the DfT last week.

High occupancy vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes aim to encourage drivers to share cars. Britain's first HOV motorway lane will be trialled on the M1 between junctions 7 and 10 (St Albans to Luton). The car sharing lane will operate at peak times to help minimise delay and congestion for road users.

Work is already planned to widen the motorway at this point from three lanes to four lanes. It is estimated that there would be a five per cent fewer cars on the road if car sharing was adopted. Work is due to start in Autumn 2005.

For further information visit: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pns/

Study reveals new drink drive statistics

Nearly a quarter of drivers and more than 40 per cent of pedestrians killed on the UK's roads are over the drink drive limit, according to the RAC Foundation.

Late on Friday and Saturday nights that figure is much higher - almost six out of 10 drivers and motorcyclists and more than nine out of 10 pedestrians killed had consumed enough alcohol to fail a drink drive breath test.

Figures for 2002 reveal that among the 797 driver fatalities with a recorded blood alcohol level, 23 per cent were above the 80mgs limit and, of those, nine per cent were more than two and half times over the limit.

For further information go to http://www.roadsafe.com/roadsafe2/index.asp

Sandwell school children brush up pedestrian skills

Nearly 700 children across Sandwell have completed the first stage of a neighbourhood road safety training initiative. Pupils from 14 primary schools in some of the most deprived areas of the borough have been brushing up on their pedestrian skills as part of the scheme.

The youngsters, aged between five and seven years, have taken part in weekly sessions with a trainer to develop skills at the roadside to help them grow into safe and independent pedestrians. They were joined by Brewster Bear from the local Brewster's restaurant who also wanted to brush up on his pedestrian skills.

'"This scheme has provided a boost to the council's ongoing road safety training programmes," said Jo Farghaly senior road safety officer. "I'm sure the children will have developed a thorough grounding in road safety that they will build on in future years. Hopefully they will all be able to put some of the lessons into practice and make sure they stay safe this Christmas, and for many more to come."

For further details contact Joanne Farghaly: Joanne_farghaly@sandwell.gov.uk

Travel safe this Christmas, campaign urges

Education chiefs in Northern Ireland have launched a campaign to cut the risk of accidents to schoolchildren under the slogan Travel safe this Christmas.

"We cannot over emphasise the importance of road safety, especially during the winter period," said Brian McClean chief transport officer, Western Education Library Board (WELB). "I encourage parents to reinforce the travel safety message coming from schools. Christmas is a period of great excitement and anticipation for pupils. Sometimes road safety is forgotten, if only momentarily, and this can have fatal consequences.

"The area that carries the highest incidence for serious injury is when pupils are disembarking from buses," Mr McClean added. "It is important for pupils when disembarking from the bus to take up a position close to the side of the road, at the doors, and allow the bus to move safely away from the stop."

For further information go to: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Route of conflict

Cycling in bus lanes is popular with cyclists - but bus drivers and cyclists generally have a low opinion of each other, according to a DfT survey (Surveyor, 9 Dec).

TRL researchers conducted interviews with cyclists using bus lanes at six sites in Edinburgh, Hull, Derby and London - and identified a perception that the lanes provided improved safety and journey times.

But TRL recommended that efforts be made to address the mutual concerns of cyclists and bus drivers by reducing the opportunity for conflict linked to the width of bus lanes.

TRL hosts SCP seminar

TRL is hosting a seminar/workshop for school crossing patrol site risk assessment at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh on 3 February 2005.

The one-day seminar and workshop will focus on the principals of risk assessment and is aimed at those responsible for the day to day safety of all school crossing patrols (i.e. SCP co-ordinators, road safety managers).  

Camera partnership launches website

Lothian & Borders Safety Camera Partnership launched its new website, www.lbsafetycameras.co.uk, in early December.

The website contains detailed maps of camera locations along with an increased educational element explaining what happens when you get 'flashed' by a camera. The educational page also explains the various national speed limits for different classifications of vehicles and roads and contains a road safety terminology page. There is also an online quiz for visitors to test their road safety knowledge.

"The web is really taking over and more and more people have access to it," said Brian Swanson, the Partnership's project manager. "To be able to create and maintain a dynamic relationship with the various target groups we need to be reaching out with an up to date website."

Speed limits hit the buffers

Somerset County Council, a pioneer of the widespread introduction of 40mph 'buffer zones' on road stretches in between village and country lane speed limits, is to scrap the concept (Surveyor 9 Dec).

"Somerset has decided that the buffer zones are too confusing for motorists," said councillor Tim Carroll. "A consultation that involved in-depth focus groups of a cross section of residents revealed that fewer variations in the speed limits would reduce confusion and lead to greater compliance."

"Buffer zones are something of an anomaly - 40mph zones in the middle of nowhere," he added. "Motorists need to have something to relate lower limits to, such as a hazard or a built-up area."

The DfT last month issued new guidance stating that buffer zones prior to 30mph limits 'might be appropriate... in particular where there are outlying houses beyond the village boundary or roads with high approach speeds'.

We're not party poopers, RoSPA says

A Christmas party checklist published recently by RoSPA and TUC has attracted considerable media interest.

The checklist urges companies to make sure their staff do not injure themselves at office Christmas parties by dancing on desks or photocopying themselves. Managers were even advised not to put up mistletoe in case it encouraged sexual harassment.

"We are not being party poopers," said RoSPA's Roger Bibbings. "Some sensible safety precautions will allow people to have a great office celebration without having to call in the emergency services."

The call to prevent staff from photocopying parts of their body is because of the risk of glass in painful places if the machine breaks, RoSPA said. And dancing on office tables should be prevented because they are not as strong as those in a pub or bar, it added.

"There won't be much Christmas cheer in your workplace if your winter wonderland turns out to be a danger zone," said Frances O'Grady, TUC deputy general secretary. "Some simple precautions can make sure your party goes off with a bang, instead of a crash."