Road safety budgets slashed across England.

Local councils in England slashed their road safety budgets by 15 per cent (£23 million) last year compared to average spending cuts of just six per cent for other council services, according to road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

This includes cuts to services such as rehabilitation courses for motoring offenders, training and information for young drivers, safe routes to schools schemes and school crossing patrols.

The research also shows that over half of English councils cut their spending on road safety and traffic management by more than ten per cent. Of the 152 councils contacted, 81 replied.

Spending on road safety saw huge variations. For example, London’s Camden Council cut road safety spending by more than 70 per cent (£4million), despite the fact that road casualties have increased by 10.6 per cent there since 2006. More than 100 people were killed or seriously injured on Camden’s roads in 2010. At the same time, neighbouring Islington Council increased funding for road safety and traffic management by £134,000.

Limo Operator Concern.

Parents have been advised to proceed with caution when hiring a limousine operator for their children’s school prom nights.

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) warned that unlicensed drivers are working around the UK, many of whom may be operating unsafe vehicles.

VOSA Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “The limousine and novelty vehicle industry has seen rapid growth in recent years and I want to see these legitimate businesses continue to thrive.

“However, those operating vehicles outside of the law put the safety of their passengers and other road users at risk, and create unfair competition for legitimately-run businesses.

“This is something that will not be tolerated and VOSA will make full use of their powers to stop the small minority of cowboy operators who threaten to bring the industry into disrepute.”

The hiring of limousines and other novelty vehicles has become an increasingly popular part of school and college proms and leaving celebrations. It is estimated that there are more than 15,000 limousines operating in the UK.

To check if a company holds a passenger service vehicle licence, visit VOSA’s website or call the helpline on 0300 123 9000. Or contact your local council to check if a company holds a private hire licence.

Mobile phones and driving case study.

Since introducing a ban on the use of mobile phones whilst driving, 3M has monitored employees’ attitudes on an annual basis.

The company has a fleet of some 800 company cars used by a team of 400 sales people plus cars for the majority of their managersA survey conducted three months after the ban was introduced indicated a swing in employees’ attitude. When the ban was first introduced, 56 per cent of staff did not welcome it. Just three months later, less than half (41 per cent) said they did not like it. By June 2011 negative sentiment stood at 35 per cent.

The most recent survey (which was anonymous) showed 49 per cent of employees complying with the policy fully; 46 per cent ‘most of the time’ and 5 per cent ignoring it. The results showed real signs that the safety message was getting through. When asked their reasons for complying with the new rules, 6 per cent said it was because they thought using a mobile phone while driving was a dangerous distraction and could lead to an accident.

The survey also indicated that the ban had tracked through to 3M employees’ personal lives. 43 per cent said that they already avoided using their personal phone while driving – but since the work ban a further 48 per cent had either stopped or reduced the practice.

Delhi to be no longer helmet free for woman.

Being a woman will no longer allow you a helmet-free ride in Delhi , writes The Daily Mail

After more than a decade of debate and dissent over the issue, the state government and the Delhi High Court made it clear that all women riding on two-wheelers will have to adhere to road safety laws – meaning they will have to wear helmets.

A bench of acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw on Wednesday gave the Delhi government two months to make changes to the law governing road safety, after its counsel said the state was planning to amend the rules.

It wasn’t compulsory till now under the law for women riding twowheelers in Delhi to wear helmets.

Despite a central government law making it mandatory for all two-wheeler riders to wear helmets, women in Delhi have been exempt from the rule since 1999.

Zubeda Begum, counsel for the government, told the court that they are now willing to take another look at that exemption.

‘Although the Motor Vehicles Act hasn’t made it optional for women to wear a helmet while riding pillion, the Delhi government had made it optional in its Motor Vehicle Rules of 1993,’ she told the court.

Which? produce ‘in-car technology charter.

Using in-car technology such as touch screens, integrated phones and satnavs can be distracting if used on the move, an investigation by Which? has found.

They tested the systems of eight of the UK’s bestselling carmakers and found many features difficult to use while driving. Although some car companies performed very well, other carmakers need to follow their lead and ensure their systems pose as little distraction as possible to motorists.

The publication has now created an ‘in-car technology charter’ with a 10-point checklist to make in-car technology systems less distracting which we will be discussing with the government, road safety bodies and carmakers in the coming months.

Which? Car editor, Richard Headland, says:
“We found that the sheer number of ways to carry out simple tasks in the cars was baffling, and crying out to be simplified.
We know people want systems in their car that integrate audio, phone, satnav and other functions, but it’s time for the Government to step in and provide some strong guidance to focus carmakers on creating less distracting systems.”

Repeal of motorcycle helmet law in Michigan.

The American Automobile Association Michigan says it is extremely disappointed that legislation which allows some motorcyclists to ride without a helmet on the state’s roadways has been signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder. 

 

Public Act 98, which has now come into effect, is poor public policy and will increase motorcycle fatalities and injuries, AAA Michigan reports.

The repeal erases more than three decades of Michigan’s mandatory helmet law. The new law allows motorcyclists to ride without a helmet if they have a $20,000 medical policy, have had the cycle endorsement for at least two years, or completed a motorcycle safety course.

The repeal of the motorcycle helmet law will result in at least 30 additional motorcycle fatalities each year, along with 127 more incapacitating injuries and $129 million in added economic costs to Michigan residents. This analysis by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning is based on the experience of other states where similar measures have been enacted. As evidenced by increased medical costs passed on to taxpayers, motorcycle deaths and long-term catastrophic injuries are on the rise.

