Heather Ward, who has worked in the field of applied road safety research at UCL (University College London) for more than 30 years, is the new chair of PACTS’ Road Environment working party.
Heather Ward succeeds Chris Lines, who has stepped down having chaired the group for three years.
Heather Ward has contributed to national and local policy on vulnerable road user safety and speed management strategy. She has also played important roles in the evaluation of central and local Government funded road safety interventions in urban and rural areas, and developed data and surveillance systems for road safety and public health.
Since 2000 she has increasingly worked with colleagues in the health sector to bring about reductions in unintentional injury, especially to children. Currently, Heather is chair of trustees of the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) and has recently chaired the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) Public Health programme group on reducing unintentional injuries to children under 15 years.
PACTS has for many years been supported by five technical working parties on air, rail and road safety. These comprise safety experts from the transport professions, universities, public and private sectors and user groups and others and government academia, sharing information and advising PACTS.
David Davies, executive director of PACTS, said: “I am delighted that Heather Ward is able to take up this important role. She secured it in the face of stiff competition, including from overseas.
“Among the first challenges for Heather in leading the working party are the safety implications of the Government’s proposal for converting the Highways Agency to a Government owned company and the expanded trunk road programme, including smart motorways.”
Click here to read the full PACTS press release.
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