LARSOA conducts reader survey

The LARSOA website, which includes this road safety news service, is conducting a survey to find out what visitors think of the site.

"We're always keen to receive feedback in order to refine and improve the service we offer," says newsfeed editor Nick Rawlings. "We conducted a similar survey a couple of years ago and the findings were invaluable. It would be great if as many readers as possible could take a couple of minutes to complete the survey."

The survey can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com

The results will be published on this website early in 2007.

Scheme passes 50 schools landmark

Hargrave Park has become the 50th primary school to take part in Islington council's Walk Safer pedestrian training programme.

Islington's road safety team visited Year 4 children to talk about safe crossing strategies and then practice crossing the road safely. Topics included vehicle awareness, safe places to cross, how to cross between parked cars and dangers of distractions such as mobile phones.

Liz Wathen, road safety manager, said: "More than 2000 children from 50 different schools have taken part in the scheme since 2002 - and we are on course to have another 650 children in the programme by summer 2007."

For further information go to www.islington.gov.uk/roadsafety, or ring 020 7527 2061.

Survey shows support for refresher testing
A survey of commercial vehicle drivers and ordinary motorists, commissioned by Ryder Europe, shows 'overwhelming support' for periodic driver safety courses or refresher tests for all drivers.

56% of commercial drivers surveyed agreed that these measures would be useful for all drivers, and 62% felt that commercial drivers should take refresher tests or driver safety courses.

The drivers polled in the consumer survey were even more supportive with 63% agreeing that this would be beneficial for all drivers and 80% agreeing commercial drivers should be required to do so. 

Perhaps surprisingly, these measures were most popular with drivers aged between 17 and 20 - 75% of respondents thought all drivers (96% for commercial drivers) should be tested or retrained every 10 years.

For the full story go to: http://www.tnn.co.uk

Reflective company takes next step
A Leicestershire policeman who has developed a range of high visibility rucksack covers for cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians has launched a website for his products.

Mark Rodgers developed the rucksack cover and formed Creative Reflectives after dealing with road traffic accidents, and his own near miss experiences as a cyclist. "I realised that although I wear a high visibility jacket when cycling, the majority of my back was covered by my rucksack," he explains.

"During the website development we received fantastic feedback regarding the product quality and design, and we have also received a very positive independent product review from testedbybikers.com."

The website, http://www.creativereflectives.co.uk, was launched on 7 November and the company is now actively looking for retailers to stock its range.

Newsround runs hi-vis competition

A road safety competition on the CBBC Newsround website is giving children the chance to win high visibilty products from BrightKidz.

The competition was launched earlier this month, alongside information for children on how to be seen with fluorescent and reflective clothing, and runs until 29 November.

BrightKidz founder Alison Holland says: "It's great that the BBC is supporting the Be safe be seen message in this way and helping children realise that being seen can look good."

For details of the competition visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk For further information about Brightkidz contact Alison Holland on 01536 454994, or alison@safekidswalking.org.uk .

Young driver show moves to London
The 'hard hitting' young driver show Safe Drive, Stay Alive, which launched recently in the Thames Valley, moved to the London Borough of Havering last week.

Safe Drive, Stay Alive is based around a filmed reconstruction of a road traffic collision involving young people. It includes footage of the crash and follows the actions of the emergency services dealing with the incident. The audience also hears moving personal accounts from people whose lives have been changed by a tragic collision.

All 16-year-old students in Havering attended the event, which may visit other parts of London in the future. Councillor Peter Gardner said: " We have put £10,000 into this project and Havering is proud to be piloting it in London."

For further information go to: www.safedrivestayalive-london.com.

RoSPA publishes company car guidelines
RoSPA has issued new guidelines for employers to ensure technology in company vehicles is used to improve safety and not to put drivers in danger.

The Society says it is essential that managers and drivers understand what technology can and cannot do, and realise the potential risks of misusing it.

Driving for Work: Vehicle Technology, covers satellite navigation systems, speed warning devices, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot information systems, electronic braking and stability systems and black boxes.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA head of road safety, said: "Technology used correctly can reduce the risk of drivers crashing, but if it is used incorrectly it can increase the risk. Over-reliance on technology such as a fatigue warning device could lead to someone driving when they are too tired, and too many different devices could also prove distracting."

The publication can be downloaded at www.rospa.com/roadsafety.

