Simple solutions help dangerous roads

Calling for 'five star drivers in five star cars on five star roads', EuroRAP says the Government should develop a large-scale national programme of high-return safety schemes because the UK is falling behind those countries it used to lead because its pace in applying the results of research into safe road design lags behind the best.

The report says that a 15-mile stretch of the A682 in Lancashire, between junction 13 of the M65 and Long Preston, is Britain's most dangerous road, with nearly 100 people killed or seriously injured in the last decade.

According to Dr Joanne Hill, who heads the Foundation's research, a further 16 road sections present a persistent 'medium to high risk' to road users, resulting in 10 times the number of deaths and serious injuries of the country's best roads. She said: "The good news from the survey is that many of Britain's authorities have brought in counter measures to tackle the higher risk routes in their areas.

"The Foundation's consultation with local authorities over the past four years has consistently shown that lack of funding is the principal reason why they do not tackle accident numbers on their roads on the scale that could make a major difference. Other local authorities have undoubtedly saved lives - often by the simple application of white paint."

The top 10 list of Britain's most dangerous roads is completed by: A54 Congleton to Buxton, Derbyshire; A683 from J34 of M6 to Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria; A62 from Diggle to Huddersfield; A671 from Burnley to A59 at Whalley; A653 Dewsbury to J28 of M62, Leeds; A1079 from Market Weighton to Hull; A53 Leek to Buxton; A726 from J3 of M77 to Paisley in Renfrewshire; A46 from Market Rasen to Grimsby.

Leading campaigner dies

Andy (45), died suddenly at home.

His funeral took place during Global Road Safety Week and was attended by many friends and former colleagues all keen to support his family, widow Ursula and son Ieuan.

Andy had recently joined the RoadSafe team as knowledge manager and editor of RoadSafe News. Many readers of this magazine will have known Andy and all will respect his dedication.

Many will have been aware of Andy's love of music. He dedicated his life to service - before joining the Metropolitan Police, he was a military musician in the Royal Regiment of Wales. Subsequently he actively encouraged young musicians and was himself still a member of a number of bands and musical societies.

In the police service he was a well-known figure in road safety - author of the Road Death Investigation Manual and team leader at CENTREX before moving to TRL.

His significant achievements were acknowledged by an award of the Queen's Police Medal. He added considerably to the knowledge base among the growing international road safety community. Andy died as he was preparing to launch a new UK initiative to reduce accidents among those who drive for business.

He died working in an environment where he was really happy - he will be missed by many, but his life's contribution to making roads safer will endure.

Sky workers benefit from cycle initiative

The Sky cycle programme is a radical departure for the IAM, which until now has only dealt with motorised vehicles throughout its 50-year history.

By using the IAM's road safety know-how, Sky offered both current and would-be cyclists access to a wealth of insight and practical advice around cycling to and from work during this year's Bike Week. Sky staff were offered all the guidance and support they need to start peddling, such as advice on how to adjust bikes for better comfort, access to portable showers, secure bike 'pods' and 'Dr Bike' clinics to deal with punctures and repairs.

The initiative is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and thereby contributing to cutting the carbon footprint of both the company and individual employees.

The IAM estimates that over 80% of cyclists are car license holders - yet only a tiny percentage build cycling into their daily commute or travel plan. IAM cycling manager Duncan Pickering said: "Cyclists can be relied upon to be more alert and productive than their less active counterparts. But there are safety concerns - and that is where we come in.

"Cyclists are very vulnerable on the road and they need to learn certain key skills to ensure that they get to the offi ce and back again in one piece.

"Our hazard awareness training is possibly the single biggest initiative. A would-be cyclist has to learn vital defensive riding techniques to stay safe on the road."

On lookout for the safest fleet

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Prince Michael Awards, which have given public recognition to those who have improved road safety throughout Britain.

The Awards recognise achievements and innovations, which will improve road safety and each year the most outstanding initiatives are given public recognition through the scheme.

The Fleet Service Award is made for a fleet operator or supplier to fleets, which demonstrates either outstanding service and dedication or an innovative product or service which enhances fleet safety.

The category covers initiatives by firms and other employers to reduce at-work road traffic crashes and associated injury resulting from driving in the course of work by their staff.

Nominations should be emailed to jwalsh@roadsafe.com by August 13.

Sign keeps cyclists safe

Ford is supporting TfL's 'Share the Road' campaign, which is designed to encourage co-operation between all road users, by displaying signs on 2,000 Ford trailers warning cyclists not to undertake the truck in front.

Every year thousands of accidents happen when cyclists try to pass on the inside of a large vehicle turning left.

Ford trailers travel more than 10 million miles every year and now display signs carrying the message: 'Cyclists - beware of passing this vehicle on the inside'.

They are designed to address the particular threat cyclists face from goods vehicles turning left, when HGV drivers are not able to see cyclists between their vehicles and the kerb.

Unions called upon to help risk management

However, the TUC says that occupational road safety is a trade union issue and has frequently urged employers to play their part in protecting employee safety on the road.

Mr Fahy says driver vehicle licence checks and the verifying of other relevant driver information is the most effective way for fleet managers to make a rapid impact on a fleet's safety profile.

ING says straight-forward driver checks can have a significant impact on accident rates among fleets and, at Sony UK, has helped reduce accident rates by 23% over three years. But, he is concerned that issues regarding data protection and employee privacy are standing in the way of such checks.

He said: "We have been working with a number of fleets to reduce their risk profile and found that in some instances, unions have supported drivers who may be unwilling to provide important details and data that can be used to drastically reduce accidents.

