OTHER
NEWS IN BRIEF - W/C 5 JULY 2004  |
Don't drive tired returns
to airwaves
The latest burst of THINK! radio advertising highlighting
the importance of not driving when tired begins on Monday 5 July.
One in five road accidents on motorways and other monotonous roads
is caused by someone falling asleep at the wheel.
The latest campaign once again focuses on 'microsleeps' –
the brief doze that can be fatal. Microsleeps last between two
and 30 seconds and normally occur when a driver is tired but trying
to stay awake.
More @ http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
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MBE
for Scottish road safety professional
Jim Truscott, North Lanarkshire Council’s senior
road safety education officer, was awarded an MBE in the recent
Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Jim
has worked in road safety in Scotland for over 30 years - in a
range of practical and management roles.
In
addition to his work in the local authority he has been involved
with most of the national road safety organisations.
He
is a past chair of IRSO in Scotland. In his work with IRSO he
assisted in the successful campaign to achieve statutory responsibility
for road safety. During his time as chair of the SRSC he played
a leading role in the development of a national strategy for road
safety education in Scotland.
In recent times his work has taken has him to Africa to assist
in the development of road safety in Zambia.
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Northern
Ireland drugs-driving figures shock
Incidents of drug driving in Northern Ireland have more than
doubled since 1997 and the menace has been described as a ‘ticking
time-bomb’ which threatens road-users across Ulster.
A meeting of Omagh District Policing Partnership last week heard
police connect the problem to the soaring levels of drink driving
and call for greater awareness of the issue. There were 82 cases
of drug-driving last year - up from 39 in 1997. And the number of
detections is likely to rise as police introduce specialist equipment
for roadside drug testing.
The figures include those using prescription drugs inappropriately.
Omagh inspector Billy Williams said this was a particular
problem when mixed with alcohol. "People may not be taking
(prescription) drugs to the extent they are unfit to drive, but
they are mixing it with alcohol and this is very dangerous,"
he said.
He added that 91 per cent of positive alcohol samples taken from
drivers had an ‘impairing drug’ that exacerbated the effect
of the drink.
More @ http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk |
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Summer
drink drive campaign coincides with Euro 2004
The Lancashire Road Safety Project launched its summer drink
drive campaign to coincide with the Euro 2004 kick off. The campaign
urged football fans to leave their car at home and plan transport.
Posters promoting this message were distributed to pubs across Lancashire.
Football is the most popular sport among young males in the north
of England and recent figures show that young men under 30 have
the most drink-drive related crashes. June is also the month when
more drink drive convictions occur - perhaps due to the combination
of the sunny weather, barbecues, booze and football.
"We wanted people to enjoy themselves but to Think! ahead and
make arrangements for getting home such as a taxi, bus, lift from
a friend or walk," says the Project’s Cheryl Brown.
"Our aim is to educate the public that they shouldn’t
drink at all if they are driving. It is also important to be aware
of the morning after effect if drinking the night before."
Radio adverts advising listeners of the rate of alcohol dissipation
from the body, the morning after effect, the consequences of drinking
and driving were also aired prior to Euro 2004 matches, and the
morning after a match - focusing on the ‘you may still be over
the legal limit’ message.
The campaign will continue throughout the summer with the message
‘If you are staying out for the summer - stay out of the car
in the morning’.
For further information contact Cheryl Brown, cheryl.brown@env.lancscc.gov.uk |
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RoSPA
seeks to make high performance car drivers safer
RoSPA has signed up a team of driving instructors to concentrate
on high-performance car buyers. The aim is to link with manufacturers
to give customers one-to-one instruction on how to get maximum enjoyment
from their vehicles. The team can also be called in by fleet managers
or individuals.
As well as making people more capable and safer drivers, specialist
advice will help them to understand the car's full potential. On-road
and track sessions will be used to ensure they can enjoy their vehicle's
full handling and technical capabilities.
"We have set up a team of 10 people based around the country
who are all trained to the highest RoSPA and Driving Standards Agency
levels," says Charles Davis, RoSPA
head of driver and fleet solutions.
"We want manufacturers to take advantage of RoSPA's expertise
by offering our tuition as part of their sales package. But we are
also happy to deal with fleet managers or individuals. Our team
will liase with customers so that training can be tailor-made to
each person's needs."
