More than 110 delegates from across the country attended the fifth annual North East Road Safety Conference, which was held on 8 November in Durham.
The conference, 'Young Drivers - A Fatal Attraction', was opened by Adam Briggs, deputy chief constable of North Yorkshire, who spoke passionately about the way reckless driving is glorified on TV and internet sites.
Caroline Shield used statistics to outline the extent of the young driver/biker problem, and Professor Steve Stradling and Neale Kinnear gave a fascinating and entertaining perspective of why young drivers do what they do.
Christian Smith, a highly capable 17-year-old, outlined his work in engaging with young people and Nick Rawlings presented the findings of a study that will help to shape future road safety campaigns aimed at young drivers and passengers.
Simon Christmas talked about the current driving test and how we cope when we are left to our own devices after the process of learning to drive and passing 'the test' is over.
Jeremy Forsberg presented the Respect campaign, which is using new ideas - and some old ones with a new twist – to engage with younger drivers.
Finally, Richard Greener of Lincolnshire County Council, explained how the Road Safety Timebank will enable RSOs to obtain expert help from others, and repay the debt by investing some of their own time.
Alan Kennedy, Durham’s road safety manager, who organised the conference, said: “The planning team worked very hard to ensure a good range of speakers who could disseminate important information, and the feedback has been very good.”
After next year’s conference in the autumn of 2008, this will become a LARSOA national event that will be rotated around the regions.
