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ROAD
SAFETY NEWS - WEEK COMMENCING 9 FEBRUARY 2004
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DfT publishes
road traffic statistics
The DfT last week published National Statistics on Traffic
in Great Britain for the fourth quarter of 2003 and 2003 as
a whole.
These provisional figures indicate that estimated traffic levels
rose by 1.4 per cent between 2002 and 2003. This continues the
estimated underlying growth rate of between one and two per cent
per annum since 1999. Other key 2003 figures include:
- Car
traffic was one per cent higher than in 2002
- The
estimated annual increase in light van traffic was five per
cent
- Goods
vehicle traffic was one per cent higher than the previous year
- Motorway
traffic remained virtually unchanged between 2002 and 2003.
More
@ www.dft.gov.uk.
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Cycle
stats show rate increase – but no casualty increase
Cycle organisations have seized on the latest DfT statistics that
show levels of cycling are increasing without a corresponding increase
in cycle casualties (Local Transport Today, 29 January).
According to Don Matthews of Sustrans, pedal
cycle casualties fell 11 per cent in 2002 while the amount of cycling
increased five per cent.
"These statistics are highly significant," Don Mathew
said. "They suggest that it is possible to increase cycle use
and decrease cycle casualties. This should go a long way to reassure
traditional road safety practitioners who have hitherto believed
more cycling = more casualties."
He added that the figures supported the concept of "critical
mass – the belief that as the amount of cycling increases,
so motorists become more aware of cyclists and adjust their behaviour."
"This notion has for long been supported by observers of continental
cycling where very large volumes of what at times appeared to be
‘unsafe cycling’ in fact produced a much better safety
record than in the UK," Don Mathew concluded. |
Oxfordshire
trials reflective photo warning
Drivers approaching an Oxfordshire rail bridge are being advised
to take extra care by novel reflective posters incorporating a photograph
of two school children about to cross the road (Surveyor, 22 January).
Said to be the first of their kind in the country, the self-adhesive
digital images are displayed on the bridge’s parapet.
County traffic engineer Richard Kingshott got the
idea of using the innovative material after Railtrack erected a
new 1.5m high parapet wall at the blind bend in South Moreton, raising
fears that drivers would be unable to see children using the narrow
bridge.
If they prove effective, the material may be applied on highways
at other high-risk locations as it has a hardwearing coating with
anti-slip particles. |
Level
crossings provide ‘greatest risk', according to study
The Rail Safety and Standards Board’s (RSSB) safety
risk model shows that collisions between trains and vehicles or
pedestrians on level crossings represent the largest category of
train accident and public risk (excluding trespass and suicide)
on Network Rail infrastructure.
In view of this, RSSB has prepared a report to provide the industry
with detailed breakdown and analysis of the causes and consequences
of accidents at level crossings. The report is intended to assist
in targeting further cost-effective risk reduction strategies for
level crossings.
Data used in the report covers events occurring at level crossings
during the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 2003 – excluding
those where the coroner returned a verdict of suicide.
The findings include the following:-
1. The risk associated with level crossings remains the highest
contributor to train accident and public risk (excluding trespass
and suicides).
2. The number of level crossings has reduced since 1990, and this
has been accompanied by conversion of higher risk types of crossing
to lower risk active type crossings.
3. The highest level of risk is associated with automatic open crossing
locally monitored level crossings. This finding supports the requirement
to remove/upgrade this type of crossing over a ten-year period.
In addition, the report concludes that consideration should be given
to interim risk reduction measures - such as better signage indicating
that barriers are not present, rumble strips, overt surveillance
cameras etc.
4. There is a peak in near miss and misuse of crossings in the summer
months, associated with the period of greatest activity for farmers.
For further information on this report contact Ruairí
Kennedy, risk advisor, 020 7904 7492, ruairi.kennedy@rssb.co.uk. |
Workers’
co-operative formed to promote Walking Buses
A new organisation, Safe-Kids-Walking, has been formed to
promote Walking Bus schemes, walking to school and high visibility
clothing for children.
The organisation’s website www.safe-kids-walking.com
provides support and advice for parents and schools wanting to set
up a walking bus scheme.
"We are promoting high visibility clothing by advertising suppliers
on our website and by March will be able to offer an on-line ordering
service," says the organisation’s founder, Alison
Holland.
"We are setting up as a social enterprise workers’ co-operative.
