More than £325,000 has been pledged to support initiatives aimed at improving driver, rider and pedestrian safety in Warwickshire.
The new road safety fund was launched earlier this year by Philip Seccombe, Warwickshire police and crime commissioner, who hopes to ‘encourage a major shift in attitudes’ among all road users.
Among the first 11 beneficiaries of the commissioner’s fund are road safety charity Brake – who has received more than £91,000 split among two projects.
The first project will see Brake work with secondary school students (aged 12-15) to help them become leaders in road safety – while the second will provide local, specialist, one-to-one support for families bereaved as a result of a collision.
The Honest Truth and FirstCar, who announced a new partnership earlier this month, have also received funding – worth £77,660 – to provide targeted road safety information for 17-24 year-old learner drivers during their lessons.
Video Biker – a motorcycle safety/training collaboration that empowers learners to enhance their training by utilising ‘free-of-charge’ modern, online education – has been granted £50,000 to boost the effectiveness of compulsory basic training (CBT).
Meanwhile, the British Horse Society will receive £40,420 to create an interactive road safety feature video aimed at young people in schools – which will involve viewers making choices to influence the outcome of the film.
Philip Seccombe said: “Far too many people are killed or seriously injured on our roads in Warwickshire and we need to encourage a major shift in attitudes among all of our road users to bring these numbers down.
“I want Warwickshire to really lead the way nationally on road safety, so I have been pleased by the positive way our partners have responded to the launch of the Road Safety Fund.
“This is just the start of the journey to make our highways and byways truly safe, however, and I will be continuing to champion the cause strongly.”
Full list of projects to benefit:
- Brake – Youth for Brake Project (£19,690): National road safety charity Brake will work with secondary school students from years 8, 9 and 10 (aged 12-15), to help them become inspiring leaders in road safety.
- Brake – Independent Road Bereavement Advocate Project (£71,907): The advocate will provide local, specialist, one-to-one support in Warwickshire for families bereaved by a collision. The award also will provide a contribution for Brake’s National Helpline.
- Video Biker (£50,000): An innovative and unique motorcycle safety/training collaboration that empowers learner motorcycle riders to enhance their training by utilising ‘free-of-charge’ modern, online educational resources to boost the effectiveness of their compulsory basic training.
- The Honest Truth and First Car (£77,660): Providing targeted road safety information for 17-24 year-old learner drivers during their lessons with their approved driving instructors. Includes a wide-scale road safety campaign, targeting other drivers and road users.
- Under 17 Car Club – Pathfinder Initiative (£10,810): To part fund the teaching of 50-60 under-17s to drive in a safe, constructive and steady environments before receipt of their provisional licences, thereby encouraging their future safe and responsible driving.
- Warwickshire Police – Child Car Seat Safety Scheme (£1,980): To train 12 Warwickshire police staff to nationally accredited standards in the checking, engaging and educating the public on child car seat safety.
- Warwickshire County Council – Bike ‘Recycle’ Scheme (£8,913): A scheme which allows selected young people to ‘upcycle’ an old bicycle in structured youth work sessions. Once roadworthy, the young person uses the bike to take part in a series of road safety courses.
- RoSPA – Become a Safer Rider Courses (£7,000): Expansion of existing rider safety training initiatives to encourage safe road use by motorcyclists.
- North Warwickshire Borough Council – Community Speed Watch (£20,872): To contribute towards the provision of additional speed monitoring devices and signage for local community speed watch groups.
- Warwickshire Police – TruCam (£20,000): For the purchase of new hand-held speed detection and recording equipment, which is effective for enforcement activity against motorcycles and other vehicles where engagement and education activities have proved unsuccessful.
- British Horse Society – Interactive Video (£40,420): The creation of an interactive road safety feature video aimed at young people in schools, which would involve viewers making choices to influence the outcome of the film. Suitable for use on phones, tablets and other digital platforms.
Comment on this story