"While we understand the need for privacy, all the information gathered for risk management purposes is governed by the data protection act and can only be used to monitor fleets from a risk perspective.

"It's ironic that unions have their members' best interests at heart, yet could be inadvertently increasing their exposure to accidents at work by discouraging drivers from providing vital information.

"We want to allay any fears union representatives may have about the rise of a 'big brother' culture and help them to understand that what we're doing is ultimately good for their members. If we can work together to calm any fears about privacy and create open dialogue between the fleet industry and employee groups, we will go a long way to improving fleet safety."

News in breif

• A new online simulator to prove to drivers the dangers of being behind the wheel when travelling too fast, after drinking or when using a mobile phone has been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Produced with support from the Department for Transport, the simulator is expected to be particularly useful to employers with employees who drive as part of their job. It shows how speed, weather and impairments affect stopping distances and result in crashes and pedestrian deaths. Duncan Vernon, RoSPA's road safety project officer, said: "We hope that after using the simulator motorists will have a clearer idea of how speeding, drink and mobile phones put all road users in danger." Log on to www.stoppingdistances.org.uk
• Two prominent City health and safety lawyers saw that few executives truly understood their health and safety commitments, legal risks, and protective necessities in a changing work environment. The result is 'A Guide to Health and Safety Prosecutions' (Thomas Telford Ltd - £35) by Michael Appleby & Gerard Forlin revealing the wisdom management needs to make positive health and safety decisions. It is said to be the first real life case file study of actual legal and political health and safety challenges across the whole spectrum covered by health and safety at work and employer responsibility.
• Motorway hard shoulder crashes resulted in the deaths of 67 people in the five years from 2000-2004, and a further 950 people were injured. Now the Highways Agency is aiming to drive home the hard shoulder safety message with an information film - 'Stay Safe, Keep Moving'. Drivers of vehicles breaking down on the motorway should pull on to the hard shoulder, park as far over to the left as possible, turn on hazard warning lights and take themselves and passengers out of the vehicle and well away from the carriageway and hard shoulder. Additionally an emergency roadside phone should be used instead of a mobile phone as it will show the exact breakdown location on an Agency operator's screen.
• Motorists' cynicism about where and why speed cameras are used will grow unless the road safety benefits are clear, says the IAM Motoring Trust. In a survey of 500 motorists, just 35% of respondents believed that cameras were positioned only at serious crash sites, and only 42% believed that revenue raising was not the motive for using speed cameras. Public approval for road safety cameras stands at 69%, compared to nearly 90% in 1999. Since April this year new road-safety funding for local authorities is linked to lowering of death and injury rates. Until then, the practice of funding enforcement operations from motoring fi nes served to increase cynicism and reduce public support. Kevin Delaney, head of road safety for the Trust said: "Breaking the link between enforcement and revenue should encourage local authorities to deploy the right countermeasure for each road safety problem, and use cameras only where they are the best tool for the job. The Government must ensure that the new funding arrangements convince cynical motorists that, when properly deployed speed cameras really are 'road safety' cameras."
• The Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA) has joined the campaign to move time forward by one hour throughout the year so there is an extra hour of daylight during the winter months when many people are returning home from work and school. Research shows lighter evenings would save lives on the roads - between 104 and 138 fewer deaths each year. It wants the Government to introduce 'double British Summertime'. In effect UK time would remain at GMT plus one hour and in the spring the clocks would go forward one hour taking the country to GMT plus two hours.
• An investigation into the impact of street lighting on night-time road casualties is being held by TRL (Transport Research Laboratory). It has been commissioned by the Department for Transport to develop 'statistically robust estimates' of the benefits of street lighting on accident reduction. The work is intended to provide highway authorities with a vigorous methodology for preparing a cost benefit analysis of road lighting schemes in terms of their impact on road safety. The project should be completed by early spring 2008.
• A new website aimed at making Britain's roads safer by targeting driver and rider behaviour has been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. The RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders website - www.roadar.org - provides information for existing advanced motorists and includes advice for all road users on safer driving and riding techniques. It aims to increase awareness of how becoming a member of a local RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders group and taking an advanced test can help road users to stay safe.

Blind spot mirror move

The blind spot mirrors will enable drivers to cover the dead angle that exists on left hand drive trucks and help prevent an estimated 1,200 Europeans being killed when lorry drivers sideswipe vehicles.

Current EU law requires makers of all new trucks to include the rear view mirrors since the start of 2007. Under the new proposal, the same equipment would have to be added to existing truck fleets.

The new rules will only be applicable to trucks registered in the EU, but transport commissioner Jacques Barrot said he would try to obtain guarantees of similar measures from neighbouring countries. Smaller trucks, buses and vehicles more than seven years old aren't covered by the directive - but this may be reviewed in the future.

From late 2006, the Highways Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Immigration Service handed out 40,000 Fresnel lenses at three French ports to drivers of left-hand lorries coming into the UK. Data gathered by Highways Agency traffic officers is currently being analysed by VOSA and a report will be published in spring 2008.

Mike Salmon, area manager for the Road Haulage Association in the East Midlands, suggested that for drivers in left-hand drive LGVs, seeing a car in its blind spot would be just as difficult as for a car driver to spot something the size of a cardboard box in a similar position. He said: "Drivers need to be mindful of the problem that drivers of left hand drive vehicles have, and all drivers should be aware that if they get alongside a LGV there is a chance that its driver might not know you are there."

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