For further information contact Roger Vincent,
RVincent@ROSPA.com. |
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Saab
unveils alcohol lock-out concept to discourage drink driving
Saab is developing a unique, miniature alcohol-sensing device that
will encourage drivers to observe drunk-driving laws.
The Saab Alcokey includes a small mouthpiece in the car’s
key fob. A transponder communicates with the car’s electronic
control unit, immobilising the engine if a driver’s breath
sample is found to contain alcohol above the permitted level.
The device could be made available as an accessory through Saab
dealers, and is currently under evaluation and development in response
to increasing concern about drunk-driving among companies responsible
for operating large vehicle fleets.
Tests with a prototype for the Saab 9-5 model are expected to verify
its reliability and accuracy. The concept is intended as a convenient
and inexpensive means of measuring a driver’s alcohol level
without the need to install more costly, fixed apparatus inside
the car. In commercial production the Alcokey would cost around
£165.
Saab believes that many companies operating large car fleets, with
employees driving a great deal on business, are anxious to demonstrate
their social responsibility by having an alcohol-monitoring device
fitted as standard. In some countries it may even become mandatory
to fit them. |
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Euro
NCAP test shows cars still fail to protect pedestrians
Car manufacturers are still failing to offer adequate pedestrian
protection in the event of a crash, according to the RAC and motoring
experts.
Some models received only one or two-star ratings for pedestrian
safety in the latest batch of results from the European New Car
Assessment crash- test Programme (Euro NCAP).
The RAC says it is ‘concerned by the slow progress of some
manufacturers on pedestrian safety’. RAC Foundation executive
director Edmund King added: "If some cars can achieve three
stars for pedestrian safety then other manufacturers should be making
a greater effort to catch up."
Andrew Howard,
head of road safety for the AA Motoring Trust, said motorists tended
to put themselves first. "If the star system cannot create
market demand for cars to protect others we will have to get Europe
to legislate for it," he said.
Roger Dowden,
head of the school of automotive engineering at Swansea Institute
of Higher Education, agreed. "The fact that so many 4x4s on
the school run still sport bull bars - probably the most dangerous
device in this context - means that it is likely to be the legislative
approach that will be most successful in improving the Euro NCAP
pedestrian safety rating across the board."
More encouragingly, the latest figures showed that of the 12 vehicles
tested, eight achieved the maximum five stars for occupant protection.
Three others got four stars and the remaining vehicle got three
stars. Among the five-star vehicles were two open-top convertibles
- the Saab 9-3 and the Renault Megane CC.
Although the Saab 9-3 convertible took five stars for occupant protection,
it scored only one star for pedestrian safety. The Vauxhall Astra
and the Fiat Doblo also got only one star for pedestrian protection.
More @ http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk |
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Derbyshire
launches SCP recruitment campaign
Derbyshire County Council has launched a campaign to recruit
school crossing patrols to fill vacancies around the county. The
council has 312 crossing locations and currently has 37 vacancies.
As part of the campaign, posters will be sent to parish, borough
and district councils, schools and libraries to highlight the need
for new recruits. They will also be put up at bus shelters on main
routes around the county and radio advertisements will run on local
stations during the four-week campaign.
"Derbyshire’s school crossing patrols provide an invaluable
community service in helping our youngsters cross busy roads safely,"
said county council cabinet member for public protection and transport
Councillor Walter Burrows
(pictured). "We are keen to fill vacancies and establish a
bank of deputy patrols to provide relief cover. It is a great chance
for people to help their local community and meet new people, while
earning some extra money."
Further information about the campaign can be obtained from Catriona
Cummings, catriona.cummings@derbyshire.gov.uk |
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‘Spike’
helps promote Child Safety Week in Peterborough
To help promote Child Safety Week (21-28 June), Peterborough
City Council arranged for Spike
the hedgehog to make a special appearance at Beeches Primary School,
Peterborough.
Peterborough City Council’s RSOs used Child Safety Week to
highlight a number of key road safety messages for children and
parents, through pedestrian training, to reduce child casualties.
