Cheshire leaflets prove popular
A series of road safety leaflets produced by Cheshire's road safety unit is proving popular with the county's primary schools.
The majority of schools across the county are involved in the distribution of over 50,000 of the new parental guide leaflets, which are entitled A year's journey.
Topics covered include 'stepping out', 'school gate parking', 'in the car', and 'on your bike'.
Andrea Gray, Cheshire's senior RSO, said: 'With the clocks going back recently, our tips for Be Safe, Be Seen are really relevant at the moment. Some of the new road safety products on today's market come in fun colours and are really cool to wear, and our thanks go to BrightKidz for providing the clothing and accessories for our launch."
For further information contact Andrea Gray on 01244 603602, or roadsafetyinfo@cheshire.gov.uk
Nine lives message to South Lanarkshire pupils 
First year pupils at Duncanrig Secondary were given a road safety lesson recently when the Baldy Bane Theatre Group performed The Nine Lives of Roddy Hogg. The story focuses on Roddy Hogg, who has just started secondary school and is enjoying life. He is witty, cool and one of the most popular guys around. However, he has little regard for road safety and although at first this didn't cause too many problems, by the time Roddy is in second year his reckless attitude is endangering himself and others.
Day by day he uses up his nine lives before the play reaches an unexpected and tragic end.
For further information contact David Wynn, David.Wynn@southlanarkshire.gsx.gov.uk
Portsmouth sets new limits
Portsmouth is poised to become the first city in Britain to have a 20mph speed limit on almost all residential streets (Surveyor, 2 Nov). Subject to formal council approval, signs will be going up in the southeast of the city early next year, with other areas to be covered by the end of 2008.
Residents in affected areas will be consulted on the scheme, but the council claims many locals have already supported the plan at public meetings.
Surveys will be carried out before the revised speed limits are introduced, and at six and 12-monthly intervals, to measure the scheme's impact and success.
For the full story go to: http://www.surveyormagazine.com
Penalty call over backseat belts 
Drivers should be given penalty points and a heavier fine for not ensuring their backseat passengers are wearing seatbelts, according to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS).
PACTS says this would significantly reduce the number of road deaths, but the DfT says penalty points should be reserved for the most serious offences.
The latest government figures show that around 30% of people over 14 do not belt up in the back of cars, compared to 95% of front seat passengers who do wear seatbelts. Currently, the heaviest fine for not belting up is £30.
Robert Gifford, executive director of Pacts, said: "It would send a very clear message to drivers and passengers that wearing your seatbelt is not a matter of comfort or discomfort, it's actually a matter of protecting your and other people's safety," he said.
For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6095670.stm
Buckinghamshire pulls no punches
Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service and the county's road safety team have 'pulled no punches' in developing a new road safety presentation for 15-24 year olds. Learn & Live addresses issues including speed, peer pressure, seatbelts and the use of mobile phones while driving. A series of graphic road safety adverts from other countries forms part of the presentation - in a bid to make novice drivers realise how vulnerable they are.
Keith Wheeler, from the Fire & Rescue Service's community safety team said: "Learn & Live pulls no punches. Recent research reveals that material like this has the greatest impact on young people's attitude towards safer driving."
For more information contact Keith Wheeler on 01296 744475, or via kwheeler@bucksfire.gov.uk.
Theatre to hit home in Leicestershire 
Leicestershire's road safety and travel awareness team is teaming up with two professional theatre groups to provide road safety plays to students in 16 schools across the county.
Car Story, from the Box Clever theatre group, targets 7-11 year olds and highlights road and personal safety together with the benefits of walking, cycling and public transport.
Perfect, presented by Tiny Giants Theatre, is a true story that follows the tale of Ann, a 13-year-old girl who was severely injured in a car crash. Liam Scott, author of the play, commented: "I don't doubt that everyone that sees this play will check, re-check and check again that they are wearing a seat belt for every journey."
The play will be performed to students aged 13 and 14 years in their final year at high school.
For the full story go to: http://www.24dash.com/localgovernment/12334.htm
Statistician publishes fresh analysis
A statistician who works for a fleet finance company and his wife, a senior lecturer at a Manchester University, have carried out ‘comparative analysis’ of road casualty data generated from DfT reports. John Fraser, who is a member of AIM and sits on a Manchester-based RoSPA road safety committee, says they carried out the analysis in an effort to understand the various relationships within the data.
He claims that his work shows that there are proportionately higher levels of fatalities and serious injuries in Scotland, compared to England and Wales; and that there are more road deaths in Q4, compared to the other three quarters.
His study also highlights areas of the UK where casualties are lower than anticipated (Devon & Cornwall, Staffordshire and the West Midlands), and similarly those areas where the figures are higher.
He also says that his analysis shows that pedestrians in the 60+ age range are at especially high risk.
For further information, or a copy of the findings, contact Dr Nuran Fraser, n.fraser@mmu.ac.uk
Landmark case results in fine and points
A case reported in the Daily Mail recently that could have resulted in 'thousands of motorists having their speeding fines refunded' resulted in a guilty verdict for the driver. The defendant argued that his penalty charge should be overturned because he was detected by a hand-held camera operated by a civilian, not a serving police officer.
After a 10-hour trial, Richard Hussey was fined £200, ordered to pay costs of £1146, and received five penalty points.
For further information contact Kelly Garratt, Safety Camera Programme Office, DfT on 0207 9446438 or Kelly.Garratt@dft.gsi.gov.uk.
New Ipswich test centre opens
The DSA's new multi-purpose test centre at Ipswich will be officially opened on 7 November. The centre, which became fully operational last week, is used for motorcycle, car and lorry practical tests. The centre is purpose-built, energy efficient and compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. It is also landscaped to fit in with the local environment.
It is one of around 65 being developed as a national network throughout Britain. The centres - introduced as a road safety measure to cut biking accidents - will cater for the new motorcycle test due to be introduced in 2008.
For further information contact the DSA press office on 0115 901 2851/2.
Woman crashes car after driving test
An American woman completed her driving test - then crashed into the examiners' office.
Jessica Krasek, 20, smashed into the Portage License Bureau in Indiana. She wasn't hurt when her Ford Taurus car struck the front window of the license branch office.
Apparently she was pulling into a parking space when she hit the accelerator, instead of the brake. Susan Williams, manager of the Amazing Travel shop next door, said she thought there had been an explosion. "We jumped up and we went to the door and saw the car half in and half out of the license bureau," she said.
For the full story go to: http://www.ananova.com
Camera fitter's fine
A man who installs speed cameras has told a court of his embarrassment at being caught on camera himself.
Marjinder Singh Sagoo, 29, from West Bromwich, admitted doing 76 mph in a 50 mph zone near Mold, Flintshire.
He installed and maintained cameras throughout north Wales and northwest England, and drove 1,500 miles a week, Flintshire magistrates were told.
He was fined £200 with £35 costs, and had four penalty points imposed on his driving licence.
The defendant told the court his wife was pregnant at the time he was caught speeding in at Pontblyddin in August. He received a telephone call saying she was not well, so drove back to Birmingham to be with her. In a letter to the court, he said he was concentrating on getting home to his wife and must have missed the road sign. But he said he appreciated that did not excuse his actions, and was very embarrassed.
Asked outside court if he had been caught by one of his own cameras, he replied: "You are joking, aren't you?"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/6087974.stm
|
