NEWS IN BRIEF

OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF - W/C 26 JULY 2004

Government launches transport White Paper
A long-term strategy for a ‘modern, efficient and sustainable transport system backed up by sustained high levels of investment over the next 15 years’ was unveiled last week by transport secretary, Alistair Darling.

According to Mr Darling, ‘Britain's transport networks will benefit from average annual increases of 4.5 per cent over the next three years - from £10.4bn this year to over £12.8bn by 2007’.

The Future of Transport White Paper looks at the factors that will shape travel and transport over the next 30 years and sets out how the Government will respond to the increasing demand for travel.

"Our job is to help people travel, not to stop them," Mr Darling said. "The challenge for us is how we meet people’s needs while meeting our environmental aims."

In response to the Road Pricing Feasibility Study, Mr Darling confirmed that Government would lead a national debate on road pricing, working with relevant agencies to examine how and when pricing might work. A detailed response to the Study will be published in due course.

"The Study concludes that a national scheme has the potential to cut congestion by about a half as well as providing environmental benefits," he said. "It says that road pricing will become technically feasible in the next 10 -15 years."

The Future of Transport is available from the DfT's website at www.dft.gov.uk and via The Stationery Office online, book.orders@tso.co.uk

Surrey tops school travel awards
Surrey County Council schools have scooped the highest award in a new Government scheme that grants funds to schools working on travel plans.

Nearly 100 Surrey schools, all of whom submitted approved travel plans earlier this year, are set to share more than £575,000 to spend on projects that will improve their travel facilities and encourage pupils to walk, cycle or use public transport to school. The funds go direct to schools to enable improvements to be made within their grounds.

Geraldine Wood, headteacher of Eastwick Junior School, Bookham, whose school has been awarded a grant of more than £5,500, said: "We actively promote cycling and as a result the demand for cycle storage has increased steadily. The grant will enable us to expand and upgrade our cycle store to accommodate 100 bikes and further encourage more pupils to pedal to school."

Schools can choose to spend their awards on a range of capital projects within the school grounds.

For further information contact Lisa Burns, communications officer, Safe Routes to Schools, 0208 541 9589.

Minister visits car seat event
Road safety transport minister Tony McNulty visited Norwich recently to open a mixed priority route demonstration project and to visit the city’s Road Safety Unit.

The Unit was taking part in a child car seat checking event at a local supermarket. The event, which supported child safety week, attracted many families – and 60 per cent of all the child car seats checked would not have given the child the best protection in the event of a crash.

"The minister was impressed by the level of interest in the event and the faults and issues raised from the checking of child car seats," said Stuart Hallett, Norfolk’s head of road safety.

The minister ended his day in Norfolk by returning to the railway station in the You Drink – I Drive road safety taxi.

For further details contact stuart.hallett@norfolk.gov.uk

New limits for West Sussex villages
New 30mph and 40mph limits are to be introduced by West Sussex Council in 17 villages over the next year (Surveyor, 15 July).

The move follows the authority’s introduction of 74 new limits under a five-year programme launched in 1999 to assess the need for lower limits in 300 settlements, many of which were subject to a 60mph limit.

RoSPA seeks views on pillion passengers
Following a crash in which an eight year old child who was travelling as a pillion passenger was killed, a local community is campaigning for a law to prevent young people under 16 years of age from being carried as pillion passengers on motorbikes. The community is seeking RoSPA’s support and the Association’s road safety advisor Kevin Clinton is canvassing the views of road safety professionals on this subject.

Currently the law does not set a minimum age for pillion passengers – though it does require that only one pillion passenger is carried and that she/he must be sitting astride the bike on a proper seat behind the rider. Construction and use regulations require ‘suitable supports or rests for the feet’ of the passenger. In addition, the Highway Code says that the passenger ‘should keep both feet on the footrests’.

All this implies (but does not specify) that any pillion passenger must be tall enough for their feet to touch the footrests. The law also states that only riders who have passed the motorcycle test can carry a passenger.

"Should we support a call for an age restriction for pillion passengers, and if so at what age?" Kevin Clinton asks. "Or should we suggest that the law be clarified but without setting an age restriction? Such clarification could include a specific requirement that the passenger's feet be able to reach the footrests. It could also include restrictions on the type of rider who could carry passengers - for example, those that have held a full motorcycle licence for a period of time, or those over 21 years of age."

Anyone with a view is invited to contact Kevin Clinton, KClinton@ROSPA.com.

Southend breaks 1000 trained cyclists barrier
Southend on Sea’s Road Safety Team recently celebrated the first year that over 1000 children received cyclist training in the unitary authority.

Training figures have risen from 316 in 1999 to over 1,150 this year.

"This is down to the efforts put in by our team of instructors who work hard all year round to give these children a lesson for life," said Southend’s road safety officer, Keith Gammon. The mobile cyclist training unit, introduced in 2001, has proved to be a valuable asset in achieving this figure."

To mark the occasion, the 1,000th child was presented with top price tickets for a Southend United football match during the coming season. The mayor and mayoress of Southend made the presentation at a special assembly at Chalkwell Hall Junior School.

For further information contact Keith Gammon on 01702 215338 or keithgammon@southend.gov.uk.

Phillip Darnton appointed new NCSB chair
Phillip Darnton, the former chairman and chief executive of Raleigh, is to be the new chair of the National Cycling Strategy Board (NCSB). Mr Darnton replaces Steven Norris, who chaired the Board since it was created in September 2001, but recently stood down to campaign to be mayor of London.

Following his retirement from Raleigh in May 2003 Mr Darnton became president of the Bicycle Association, which represents manufacturers, distributors and retailers of bicycles and accessories.

"Phillip Darnton has brought this experience to bear in his work with the Board to date and developed the Bike Hub levy, through which the cycle industry is looking to contribute more than £250,000 to the future of cycling," said transport minister Kim Howells.

The NCSB is tasked with advising on the aim to increase levels of cycling. This involves co-ordinating and integrating contributions from all relevant sectors and assessing progress towards all NCS targets. The NCSB has overall responsibility for the recommendation of policy, advice and guidance to local government and Government departments on increasing cycling. It is also responsible for proposing revision to the NCS in the light of wider developments.

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

Could your fleet policy save you money?
The DfT’s TransportEnergy BestPractice programme has announced plans for a series of free seminars for organisations that manage vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes.

The seminar, Putting Fleet Policy into Practice 2004, is designed to provide fleet decision makers with information on how to create and implement a fleet policy that takes account of both environment and health and safety issues - and that saves money.

The seminar will be of particular relevance to fleet managers from both public and private sector organisations, but will also be of interest to senior management - particularly finance and HR directors, who deal with staff and financial issues.

The TransportEnergy BestPractice programme is a key part of the Government’s commitment to encouraging organisations to run their fleets more efficiently.

The seminars are being held at the following three locations:

1 September - The Church House, London
21 September - Thinktank, Birmingham
5 October - Hilton Sheffield Hotel, Sheffield

For further information email transport@aeat.co.uk quoting Putting Fleet Policy into Practice 2004 in the subject line. The deadline for registration is Friday 20 August.