As Road Safety Week approaches the halfway point, we take a look at the latest initiatives and events taking place across the UK.
What’s happening in your area?
Throughout Road Safety Week we are running a daily news update covering what’s happening around the country. Simply send details of your activities by email to Edward Seaman at Road Safety News and we’ll feature them in our roundup.
Organised annually in November by the road safety charity Brake, Road Safety Week provides an opportunity for communities to take action on road safety – and a focal point for professionals to boost road safety awareness and engagement.
Using the theme ‘Bike Smart’, Road Safety Week 2018 (19-25 Nov) is raising awareness about the importance of protecting those on two wheels. Areas of focus include safe riding behaviours and the importance of appropriate training, clothing and equipment.
Devon and Cornwall: new strategy launched
Alison Hernandez, police and crime commissioner for for Devon and Cornwall, has used Road Safety Week to launch a new road safety strategy for the region.
The strategy, which has a particular focus on vulnerable road users, recommends a ‘safe systems’ approach, greater enforcement of the law and improved driver training – with the aspiration of creating the safest roads in the UK.
There is also a focus on the ‘five highest causes of fatal accidents’; inappropriate speed, failing to wear a seatbelt, distractions, driving under the influence of drink or drugs and careless or inconsiderate driving.
Alison Hernandez said: “With a few simple changes and a collective effort between emergency services, local authorities and driving educators I am positive we can make great strides in making our region a safer place for all road users.”
Croydon: competition encourages children to think about visibility
Croydon Council is running a ‘Brighten Your Bag’ competition in schools across the borough.
Brighten Your Bag encourages pupils to consider how they are seen while travelling – and teaches them how to make themselves more visible to other road users.
Pupils are invited to get crafty and decorate their school bag with fluorescent and reflective materials – and those who don’t have a bag to decorate can take part by designing a bright bag on paper.
Essex: busy Road Safety Week continues
The comprehensive programme of events in Essex continues with a ‘Surround a Town’ day taking place today in Chelmsford.
Surround a town sees the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) focus resources in a concentrated and geographically targeted area, often where there are high rates of collisions and casualties.
The initiative uses a combination of enforcement and engagement to highlight the importance of safe and legal driving.
Elsewhere, activities are taking place at infant and primary schools across Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock – covering Bikeability training and pedestrian training in the form of a ‘twilight trail’.
Parking buddies helping to keep children safe
As part of Road Safety Week, councils, police forces, schools and nurseries are deploying ‘kiddie shaped’ and ‘child friendly police officer’ signs, more commonly known in Scotland as ‘Pop up Bairns’.
The signs are designed to help keep children safe by displaying important road safety messages – on topics including speeding and parking.
Popular messages include: ‘think before you park’, ‘don’t park on the zig zags’, ‘caution children’ and ‘slow down’.
For more information about the signs contact Carol McDonald.
What’s happening in your area?
Throughout Road Safety Week we will be running a daily news update covering what’s happening around the country. Simply send details of your activities by email to Edward Seaman at Road Safety News and we’ll feature them in our roundup.
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