Profits made will be ploughed back into the organisation and distributed
to workers and youth projects. By the end of February we will be
inaugurated as a company limited by guarantee and will be able to
start trading," Alison Holland adds.
Partners working with Safe-Kids-Walking include Northamptonshire
County Council, Northamptonshire Police and Geddington Primary School,
Kettering, Northants.
"Our website will include an online newsletter and we welcome
relevant content for that and for our links page," Alison Holland
concludes.
Anyone wishing to contact Alison Holland can do so by email at,
info@safe-kids-walking.com. |
Fines
should improve road safety in London
Motorists in London who cause delays and danger for other road users
can now be fined under a new traffic flow scheme.
Under the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act
2003, boroughs can now fine motorists who break laws by blocking
box junctions or ignoring no left or right turn signs.
Chairman of the Association of Local Government's transport and
environment committee Phil Portwood said: "Helping
reduce congestion on our already busy roads and improving the safety
of everyone who uses them must be paramount."
He added money raised through the fines would be put into improving
roads and pavements and boosting public transport.
More @ http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk |
EC launches
road safety charter
On 29 January the European Commission launched the European Road
Safety Charter, with the objective of halving the number of road
deaths by 2010.
The Charter is part of the European road safety action programme,
which encourages road users to improve their behaviour, to make
vehicles safer and to improve road infrastructure.
During the launch event various stakeholders - including the network
of cities POLIS, the companies Exxon Mobil, Arriva, Scania and the
International Association of Tourism - publicly stated their commitment
to the Charter.
There will be an official signing ceremony at the beginning of April.
More @ http://www.euractiv.com. |
Cycle
study recommends cutting roundabout lanes
The safety of cyclists at roundabouts could be improved through
a range of engineering measures - including reducing the number
of entry and exit lanes, tighter geometry on approach roads, enlarging
the central island and introducing toucan crossings on roundabout
arms, according to a study by TRL (Local Transport Today, 29 January).
The study examined the operation of ‘continental’ roundabout
geometry at four pilot sites in England in a project commissioned
by the DfT. Continental roundabouts tend to have narrower circulating
carriageways than British roundabouts, and fewer entry and exit
lanes on each arm. British roundabouts have generally been designed
to maximise the flow of motor vehicles. |
Shropshire
RSO finds new role after retirement
Road safety ‘guru’ Colin Pettener has joined
the training organisation Telford Training Consultants (TTC 2000)
as its road safety liaison officer.
Mr Pettener, who recently retired as Shropshire’s county RSO
after 24 years, will liaise with road safety experts nationwide
for TTC 2000 – the largest provider of education courses for
newly convicted drink drive offenders in the UK.
"It was a pleasant surprise to be offered the opportunity to
come and work for an organisation where I can put my experience
in road safety to good use," said Colin Pettener, who won a
Prince Michael Road Safety Award in 2002.
Colin Pettener can be contacted on (01952) 292246. |
Goldfish survives car crash
A goldfish has cheated death after being thrown
15 feet in a car crash on the M1 in Leicestershire.
Four-year-old Bercy was only discovered when police were sweeping
up glass after the accident. Despite being out of water for 15 minutes,
paramedics revived him after filling a cardboard tray with water.
He was then reunited with owner, 23-year-old Sophia Underhill
- who suffered only minor injuries in the crash - and both
are doing swimmingly.
Police were called to the incident at about 1330 GMT on 1 February
and officers found a single vehicle on its side. A Leicestershire
police spokesman said: "When moving the vehicle the attending
officers discovered that the inside of the car was soaking wet and
covered in small coloured stones. A fish tank, which had obviously
been upended in the collision, lay empty in the footwell."
Realising that people don't usually transport a fish tank full of
water unless there's fish in it, road policing officer Sergeant
Watling searched the car but to no avail.
Officers cleaning up the scene found the fish lying 15 feet from
the car, thrown clear by the force of the collision. Bercy was quickly
taken to the paramedics who provided the cardboard tray and some
water.
At first, officers thought he had lost a fin in the accident but
Miss Underhill later confirmed this was an old injury and that apart
from some small marks on one side he was unscathed.
Sergeant Mark Watling of the road policing said: "Thankfully
this incident ended happily and both Sophia and Bercy escaped uninjured.
We have to be ready to deal with all sorts of things in the police
but I have to say that this was a first for me!"
More @ http://news.bbc.co.uk |
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