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Teams support Be Safe Be Seen

Two more road safety teams are supporting the THINK! Be Safe Be Seen campaign.

Life FM radio station joined forces with Peterborough RSOs at an event that included interactive activities and a guest appearance from 'Spike' the road safety mascot.

Peterborough City Council's cycling officer, Toria Leeds said: "There are lots of fun high visibility products available, including flashing led pedals that will appeal to teenagers."

Visit www.pedalite.com for more information about the LED pedals.

Hampshire's RSOs teamed up with six Asda stores for their event during half term.

Children and parents were greeted by hedgehog advertising and encouraged to look around the store to win fluorescent and reflective goodies.

Bracknell runs Motorwise

Bracknell Forest Borough Council partnered Berkshire Association of Clubs for Young People recently to run a free Motorwise day for youngsters aged 16 years and over.

40 teenagers attended the event, which set out to reduce the number of young drivers involved in traffic related incidents by raising awareness of the hazards new drivers face, and highlighting the effects of road crashes on families and communities.

The programme comprises five workshops - road safety, honest 'Arry, first at the scene, streetwise and basic maintenance/practical driving. It also includes a driving practical, which enables the participant to experience first hand what it is like to operate a motor vehicle in controlled safe surroundings.  

For further information contact Chris Pickett, chris.pickett@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

SPECS cuts speeding by 87%  

The longest series of roadside cameras in Britain has reduced speeding on the A77 in Ayrshire by up to 87%.

Only 21 drivers have been caught speeding in the first three months of the system's operation and there has been just one accident resulting in death or serious injury - compared to three last year.

The £775,000 Speed Enforcement Camera System (SPECS) uses 15 linked cameras to track vehicles over stretches of a 29-mile section of the Glasgow to Stranraer route.

The Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership says the number of drivers breaking the speed limit on dual carriageway sections has fallen by 87%, and speeding on single carriageways has reduced by 78%.

20 people have been killed and 95 seriously injured on the same section of the road in the five years to December 2004.

For full article go to: http://news.scotsman.com

Lancashire teenagers targeted

Lancashire's road safety group is utilising the DfT's THINK! teenage poster campaign, which shows step-by-step shots of the impact when a car hits a young person.

"Pedestrian casualties peak at about age 12, so it is vital that parents continue talking to their children about road safety and educate them on how to stay safe on the roads," said Clare Farrer , principal road safety adviser. "With many young people making longer journeys to their new secondary schools, road safety is important particularly during the transition from primary to secondary school."

For further information contact Stephen Axon on 01772 533194, or stephen.axon@css.lancscc.gov.uk

Students benefit from STP work

Students from Ferryhill Business & Enterprise College in County Durham are reaping the rewards from a school travel plan that they helped developed.

The college site has benefited from approximately £50,000 of improvements, which include an improved road crossing, cycle park and path, improved lighting and designated bus bays.

For further information contact Noreen Youll on 0191 383 5592 or Noreen.Youll@durham.gov.uk

Frown for speeding drivers

South Lanarkshire Council has introduced Smiley the electronic sign to raise awareness that drivers need to slow down around schools.

The speed activated sign measures the speed of approaching vehicles and rewards good drivers with a smile and speeding drivers with a frown, while also displaying their speed.

"The 'Smiley' sign does have a serious message but it is also fun and we hope drivers will be raising a smile in more ways than one as they pass the sign," says Lorraine Hare , school travel co-ordinator.

Walking bus hat trick

Neville's Cross Primary School in County Durham is thought to be the first in the country to be operating three walking buses.

The school's first walking bus launched six months ago, and two more were launched last month to celebrate International Walk to School Week.

The council's road safety and school travel planning teams have supported the school in setting up the walking buses but the day to day running is carried out entirely by parents.

For further information contact Noreen Youll on 0191 383 5592, or Noreen.Youll@durham.gov.uk

Cameras save millions, partnership claims

Safety cameras in Northumbria have saved local health and emergency services millions of pounds over the past year, according to Northumbria Safety Camera Partnership's second annual report

The partnership says that fewer deaths and injuries at camera sites saved more than £8m - nearly double the amount received in fines in the past 12 months (£4.3m).

There were three fewer deaths, 18 fewer serious injuries and 27 fewer minor injuries at camera sites.

The number of people killed or injured at camera sites in the region has fallen by 22% in the last two years, compared with the two years before the partnership was formed.

The partnership says the introduction of forward facing speed cameras at seven sites across the region has had a marked effect on speeds.

For the full article go to: http://www.safespeedforlife.com

'Cool' reflective items launched

A new range of 'trendy' reflective items for cyclists and pedestrians was launched recently by Derbyshire based company Safety Reflectives.

The brightly coloured bags with a humorous logo are designed to appeal to all ages, but especially teenagers who like to be seen as 'cool'.

For more information visit www.safetyreflectives.com or contact Nigel May-Brown on 01773 550070.

IAM unveils safer roads conference

A one-day IAM conference to be held in March 2006 will review the role of the driver, and driver education, in achieving safer roads.

Safer Roads, Safer Drivers will explore ways that road safety could be improved and will include a debate on current road safety policy, and how to encourage safer driving. The road safety minister, Dr Stephen Ladyman , will give the keynote address at the start of the conference.

The conference will also look at why advanced driving saves lives, educating older and younger drivers, fleet driver training and how better road design can lead to safer driving.

For further information visit: www.thewaterfront.co.uk

Consultancy wins international cycle training contract

The sustainable transport consultancy, Transport Initiatives, has been awarded a contract to develop guidelines on the content and delivery of cycle skills education programmes in New Zealand. The contract has been awarded by the Health Sponsorship Council of New Zealand.

Transport Initiatives, which was established in January 2005 by nine former members of the English Regions Cycling Development Team (ERCDT), will carry out the work in partnership with New Zealand consultancy Francis and Cambridge.

The work involves reviewing current cyclist training in New Zealand, developing guidelines on standard content and delivery of programmes, and setting out recommendations on how these could be implemented. The work is to be completed by April 2006.

The project will be headed up by Ken Spence , who project managed the development of the National Standard and Guidelines for Child Cyclist Training .

For further information contact Ken Spence on 0113 2505369, or ken.spence@transport-initiatives.com

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