Road safety news in brief: w/comm 11 September:
- Scotland: Brake supports proposals for default 20mph limit in urban areas (15 September)
- National Standard Review – practitioners’ views sought (14 September)
- RoSPA assessors support ITV older driver documentary (13 September)
- Nominations invited for Northern Ireland awards’ scheme (12 September)
- GEM publishes fatigue warning for drivers (11 September)
Click here to read the road safety news in brief from the week commencing 4 September.
15 Sept: 10.00
Scotland: Brake supports proposals for default 20mph limit in urban areas
Brake has pledged its support for plans to lower the default speed limit in urban areas across Scotland from 30mph to 20mph.
In June, a consultation was launched by Mark Ruskell MSP (Mid Scotland and Fife) on the proposed ‘Safer Streets’ Member’s Bill.
Under the Bill, councils could keep higher speed limits on some streets in consultation with communities, but these ‘would be the exception rather than the rule’.
Mr Ruskell’s proposed Bill is supported by the British Lung Foundation Scotland, Living Streets Scotland and the campaign group 20’s Plenty for Us – as well as Brake.
The road safety charity says it has issued a consultation response.
Jason Wakeford, Brake’s director of campaigns, said: "A default 20mph limit across built up areas in Scotland offers a golden opportunity to save lives, promote sustainable transport and improve the environment.
"Travelling at lower speeds drastically reduces the risk of death and serious injury and encourages more walking and cycling – relieving pressure on the NHS and other public services.
"We fully support Mark Ruskell’s proposed bill and want to see more urban areas going 20 right across the UK."
THURSDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
14 Sept: 12.45
National Standard Review – practitioners’ views sought
The National Standard for Cycle Training is currently under review to ensure that it continues to evolve in response to changing circumstances.
The views of those within the cycle training industry, along with those of other stakeholder organisations, are being sought via an online survey.
The Bikeability team is also hosting four regional workshops – in London (2), Manchester and Leeds – to provide a forum for practitioners to provide their views.
The number of places at each workshop is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and to ensure a mix of schemes/organisations attending.
Click here for the survey link (closing date 11 October) and for more information or to book a place at one of the workshops (scroll down the page to ‘workshops’).
WEDNESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
13 Sept: 15.00
RoSPA assessors support ITV older driver documentary
RoSPA assessors are supporting older drivers during an ITV documentary series looking at why and how the elderly still get behind the wheel.
The first episode of ‘100 Year Old Driving School’ aired last night (12 Sept) and followed the lives of a group of British drivers, over the age of 90, who still enjoy driving on the roads.
Across the series, they will be given assessments from some of the charity’s top examiners, providing hints, tips, encouragement and guidance on how they can improve their driving or whether it may be time to hang up their keys.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA’s head of road safety, said: “Driving a car is an important part of personal, family and work life for millions of us, providing freedom and independence to get about as and when we need to.
“Experienced drivers are, in general, safer than those with less experience but as we get older, our health and fitness, often including our eyesight, physical condition and reaction times, begins to decline.
“Age-related conditions can also begin to affect our driving and can eventually mean that there is a point when an individual needs to give up driving. However, as this documentary will show, this point is different for everyone; there isn’t an age at which all drivers become unable to drive safely.”
The three-part documentary will also air on Tuesday 19 and 26 September.
TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
12 Sept: 10.45
Nominations invited for Northern Ireland awards’ scheme
Entries are being sought for the Northern Ireland Road Safety Awards 2017, which recognise the contribution of individuals and organisations who have worked to improve road safety in their communities.
The awards, now in their third year, are in association with Road Safe NI and the accident management firm, CRASH Services. 10 categories are on offer covering schools, emergency services, voluntary, public and private sectors.
Davy Jackson from Road Safe NI said: “We were delighted with the outstanding success and feedback received from the Awards over the last two years and now look forward to emulating that with our 2017 nominees. It is vitally important that we properly recognise the hard work and commitment that goes into helping keep our roads safe.”
The awards ceremony takes place at Cultra Manor on 24 November as part of Road Safety Week.
The closing date for entries is 27 October – click here for details of how to enter.
MONDAY 11 SEPTEMBER
11 Sept: 17.00
GEM publishes fatigue warning for drivers
GEM Motoring Assist is encouraging drivers to ensure they get sufficient sleep before getting behind the wheel in order to reduce the risks they face on the road.
GEM points to recent research from the United States which shows that between 15% and 33% of fatal crashes involve tired drivers, and new figures from Ireland which suggest that tiredness is a factor in up to 20% of driver deaths.
Neil Worth, GEM road safety officer, said: “Being a safer driver means being physically and mentally prepared to drive. If we all got the amount of sleep we need, there would be fewer crashes, fewer near-crashes and fewer road rage incidents.”
The charity has also published a series of tips to help drivers avoid the risks associated with fatigue.
BECAUSE OF THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING NATURE OF THIS COLUMN WE HAVE DEACTIVATED THE READER COMMENTS FACILITY.
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