Crashes Down – Down Under

In 2011, Australia recorded the lowest number of road deaths since 1946, down to about a third of the deaths recorded at the peak in 1970. Over the past 10 years annual fatalities on Australian roads have fallen by almost 26 per cent.

New official figures for December 2011 show 1,292 lives were lost on the nation‘s roads during 2011—a 4.4 per cent reduction on 2010. This fall continues the downward trend over the last five years.

Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King, said the Government is working to reduce the national road toll even further through the implementation of the new National Road Safety Strategy.

“Even more encouraging is the 22 per cent drop in the number of young driver fatalities compared with 2010. The 2011 figures for driver fatalities in the 17 to 25 age bracket are also 34 per cent lower than those recorded in 2007.

“These figures reflect the proactive road safety initiatives pursued by Federal and State governments over recent years; the efforts of police and the greater care being taken by motorists when behind the wheel.

“The Gillard Government will continue to look at initiatives for younger drivers with a focus on saving lives through education with programs such as keys2drive offering free lessons to learners.

Do not read this article due to Health and Safety!

Judith Hackett CEO of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recounted her recent experience of  health and safety being used in an  nonsensical fashion.

 

“At my daughter’s graduation ceremony, I wanted an official photo to mark the proud occasion. As we were queuing I was bemused to see in big red and white letters this warning: ONLY PEOPLE BEING PHOTOGRAPHED are allowed beyond this point due to Health and Safety”.

Clearly it was nonsense – a ruse to keep the new graduates corralled out of the frame of their mates’ photos. I have no doubt that the assumption was that people dare not challenge ‘health and safety’ rulings, that it forces them into submission.

This is one of the reasons why  HSE has  just launched the Myth Busters Challenge Panel to give the public the support and confidence they need to take on the jobsworths and cynics.

When people hear about children being ordered to wear goggles to play conkers or the dangers of candy floss on a stick it undermines public confidence in our true task, which is to manage serious risks to life and limb in Britain’s workplaces.

Warnings replace prosecutions for speeding drivers.

The number of speeding drivers escaping with warnings is soaring due to savage police cuts. This follows a Freedom of Information request from the Daily Mirror.

And road safety campaigners have accused the ­Government of putting lives at risk by hiring an army of ­volunteers to use speed guns in place of officers.

Drivers going too fast can only be ­prosecuted if caught by police.

Last year, 50,000 warning letters were sent to those drivers who were recorded speeding by police officers, up from just 10,000 in 2009.

And police chiefs fear more drivers will be let off with a slap on the wrist as officer numbers are slashed, speed cameras are switched off and road safety spending is axed under George Osborne’s austerity cuts.

Ellen Booth of campaign group Brake said: “These shocking figures show the Government is not taking road safety seriously.”

Police Federation spokesman Inspector Steve White added: “We have seen an increase in crime in the last 12 months because of cuts in police numbers. We don’t want to see an increase in road ­casualties.”

Shadow policing minister David Hanson said: “If this is one of the first signs of the impact of cuts to the front line then it is a warning to the Government to stop, rethink and look again at what it is doing to our police.

“We know the ­consequence of more drivers speeding is more accidents, ­injuries or worse on our roads.”

Police chiefs need to axe 16,000 officers as the ­Chancellor slashes 20% from force budgets. Home Secretary Theresa May has also proposed sending civilians out on the beat with cops.

And town hall chiefs have given volunteers speed guns to monitor streets under schemes such as Community Speedwatch.

They were issued with at least 157 radar kits over the last three years, according to the 18 forces who replied to Mirror freedom of information requests.

Ms Booth said: “People looking to make their community safer is fantastic but it shouldn’t be left to volunteers.

“At the end of the day, these are criminal offences and ought to be taken seriously.”

Uneasy riders.

Accordinging to the Daily Telegraph an English  police force is to run a road safety course for mobility scooter owners to try and cut down the accident rate involving the machines.

The two hour courses will be held at a life-size film set of a small town which is used to deliver safety messages to the public.

South Yorkshire police will run the free courses which will involve navigating a mobility scooter around everyday obstacles and a theory lesson for users.

In the last five years there have been 28 reported incidents in the county involving mobility scooters with 17 incidents resulting in death or injury in the county.

The course will be run at the Lifewise Centre in Hellaby that has a life-size set of a small town.

Said PC Mick Hedges ” The course would allow people with mobility issues to maintain their independence and increase their confidence riding the machines in public.Owners will also be told the legal requirements for using a mobility scooter.”

Earlier this week an inquest in Cleethorpes heard how 80 year Joan Parker died after being hit by a car while out on her mobility scooter in Immingham last year.

Alison Seabeck, the Labour MP for Plymouth Devonport has called for compulsory training to be given to people who use a mobility scooter along with stricter safety checks and official records to be kept of accidents.

Last year a 79-year-old man from Bodmin in Cornwall was killed when his mobility scooter overturned and pinned him against a wall.

Mrs Seabeck has raised the issue in the House of Commons. She said”With an increasing ageing population, some action has to be taken to ensure that standards are maintained in terms of the safety of these vehicles and that some basic training is undertaken by all users.

“It’s important that when they’re sold to people who’ve never driven and they intend to use them on the road, that training is compulsory.”