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ROAD
SAFETY NEWS - WEEK COMMENCING 17 NOVEMBER
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DfT poised
to unveil speeds framework
Highway authorities hope that the DfT is shortly to provide news
of its long awaited national framework for assessing appropriate
speed limits for different roads (Surveyor, 6 November).
Ministers have promised to publish the framework by the end of
the year but this now appears unlikely. However, roads minister
David Jamieson was expected to use a CSS and Institution
of Highways and Transportation rural road safety seminar on 13
November to provide a significant update on the framework’s
development.
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HA
and DfT publish winter driving advice
Advice to help drivers to travel safely on the roads this winter
was launched last week by the Highways Agency and DfT’s THINK!
campaign.
Drivers are being advised to follow these six key safe driving messages
during the winter months:
1. The British winter is unpredictable. If you must drive
during severe weather, make sure you are prepared for the conditions.
2. Check local and national weather forecasts. Listen to
travel information on radio.
3. Take care around gritters and snowploughs. Don't be tempted
to overtake snowploughs by squeezing into partially cleared lanes.
4. It can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions.
Allow extra room to slow down and stop.
5. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Manoeuvre
gently and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. If you start to
skid, gently ease off the accelerator and try to avoid braking.
If braking becomes necessary, brake very gently.
6. When driving in snow make sure you're equipped with warm
clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade.
Further information is contained in the new 'Winter Driving' leaflet
for 2003, jointly published by the DfT and the HA, and available
on the HA and THINK! websites. It advises drivers on how to cope
with the worst winter weather conditions on the roads, and offers
advance notice of major maintenance work taking place over the coming
months.
More @ http://www.highways.gov.uk/news |
'Black
boxes' for cars to improve road safety
The Irish government has launched plans to improve driving safety
with a nationwide car crash information network, which could ultimately
be extended across the European Union.
Working with technology and service providers Safety Intelligence
Systems (SIS) and IBM, the project is to allow airline-style ‘black
boxes’ embedded in automobiles to instantly transmit crash
data to a centralised database, allowing emergency services to respond
to accidents much more quickly.
Vehicle manufacturers, insurers and other organisations would also
have access to the data, which could be valuable for insurance claim
investigation, automobile design and monitoring of commercial fleets
- but also raises questions around privacy.
More @ file:///new%20ibook/Documents |
Rally
stars given driving bans
Four of the world's top rally drivers have been banned from driving
after being caught in speed traps in south Wales during the British
leg of the world championships last year.
German Armin Schwarz, Belgian Freddy Loix,
Swede Daniel Carlsson and Briton Kris Meeke
were all handed suspensions by magistrates in Neath on 10 November.
Britain's Colin McRae and Richard Burns
were also among a total of 17 drivers caught by roadside cameras.
They escaped bans but were given fines.
More @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/wales/3257523.stm. |
Drought
hit roads crack up
The state of drought hit cracked and deformed roads is worsening
by the day as highways authorities prepare to present the DfT with
a multi-million pound repair bill (Surveyor 6 November).
The unusually dry summer has caused soil to shrink across large
parts of England, causing highways to crack and collapse. Fenland
areas in the east of England with clay soils prone to moisture loss
have suffered most, with Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Essex,
Hertfordshire, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire all reporting problems.
Authorities are typically facing additional costs of around £1m
but Peterborough, which has done more work than most in assessing
the harm done, estimates £2.4m will be required. |
Groups
demand walking strategy
Transport Minister Kim Howells has been pressed to
swiftly publish a walking strategy for England and set up a national
walking board to guide its implementation.
The Ramblers Association, Living Streets and the London Walking
Forum have presented themselves as a ‘shadow walking board’
keen to help Mr Howells, the minister responsible for walking, with
the strategy’s formation.
These groups slammed the DfT earlier this year for only publishing
a discussion paper on walking rather than a strategy, as promised
six years ago. |
RoSPA
launches new website for fleet managers
RoSPA has launched a new website specifically designed for fleet
managers.
The Driver and Fleet Solutions site - www.rospa.com/drivertraining
– is RoSPA’s direct route to safer, cost-effective fleet
management. |
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