Road Safety GB has announced the winners of its 2024 awards, with Dr Suzy Charman receiving the Achievement Award and Corporate Awards presented to Acusensus and GEM Motoring Assist.
Road Safety GB is a national road safety organisation made up of representatives from groups across the UK, including local government road safety teams.
Each year – at the annual National Road Safety Conference, Road Safety GB presents an award to recognise an individual who has contributed significantly to road safety in the UK over a substantial period of time.
On 6 November, the 2024 Achievement Award was presented to Dr Suzy Charman, executive director of the Road Safety Foundation.
Dr Charman is a leading expert on the Safe System with just under 20 years’ experience.
Before joining the Road Safety Foundation, she was head of international road safety at TRL, and before that she was responsible for overseeing the establishment of the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP).
Dr Sharman received glowing support within her nomination submission: “Having the gift to either excel technically, or to lead others, or perhaps to persuade Ministers to give millions of pounds to road safety is special. To have all of these qualities and succeed in each, is exceptional.
“She has so often recognised skills in others, as she sits on judging panels for a number of other awards, it would be fitting for her at last to be the award winner and not always the judge.”
Road Safety GB’s Corporate Awards recognise the achievements of a Road Safety GB corporate member and acknowledge their commitment and contribution to road safety.
This year Corporate Awards were presented to Acusensus and GEM Motoring Assist.
Acusensus are world leaders in distracted driving enforcement solutions, having invented, patented and delivered the world’s first operational solutions.
The company was founded in 2018, with the objective to develop a practical solution that would help to address the menace of drivers who are distracted by their hand held mobile devices or are not wearing a seatbelt.
The result was the ‘Heads Up’ system, which combines AI software with dedicated imaging and processing hardware, allowing authorities to identify and capture violations, 24/7 and in all weather conditions.
Acusensus continues to grow its presence in the UK market, working collaboratively with AECOM. During the past 12 months, more than 100 projects have been carried out across the country using the STV (Sensor Test Vehicle), along with six ‘Heads Up’ trailers.
To date, 19 UK police forces have used the technology and over half of them have actively prosecuted mobile phone and seatbelt offences.
GEM Motoring Assist is a members’ motoring and road safety organisation based in the UK. In 1932, the founders set a very clear mission – to help keep everyone safe on the roads.
Since then, times have changed, but the values have remained untouched. The founding mission remains at the heart of everything they do, and they still pride themselves on going the extra mile for their members and other road users.
They’ve been a trusted, independent breakdown recovery provider for more than 40 years and they continue to champion road safety, supporting projects across the UK that all have one thing in common – keeping people safe on the roads.
They are also leading partners of Blue Light Aware – a resource containing short videos and animations, produced on behalf of the emergency services. Their crews rely on the help of other road users when they’re on a ‘blue light’ journey.
The Blue Light Aware resources are there to be shared to allow the public to better understand the needs of emergency drivers and contribute to a safer road environment.
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