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IHIE wins Prince Michael Award
The Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers (IHIE) has won a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its publication Guidelines for Motorcycling - improving safety through engineering and integration.
The Guidelines, which are a first in the UK, aim to assist highway and traffic engineers in developing a safer and more motorcycle friendly road environment.
Drawing on the combined expertise of engineers, road safety officers and motorcyclists, the Guidelines build on the Government's motorcycling strategy, and demonstrate the role motorcycling can play in an integrated transport system.
"The transportation needs of motorcyclists have long presented a challenge for engineers and planners," said Gerry Harvey , IHIE president. "We are thrilled that our Guidelines have been recognised as a helpful tool and have been awarded the accolade of a Prince Michael Award.
For further information contact Judith Walker, IHIE secretary, on 0207 436 7487.
Lighter nights save lives, RoSPA says
RoSPA has once again urged the Government to switch to a system that would bring lighter evenings all-year-round.
RoSPA believes around 450 deaths and serious injuries would be avoided on the country's roads each year simply by altering the way clocks are changed in autumn and spring. The Society wants the Government to bring in a three-year time trial to prove how lives could be saved.
Under the current system, road casualty rates increase after the clocks are moved at the end of October. In 2004, deaths rose from 269 in October to 300 in November and to 323 in December. Pedestrian deaths went up from 56 in October to 76 in November and 78 in December and the overall casualty rate for road accidents also increased.
The RoSPA plan is for Single/Double Summertime. Rather than reverting to Greenwich Mean Time in October, the clocks would stay one-hour ahead until spring when they would be put forward another hour in March. This would result in darker mornings, but an extra hour of evening daylight throughout the year. Once the initial adjustments had been made the clocks would still be moved backwards and forwards by an hour in autumn and spring, but would always stay ahead of GMT.
"We will continue to lobby the Government urging it to support the scheme for lighter evenings all-year-round, said Kevin Clinton , RoSPA head of road safety. "Studies show that vulnerable road users such as children and the elderly are more at risk during dark evenings than in the morning."
For further information visit: http://www.rospa.org.uk/index.htm
Fine to drive an artic - but not a train or plane
Just four out of 300 bus and coach drivers failed a voluntary breath test administered by TTC at the Coach & Bus Live 2005 show.
"Bus and coach drivers welcomed the breath tests," said John Price , TTC group development manager. "They were very co-operative and extremely interested in hearing information about the morning after and how long alcohol stays in the system."
Three of the four who failed the TTC breath test, set at a limit of 4 micrograms, were well under the legal driving limit - but over the limit for train drivers and pilots.
"The legal limit to drive a train or fly a plane is nine micrograms compared to 35 micrograms for driving on the UK roads. Three of the volunteers were perfectly legal to drive a juggernaut on the M6 but deemed incapable to drive a train or fly a plane if they were so qualified," John Price added.
For more information visit www.ttc-uk.com
Garda commissioner favours unmarked cars
Gardia are to increase the use of unmarked patrol cars to clamp down on dangerous driving and speeding in the Republic of Ireland.
Assistant garda commissioner Eddie Rock said this would lead to greater law enforcement measures. He also said that the use of highly-visible garda patrol cars is less effective, as motorists modify their behaviour when they see garda vehicles on the road. He said the use of covert vehicles would address the problem of motorists who drove with 'a downright ignorant behaviour'.
Mr Rock also expressed concern that levels of drink driving and speeding among Irish drivers were still too high. "The compliance culture is not what we would like and it is not shifting very significantly," he said.
For the full story go to http://www.examiner.ie
Caution urged over school run claims
Senior county officials have sounded a note of caution on the Government's hope that its education White Paper proposals will cut the school run (Surveyor 27 October).
The Government claims that providing subsidised transport for poorer families 'will help to reduce the school run'.
But County Surveyors' Society vice-president Richard Wills said: "The school run will only be cut if the provisions apply to existing journeys made by car, rather than new journeys."
He also hoped school governing bodies would consider the transport implications of widening choice 'and not simply assume that highway authorities will pick up the consequences'.
