..presenting road safety across the UK


OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF - W/C 10 MAY 2004

Tackling obesity requires change in travel habits, says medical chief
The Government’s chief medical officer has called on people to reduce car use as part of a strategy to tackle the ‘obesity epidemic’ affecting the country (Local Transport Today, 6 May).

Launching a new action plan to tackle the problem that now afflicts almost a quarter of adults in England, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson said that the easiest way for people to get fit was by incorporating changes into everyday life, such as walking or cycling instead of driving.

The Government’s obesity strategy recommends that adults should undertake at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on five or more days a week, and children should undertake 60 minutes of such activity a day.

The strategy cites National Travel Survey data showing that total miles travelled by foot and by bicycle both fell by 26 per cent between 1975/76 and 1999/2001.
Cycle helmets Bill scuppered
MPs have sunk a plan that would have made it illegal for a child to ride a bicycle without wearing a cycle helmet (Local Transport Today, 6 May).

There were too few MPs present in the Commons to complete the second reading of the Protective headgear for young cyclists private member’s Bill.

The draft legislation has now been held over until 18 June but is ninth in the list of private member’s Bills scheduled for that date. Normally only the first three Bills stand a chance of being read.

The Bill, tabled by Carlisle Labour MP Eric Martlew, would have made it illegal for a child under 16 years old to ride a bike in a public place without wearing a helmet. The parent or guardian deemed responsible for the child would face a £200 fine.
Cycle hemets – clarification
In last week’s issue (3 May) we published an item on compulsory cycle helmet wearing, which stated that ‘nearly two-thirds of the public support’ a proposed new law, according to a survey published by the road safety charity Brake. Roy Buchanan, RSO for the London Borough of Sutton feels that ‘this is not accurate’.

"The figure is two-thirds of those people who responded to the Brake survey on this issue," Roy Buchanan said in an email to our editorial office. "There were 9256 replies, of which two-thirds - i.e. 6170 - indicated they would support the introduction of a law making it compulsory for children to wear cycle helmets. To extrapolate the survey result to the public in general could be unwise," he added.

Roy Buchanan can be contacted by email, roy.buchanan@sutton.gov.uk.
Edinburgh says car-free day is ‘a gimmick’
The City of Edinburgh Council will not hold another car-free festival this September to mark European car-free day, despite holding an event in each of the last two years (Local Transport Today, 6 May).

"I’m not interested in a one-off gimmick," council leader Donald Anderson told the Edinburgh Evening News. "In future I would be more enthusiastic about doing something more imaginative with our resources to encourage people to use alternatives to the car."
Occupational road risk – information required from RSOs
At the DfT Road Safety Champions meeting on 26 April, it was decided that LARSOA would investigate practices and resources used across the country with regard to occupational road risk.

To assist with this process, RSOs are being asked to answer the following three questions:-

1 What are you doing, if anything, within your local authority with regard to occupational road risk?

2 What occupational road risk resources are you using in your authority?

3 What do you feel would be the key messages for publicity materials - displays, posters, leaflets etc - that the DfT could supply?

Replies are being requested as soon as possible please to: liz.barkwith@lewisham.gov.uk.
RoSPA unveils details of Young Driver of the Year 2004 competition
In recent years RoSPA has become increasingly involved in the Young Driver of the Year competition, and the Association is the principal organiser for the 2004 event.

The competition has been running since 1992 in memory of Catherine Kenyon who was tragically killed in 1990 by a 21 year-old driver, who had been involved in a race with a motorcyclist earlier the same night. The competition aims to raise young people’s awareness about the deaths and injuries caused by and to young drivers under the age of 25.

The competition moved to Silverstone in 1995 and the final has been held there ever since. Having started out as a small locally supported event, the competition has grown into a national event – thanks largely to the prestigious venue for its final round.

Young Driver of the Year is open to all 18 - 25 year olds who hold a full British driving licence and comprises regional heats from which 40 entrants progress to participate in the final at Silverstone. The final is made up of four stages: a one-hour road drive, a 200-question theory test, and a manoeuvring and skid control exercise. An overall winner and runner-up emerge, together with the best teenager(s) and highest scoring contestants in the respective final stages.

"We want to achieve as much nationwide coverage as possible," says RoSPA’s Sophie Kelly, who is co-ordinating the event. "RSOs can help by displaying posters or having leaflets available for young people to pick up and apply to take part in the competition.

Literature and further information can be obtained from Sophie Kelly, 0121 2482143, skelly@rospa.com.
BUSK publishes school bus evacuation guide
Safe Exit!, a guide to organising an emergency evacuation drill of a school bus, has been published by BUSK (Belt Up School Kids).

The guide advises on the outside agencies that should be involved, and different aspects that should be brought into the drill to show pupils how to behave on the school bus journey.

According to BUSK, several road safety departments have trialled the evacuation drill procedures and achieved positive results in terms of changing attitudes of schoolchildren and giving them a better understanding of how to keep safe.

Safe Exit! costs £4.70 (include VAT and P & P) and further information can be obtained from BUSK, on 01633 274944 or busk.beltupschoolkids@btopenworld.com.
Company car reforms cut motoring miles
 Reforms to the company car system introduced in April 2002 reduced car mileage in 2003 by 300-400 million miles, research undertaken by the Inland Revenue estimates (Local Transport Today, 6 May).

The old company car system offered tax incentives to drive more miles because drivers were liable to pay more income tax the less they drove the car. The new system provides financial incentives for employers and company car drivers to choose cars that produce lower levels of carbon dioxide emissions.
European politicians meet to discuss road safety
The Swedish Parliament is hosting an EU road safety conference in Stockholm on 10-11 May for politicians from the EU and the European Parliament.

Sweden is seen as a model for its road safety efforts, and minister Ulrica Messing will be presenting the Government’s work to achieve the country’s road safety goals. MPs from Ireland, France and Poland will also be giving an account of road safety efforts in their respective countries. Representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament will speak about what can and should be done at Community level.

The conference will be conducted in English and French, with simultaneous interpretation to and from these languages, and can be followed on webcam at http://www.riksdagen.se/english/work/press/200304