Drug driving danger highlighted
One-in-seven motorists admitted in a What Car? poll that they drive on drugs - and one-in-five young drivers in a More Than insurance survey said they would take to the wheel after using drugs.

And police figures released last week show 37.7% of drivers stopped for suspected drug driving over the festive period had drugs in their bloodstream - compared with 6.6% of motorists that failed the breathalyser. However, just 666 drivers were tested for impairment through drugs over the Christmas period, compared with more than 145,867 alcohol tests

Police have no equipment for roadside testing of suspected drug drivers, so have to use various balancing tests. ACPO describes the process as 'bureaucratic and difficult to enforce'.

What Car? group editor Steve Fowler said: 'It's right that the Home Office should set high standards for the approval of roadside drug driver equipment, but it's clear that roadside 'drugalyser' tests are desperately needed.

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

RSO joins academy to 'make a difference'
An RSO volunteer trained by the FedEx & Brake Road Safety Academy last week delivered a presentation on safe driving to pupils at a Chester High School.

The FedEx & Brake Road Safety Academy is a community education project that trains volunteers to spread road safety education in their local community.

RSO Sarah Collins said: "I hope that by teaching young people about the consequences of speeding, drink and drug driving and not belting up, I can make real difference to road safety in Cheshire. I urge anyone who is concerned about road safety to contact Brake and find out about getting involved in this project."

For further information contact Brake on 01484 559909, or academy@brake.org.uk

Award entry deadline approaches
There's still time - just - for road safety teams to enter the 2007 IHT Road Safety Award.

The award is split into two categories - reducing all casualties, and reducing child casualties. It recognises engineering, enforcement, education or encouragement initiatives to improve road safety techniques, and methods to reduce severity of casualties.

The deadline for entries is 31 January. Click here to download the application form.

Conference discount for LARSOA members
LARSOA members are being offered a 20% discount if they wish to attend a Capita Conferences event in London this Friday (26 January).

The one-day conference, Road Safety: Prevention, Action and Reduction will look at preventative and reactive measures that can be taken on the ground to reduce casualties. It will be chaired by Robert Gifford (PACTS) and speakers will include Alex Bennett (Northumberland Fire & Rescue), Bill Brady (Beds CC), Paul Silverwood (Under 17's Car Club), Helen Rowland (Northumberland CC) and Richard Hebditch (Living Streets).

For further information or to book, contact Dave Eastman on 0207 808 5309, or dave.eastman@capita.co.uk.

TfL to tackle speeding drivers head on
New front-facing safety cameras are being introduced in London in a bid to stop drivers 'passing on' penalty points .

TfL will experiment with the cameras at two sites in an initiative designed to target 'the minority of drivers who think they can break the law and get away with it'.

The front-facing cameras will work in tandem with existing cameras. While a traditional Gatso snaps the car from behind, a digital image will also be taken of the driver's face.

Jenny Jones, the Mayor of London's road safety ambassador, said: "We are determined to close the legal loopholes, catch the rogue drivers and have a consistent approach to traffic law enforcement in London."

If these trials prove successful, TfL says more front-facing cameras could be installed across the capital.

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

Forum publishes eyesight resources for fleet managers
Fleet managers are being urged by the Fleet Safety Forum to take action to ensure that their drivers' eyesight meet legal requirements.

Working in partnership with Specsavers, the Fleet Safety Forum (a division of Brake) has produced a free eyesight information pack, which outlines the importance of introducing and maintaining an effective company policy on eyesight testing. The pack contains an information sheet for fleet managers and a poster and photocopiable advice sheet for drivers, which highlights the dangers of poor eyesight and offers practical advice on detecting eyesight problems.

For further information contact Brake on 01484 559909, or admin@brake.org.uk.

M&S drivers learn about 'morning after'
70 professional drivers who make food deliveries to Marks & Spencer stores across the country learned about the 'morning after' at a talk given by the TTC Group.

The drivers learned about alcohol units, how long alcohol stays in the system, problems caused by over-the-counter medicines and how drinks are now stronger and served in larger measures. 

The Telford-based TTC Group provides training in managing occupational road safety, speed awareness, corporate defensive driving, and alcohol awareness for drink drivers.

For more information contact TTC, train@ttc-uk.com or visit www.ttc-uk.com