Oxfordshire drivers urged to belt up
Figures in a new Oxfordshire County Council leaflet on traffic accidents during 2004 reveal that 40% of victims who were sitting in the front, and 54% of those in the rear, were not wearing a seat belt.
In response, RSO's are joining forces with Thames Valley Police's casualty reduction officers to target offenders in a number of education events.
Drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt will be stopped. Instead of being fined, they will be asked to consider the safety benefits that a belt provides.
"On this occasion drivers will be given the opportunity to consider if they could behave more safely," said Alan Baverstock , Thames Valley Police casualty reduction officer. "But it is a legal requirement for all passengers to wear a seat belt and this will be backed up by an enforcement visit in the near future, when they will issued with a fixed penalty of £30."
For the full article visit http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/index/latest_news.htm?id=53218
Clarkson runs into (another) row
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson was criticised by road safety groups recently after boasting of speeding in an area that has one of the worst death rates in Europe.
In the latest issue of Top Gear magazine, Clarkson wrote that he drives 'fast and recklessly' through Lincolnshire because it is so boring.
His comments below the headline, 'If JC rockets through your district it is only because it is so dull', were defended by the magazine as 'tongue in cheek'.
Jean Graham , who set up Roadpeace after her daughter was killed in a smash with a speeding motorist, said: "These remarks are soul-destroying to the relatives of those who have died."
In 2003, 104 people were killed and 526 were seriously injured on Lincolnshire's roads - and more than 50 have died this year.
For the full article visit http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22749-1844609,00.html
Met traffic chief in speeding row
The head of the Metropolitan Police traffic division has been given a written warning after he was a passenger in a speeding police car.
Chief supt Les Owen was reportedly running late for a meeting when the marked car he was travelling in drove at 82mph in a 40mph zone. The car was caught on the A12 in Bow, east London, in February last year.
National road safety charity Brake said the reprimand was 'appalling' and called for Mr Owen's resignation.
The vehicle's driver, Pc Mark Bradley , was fined £250 by Redbridge magistrates in January and given licence points.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said Mr Owen had accepted a written warning from its Directorate of Professional Standards for 'failing to challenge the manner in which a Pc drove a police car in which he was a passenger'.
"He may not have been holding the steering wheel, but he was the one who held all the power," said Kevin Delaney , head of traffic and road safety at the RAC Foundation.
For the full article visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4371950.stm
Hi vis clothing for Gwent kids
Gwent Consultancy Road Safety Section has put together a selection of low-price, high visibility equipment for primary schoolchildren in Gwent.
"We are big supporters of children being as safe as possible while on or near roads," said Ann Horton , technical support officer with the Gwent road safety team. "One important facet of being safe is ensuring that children are visible to road users. To encourage this we offer a range of high visibility accessories at very affordable prices."
For further information contact Penny Thorpe at Capita Symonds, 01633 463376, or penny.thorpe@capita.co.uk.
Sponsorship 'first' for Wales
Pembrokeshire's Road Safety Unit has received two new Seat Altea cars in a six month sponsorship deal - believed to be the first of its kind in Wales.
The aim of the sponsorship is to lift the profile of road safety in the county and reduce casualties on Pembrokeshire's rural roads. The cars carry the messages 'slow down' and 'drive carefully' in English and Welsh.
The cars will be used by road safety staff as they visit schools and provide road safety information to the wider community.
For further information contact John Gobbie, John.Gobbi@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Bridgend launches Children's Traffic Club
Bridgend Road Safety Unit recently launched a free Children's Traffic Club for all three-year olds living in the borough.
The scheme aims to reduce casualty rates and influence long-term behaviour of children, and increase parents' awareness of road safety issues.
The traffic club was launched at a day nursery in Maesteg. The children were given a road safety lesson and enjoyed stories and other activities with a road safety theme.
For further information contact Helena Burke on (01656) 624 594, or roadsafety@bridgend.gov.uk.
Remembrance service planned
A service is to be held at Leeds Parish Church on Sunday 20 November to remember all people who have died or been bereaved or injured on the roads, and to give praise for all who support them.
The Oakleaf service has been organised by the charity SCARD (Support and Care After Road Death and Injury)
For further information contact SCARD on 0845 1235541.