Some 40 schools participated in this year’s pedestrian training
scheme, which is now in its fourth year. "Pedestrian training
involves a short walk around the local area, in the street and outside
the school, to introduce basic rules of the road to help children
stay safe on their journey to school," says Clair
George, RSO. "Throughout the
training the basic messages, Stop, Look and Listen are explained
and a strong emphasis is placed on the importance of holding hands.
Parental involvement is paramount as they can set a good example
to their children." |
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£200
prize for road safe student
A student has won £200 towards driving lessons from Lancashire
County Council's Road Safety Group.
Toby Elles,
16, a sixth form A/S level student from Lancaster won the prize
after seeing the Group's Theatre in Education production Never
Saw the Day. The road safety drama looks at the issue of speed,
peer pressure and the lasting effects of a road crash on a group
of friends.
Students were asked to fill out a questionnaire before and after
the performance to gain feedback on their attitudes to driving and
whether the performance had any effect on them. Toby's questionnaire
was picked out from thousands of entries.
"I really enjoyed the production, it made me think about the
cost of speeding, not only to yourself but to others around you,"
said Toby, a theatre studies student. "Never Saw the Day has
really enforced driving safely, something that I will take with
me when I'm out on the road."
Students who saw Never Saw the Day also received a '1 in 5' booklet,
which reminds them that they have a one in five chance of having
a crash within the first year of driving.
For further information contact: Neil
Graham, neil.graham@css.lancscc.gov.uk |
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Doctors
'to put brake on drivers'
People with long-term health problems and those on regular medication
could soon be ordered to stop driving.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is drawing up guidelines
on who should be allowed to get behind the wheel of a car and who
should not. It comes amid fears that some people could be putting
themselves and others at risk.
The move was announced at the BMA's annual conference in Llandudno.
Doctors are examining how various health conditions affect a person's
ability to drive. They are also looking at the impact of medicines,
ranging from painkillers to powerful anti-cancer drugs.
"We are thinking directly about illnesses and indirectly about
the drugs that are used to treat illnesses," said Dr
Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA’s
head of science and ethics. "We are also looking at self-medication
for simple illnesses like hay fever - whether people who are taking
them are fit to drive, how they can assess that, and how they can
be helped to understand the law."
The guidelines will also look at the impact of illicit drugs, like
cannabis and cocaine, on a person's ability to drive. "We will
look at how much cannabinoids affect ability to drive and how long
those effects last," said Dr Nathanson.
The BMA hopes the guidelines will help GPs and other doctors to
give patients better advice on when they should and should not drive.
They also hope it will encourage more people not to get behind the
wheel if they have taken powerful medication or illicit drugs.
More @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3850953.stm |
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Cycle
safety magazine – deadline for summer issue looms
The summer edition of Cheshire Road Safety Unit’s cycle
safety magazine for Year 7 pupils is about to go to print –
the deadline for orders is Friday 9 July.
The Zone is described as a colourful, lively magazine that
provides information, activities and advice on safer cycling for
younger teenagers. Topics covered include bike maintenance, helmets
and clothing, cycling behaviour and planning safer routes.
It is an ideal resource to support Year 6 cycle training programmes,
Safer Routes to School projects, after school projects (guides/scouts
road safety badge, etc) or as induction/transition material for
children moving on to secondary school in September.
Prices range from 34p per copy for orders of up to 1000, to 30p
for orders over 5000 – plus postage and packing.
For further information or to place an order contact, zoneorders@masonsgroup.com |
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Pub
goers face road safety quiz questions
Pub quiz competitors in Lincolnshire have been advised to brush
up on their road safety knowledge if they plan to take part in quizzes
in the region.
Local road safety officers have come up with a database of questions
based on knowledge of the Highway Code, believed to be the first
of its type. Members of the North Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership
hope the scheme will educate motorists on laws and regulations they
may be breaking - sometimes inadvertently. They believe the scheme
is unique in the UK and are encouraging questionmasters to get in
touch with them.
"We hope people will go away and brush up on their knowledge
of the Highway Code," said Pete
Scott, North Lincolnshire Council's
traffic and road safety manager. "It's simple stuff but I'm
sure many people who take part in these quizzes will get caught
out."
Anyone who runs a quiz and would like to receive the road safety
questions can contact PC Rob Hindmarsh
on (01724) 282888.
More @ http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk
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