Trio of projects recognised by Prince Michael Awards

A further three road safety initiatives have been recognised in the 2006 Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards scheme.

The initiatives are:

Buckinghamshire - WYLIWYG
An innovative treatment for bends from Buckinghamshire's casualty reduction team won the 2006 Prince Michael Award for motorcycling initiatives, which is sponsored by the IHIE.  

Where you look is where you go (WYLIWYG) holds a rider's view round a bend, drawing them round safely.

Traditionally, hazard markers are placed to highlight the 'crown' of a bend. WYLIWYG takes the marker posts further round the bend to the point where the vanishing point starts moving away from the biker's view, which is often into the straight. The posts are also placed closer together so that they keep appearing in the rider's view.

Commenting on the award, Tony Sharp, vice president of the IHIE and chair of the National Motorcycle Committee Traffic management, planning and transportation sub group, said: "This shows what can be achieved if engineers have an appreciation of how a motorcycle works and adapt the skills and solutions open to them."

Hull - Precious Cargo
The Precious Cargo project involves health professionals, road safety and police officers and local businesses, and is focused on educating parents and children about the dangers of travelling unrestrained in cars.

New parents in Hull receive information from their midwife on choosing a car seat for their 'precious cargo'. Their health visitor then gives further support and advice on protecting their baby in the car. This is followed up with accident prevention work in local nurseries and pre-schools, involving both children and parents.

Once at school, children take part in a project that helps them understand why they should belt up.

Since the project began in 2001 the number of children injured in cars in the city has fallen by 20%.

Adrian Walsh, director of the Prince Michael Awards scheme, said: "This well managed education scheme, which keeps reminding both parents and children, has been outstandingly successful. It should be copied everywhere."

For further details contact Mark Jessop on 01482 612108.

LARSOA - road safety newsfeed
The LARSOA road safety newsfeed has been highly commended by the awards scheme.

Simon Ettinghausen, (above right) chair of LARSOA, says: "The newsfeed provides a single, easy to read, point of reference for road safety professionals.

"Road safety teams, the THINK! team, and other organisations provide details of projects and campaigns. This information is gathered and edited to create short news items, which can be quickly absorbed by RSOs."

Over 900 road safety professionals are sent an email reminder with a link to the newsfeed every week. The DfT has recognised the value of the service, which has been running for more than four years, and now partners LARSOA in the project.

Presenting the commendation on 31 October, Adrian Walsh, (pictured above left) said: "Delivering consistent, well crafted messages and effective public information programmes is essential for road safety - LARSOA's newsfeed has become an essential tool in this vital process."

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