Plea for time trial as clocks go back

RoSPA has urged the Government to allow a three year time trial which would give Britain lighter evenings all year round - saving about 450 deaths and serious injuries annually on roads in the UK.

Under the current system, road casualty rates increase after the clocks are turned back and the weather worsens. In 2003, road deaths rose from 256 in October to 316 in November. Pedestrian deaths increased by more than 50 per cent.

A Bill from MP Nigel Beard is currently before the House of Commons and proposes advancing the time by one hour in England and Wales, giving the power to Scotland and Northern Ireland to make their own decisions.

Further information is available at www.rospa.org.uk/CMS.

Winter Visibility crackdown

Norfolk road safety officers are targeting motorcyclists reluctant to wear 'uncool' high visibility jackets in a new initiative called Winter Visibility (Evening News, 26 Oct).

The initiative will run from 31 October to 14 November to coincide with the clocks going back, and highlights the risks being run by bikers who prefer black leathers to bright clothes.

The number of fatalities increases with the change in daylight hours and the bad winter weather. 53 people have died so far this year on Norfolk's roads and 10 of those were motorcyclists.

Back off!, says Kent & Medway Partnership

The Kent & Medway Safety Camera Partnership has produced a free car sticker to help reduce the problem of tailgating.

The sticker, which says 'I'm keeping my speed down', also displays the camera partnership logo, website address and the Partnership character Syril the snail.

"We often hear from drivers who say they stick within the speed limit but feel constantly threatened by drivers 'sitting' directly behind them in an attempt to push them to go faster," explained Rachel Moon, communications and promotions officer. "They say the only way they feel they can escape the threat is to speed up. This not only means they might end up breaking the law but that if they do have a crash their injuries will be a lot more severe."

For more information contact Rachel Moon: Rachel.moon@kent.gov.uk.

Israel calls on UK for examples of good road safety

Hertfordshire County Council recently played host to an Israeli TV crew that was filming examples of good practice in road safety.

The crew spoke to councillor Roy Clements for an elected member's view and senior road safety officer Claire Hall fielded questions about education and engineering measures. TV reporter Haim Hecht also visited mobile safety camera operations in Hertford.

The film is for a programme called License to Kill, the Israeli equivalent to Trevor McDonald's current affairs show.

Further information is available from Claire Hall: claire.hall@hertscc.gov.uk.

West Midlands considers removing cameras

The West Midland's Casualty Reduction Partnership is considering removing 12 safety cameras that don't meet the DfT's criteria for site selection (Local Transport Today, 21 Oct).

The cameras were installed before criteria relating to issues such as accident record and vehicle speed was published in 2002. Three sites in Coventry and Solihull have been recommended for removal because of problems with visibility. Evidence is being collected at the other nine sites.

The Partnership is in the process of implementing an extra 20 cameras at sites that do meet the Government's specifications.

And finally...

Footie fans at high crash risk

Returning from a football match on Saturdays could be dangerous for fans' health, research by the RAC Foundation suggests. And the risk is even greater for fans who have watched their team suffer a defeat.

More motorists are killed or seriously injured between 5pm and 8pm on Saturdays than in the same period on any other day. The study suggests contributory factors are tiredness, inattention and alcohol. Weary shoppers returning home are also at risk. The only other time more dangerous for motorists is between 4pm and 7pm on Fridays.

Canadian research found car crash deaths rose 41 per cent following Super Bowl games, with more accidents happening to fans of the losing team.

"It is no coincidence that the sort of people who most commonly watch or play sport are young men, and they are the most over-represented group in road collisions and fatalities," explained Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation. "The excitement of the game may leave the individual in a winner or loser mood - neither of these mix well with driving and these feelings can be heightened by alcohol."