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LARSOA members favour brand review
A majority of respondents think LARSOA should change its logo, but there is less support for changing the Association's name - these are the key outcomes from an informal consultation exercise.

158 people completed the online survey, of whom 111 are employed by LARSOA member authorities.

49% of respondents said they are happy with the name LARSOA, with 36% preferring a change and 15% unsure. However, when asked if the Association should consider changing its name 60% answered 'yes'.

There was stronger support for changing the logo/brand, with 70% in favour.

The consultation exercise was conducted by the LARSOA communications and website project team. The team will consider the results more fully when it next meets in October, and then report to the Association's P&M Committee.

Members will be kept informed of progress via this newsfeed.

Derbyshire publishes pedestrian training report

Derbyshire County Council has published the results of a study it has conducted into pedestrian skills training in schools.

Eight road safety teams participated by completing the questionnaire, which covered topics ranging from the ratio of staff to schools, the school year groups involved and the number and length of training sessions.

"We had a larger than expected number of responses, and have found the data gathered to be very valuable," says the report's author Karen Bates, assistant RSO with Derbyshire County Council.

To download a copy of the report click here .

For further information contact Karen Bates on 01629 580000, or Karen.Bates@Derbyshire.gov.uk.

Drivers and passengers 'risking necks', says Brake

Nine out of 10 drivers and passengers are putting their necks - and lives - at risk, according to a report released last week by Brake, the road safety charity.

More than half of the 2,100 adults questioned said they never adjust their head restraint - and almost two-thirds didn't have a clue how high to set it for safety.

And 90% of drivers and passengers admitted they do not adjust their head restraint every time they get in a vehicle.

Adjusting a head restraint can help prevent whiplash, which can cause permanent spinal damage and even death in the event of a crash.

According to Brake, whiplash is responsible for causing injuries to more than 200,000 people a year, with 2,000 suffering a permanent disability.

Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, said: "We should all make the effort to train ourselves to adjust our head restraints automatically, every time we get in a vehicle."

For further information contact Dianne Ferreira on 01484 559909.

Cash boost for Bradford STPs
More pupils in Bradford are being urged to walk or cycle to school after the district has been given a grant to help set up new eco-friendly travel plans.

Bradford Council has scooped £153,098 from the Department for Education and Skills for travel plans at 29 primary schools and Midland Road nursery - the first nursery in Bradford to write a travel plan.

The money will go towards bicycle shelters, pedestrian shelters and entrances, and walking and cycling buses.

The aim is to cut the number of cars outside school gates and reduce congestion during rush hour, which will also have a positive effect on the environment.

Paul Hart, Bradford's school travel adviser, said: "This means we now have 111 school travel plans in Bradford. More and more schools are coming on board and we are well on the way to meeting the Government target for all schools to have plans by 2010."

For further information contact Paul Hart on 01274 434613.

One-stop-shop safety website launched
A new 'one-stop-shop' website has been launched - bringing together agencies, charities and businesses to deliver safety education.

"Our aim is to collate existing educational resources from emergency services and other agencies from around the country and present it on the site for use free of charge by teachers, service personnel and others," explains Liz Rhodes, education development officer with Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service. "We encourage educationalists to visit the site and give us honest feedback."

For further information contact Liz Rhodes on 0118 932 2761, or liz@staywise.co.uk, or go to www.staywise.co.uk

Herts speeders offered course

Some drivers caught speeding in Hertfordshire are to be offered a training course rather than points and a fine.

The six-hour classroom and practical course, run by Hertfordshire's road safety team, is designed to improve driving skills, attitude and behaviour. The course costs £100 and replaces the £60 fixed fine and three penalty points on the licence.

For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/5170110.stm

Drivers accused of cycle rage

Drivers who resent cyclists' ability to dodge traffic could be behind a series of attacks on riders in and around Oxford, according to the cycling group Cyclox.

In the latest incident, last Monday, a 26-year-old man sustained bruising and cuts to his knees, elbows and hips when he was shoved from his bike in Abingdon.

Cyclox spokesperson, James Styring, said: "There are more people taking to their bikes because of summer and maybe motorists get annoyed with their ability to skip traffic queues.

"Although it may seem like an amusing summer activity driving along and pushing people off their bikes, if someone breaks their neck you could be facing a murder charge."

For the full story go to; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/5171552.stm

Sat-nav making rural roads busier
According to insurer NFU Mutual, the growing popularity of in-car satellite navigation systems has brought an influx of traffic to rural villages and country lanes as drivers attempt to find short cuts around traffic jams.

NFU Mutual says this extra traffic is adding to the risk of accidents in the countryside - and is calling on drivers to be aware of the risks on rural lanes, and asking people to adjust their driving behaviour accordingly.

According to the farm insurer, most motorists believe rural roads are safer than motorways and urban roads. However, NFU Mutual points to a DFT survey showing that 64% of road accident fatalities occur on rural roads.

For the full story go to: http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2006/07/06/96084/Rural+Road+are+busier+-+and+more+dangerous.html

IAM to host driver safety conference
The IAM is to host a conference focusing on driver safety at Brunel University on 6 September.

From Research to Policy and Practice will bring together leading road safety, traffic and transport researchers to discuss research that can be readily assimilated into driver training and practice, and road transportation policy.

Click here to download the conference agenda and registration form (IAM Conference Invite.pdf).

Or for further details contact Linda Paul on 01895 266506.

Poets rewarded

Young people from Gwent who won awards for road safety poems collected their prizes at County Hall, Cwmbran on 21 June.

The theme this year was the 'school run', and the competition attracted 270 junior and 141 senior entries.

The winners in each of the two categories received a cheque for £100, with £50 each for the two runners up. The winners' schools also received £50.

For further information contact Helen Davidson on 01633 463377 or 07876 356275

French authorities promise crackdown
British drivers found guilty of traffic offences in France face having their cars impounded by French authorities - who complain that foreign drivers think they can get away with speeding and reckless driving.

Under the crackdown, police will be given powers to hold cars unless spot fines of up to £260 are paid. The penalties will rise 'significantly' the longer a car is impounded, the French Transport Ministry has warned. In the worst cases, drivers will not be able to recover their cars until a French judge says they can.

Last year four million British motorists were caught offending on the other side the Channel.

For the full story go to: http://www.injurywatch.co.uk/news-and-groups/news/road-traffic-accidents/driving-abroad-break-road-laws-in-france-and-your-car-will-be-siezed-8761953/

PACTS survey will shape future policy
PACTS is keen for road safety officers to become involved in a research project that will shape road safety policy.

Beyond 2010 is a broad-ranging analysis of the future issues that will shape road safety policy. It aims to highlight the key areas where action is needed to continue the UK's excellent work in reducing death and injury on our roads.

PACTS invites RSOs to have their say about future priorities for road safety by completing a short online survey before 31 August 2006. The results will inform the discussion and recommendations made in the final report.

To complete the survey go to: www.pacts.org.uk/beyond2010