Stakeholders launch joint initiative
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and South Wales Constabulary have launched a joint initiative to research and develop collision reduction strategies.

The two organisations have appointed PC Patrick Joyce and station officer Wyn Cornelius as road traffic collision reduction officers, to head up the initiative.

Their brief is to 'research road traffic collision reduction strategies, initiatives and procedures, throughout Wales and the rest of the UK, and then develop schemes to reduce serious injury and death'.  

The project will culminate with the publication of a report identifying best practice with regard to RTC reduction - to 'enable the police, fire and other stake holders to better focus their resources'. The report will also inform the debate at Welsh Assembly Government level.  

Wyn Cornelius says: "We are asking RSOs involved in, or aware of, initiatives with the police and/or fire service to share information with us."

For further information contact Wyn Cornelius on 07921310588, or s.ivey@mawwfire.gov.uk

Drink drive conviction 'incompatible' with policing

A senior Tayside police officer has criticised the system that allowed two Tayside police officers to continue serving with convictions for drink driving.

Chief constable John Vine said a drink-driving conviction was 'incompatible' with a job in the police force, and that the 29 Scottish officers serving with convictions might be doing so against the wishes of their chief constables.

"The reason these two officers are still serving is that a conviction for drink-driving does not automatically lead to dismissal from employment," he said. "The officers would have had to appear at a police misconduct hearing after the trial, which is usually held before a chief superintendent and not by the chief constable of the force.

"You can't enter misconduct proceedings with a preconceived idea of what went on in the criminal trial and the tribunal must come to its own conclusion based on the evidence it receives. That is why there are 29 officers who are still serving throughout Scotland with convictions for drink driving. My personal view is that a drink-driving conviction is incompatible with being a police officer."

For the full story go to: http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/

Kent expands JRSO scheme

Kent County Council has expanded its Junior Road Safety Officer (JRSO) scheme to six primary schools in Thanet. The scheme now covers 30 schools around the county.   

With the help and guidance of a RSO, JRSOs are encouraged to set up a road safety notice board for their school, deliver talks at assembly, and organise initiatives to promote road safety.

Sheila Spiers, RSO, said: "The scheme empowers children to highlight road safety issues and raise awareness among pupils, teachers and the community. It is very popular and we are planning to extend it other parts of the county in the near future."

For further information contact Phil Scrivener on 01622 694013, or
Phil.scrivener@kent.gov.uk

Wakefield hosts in-car seminar

More than 50 delegates with responsibilities for looking after young children attended a recent car safety seminar in Wakefield. Child minders, nursery nurses and people with responsibilities for transporting children attended the council-organised event.

The seminar was conducted by Dr Mike Hayes, projects director of the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), a national charity committed to reducing the number of children and young people who are killed and injured as a result of accidents.   

For further information contact Joanne Ponsonby on 01924 306325, or JPonsonby@wakefield.gov.uk

BT launches friends and family program

As part of its Starting Point safe driving program for employees, BT has made the online driver training module, One More Second, available for family members and friends.

The initiative enables BT to take road safety into the home and provides an opportunity for the company to help over 250,000 people improve their road safety.

BT's group safety advisor, Dave Wallington, said: 'During the last four years we have assessed and developed the driving behaviours of over 40,000 of our own people, and seen significant improvements in our road safety performance and a reduction in associated costs.

"We see the launch of Family and Friends as a natural extension of this program, and an opportunity for friends and families to participate in a scheme which is already helping to keep BT employees safe at work."

For further information contact Will Murray on 07713-415454, or willmurray@roadrisk.net .

Exhibition shows in Manchester
An exhibition entitled No Accident was showing last week at Salford Town Hall.

The exhibition, which was conceived by the Friends of the RoadPeace Garden in Beswick, Manchester, is designed to make people 'realise the scale and impact of our increased reliance on road transport'.

For further information contact Julian Tait on 0161 237 3888, or julian@littlestar.tv

384 fines for truck
A truck that racked up almost £60,000 in unpaid parking fines has been seized by the London Borough of Camden.

Parking enforcers finally found the green Iveco lorry after it earned 384 tickets in the past year. The fraudulently registered truck will be auctioned to pay off fines.

The owner, from Kilburn, north London, is on the run after clocking up 268 fines on two other trucks.

For the full story go to: http://www.mirror.co.uk