29th October 2010

Winter is coming

Don’t forget the clocks go back this weekend which means that although get an extra hour in bed, it will be getting pretty dark by 3 or 4pm. If you have kids, make sure they are fully kitted out with bright, reflective gear. However, pedestrian safety isn’t just for little ones so I recommend you all follow Brake’s lead and treat yourself to a beautiful reflective scarf as well as one for your dog or cat if you have one!

This year could be the year that the Government takes action to ditch daylight saving – on 3 December 2010 the Daylight Saving Bill 2010-11 is getting its second reading in Parliament. It is a private members’ bill tabled by Rebecca Harris MP – we are encouraging MPs to attend and vote for the bill. We need 100 MPs in support to get it through to the next stage. Make sure you write to your MP to ask them to turn up and support the bill.  Read more about the national Lighter Later campaign, and the benefits of putting the clocks forward by an hour year round at www.lighterlater.org. Read Brake’s statement on the campaign here.

Brake calls on motorway drivers to stick to limits

Research out from Brake and Direct Line Motor Insurance finds that six in ten drivers (61%)  admit driving at dangerously high speeds (80mph+) on motorways, with one in four (23%) doing so at least once a week – increasing risks and also contributing to congestion. More than half of drivers (54%) are failing to leave a big enough gap (by counting two seconds) between them and the vehicle in front when driving on motorways – leaving them insufficient braking space in a crisis. Click here to read more.

Road Safety Week 22 – 28 November 2010

You have three weeks left to plan your initiative – or three weeks left to perfect it! I’m guessing that by now all you fantastic Brake supporters will have all your Road Safety Week plans wound up and ready to go. Just in case you haven’t yet, click here to get some ideas for last minute activities that you could pull together in a flash.

Cycle challenge

Huge thanks to Ian, Gill and all the Moodie family for organising and taking part in a 24 hour bicycle challenge – cycling around the Isle of Bute.   The event was held in memory of James Moodie who was killed, aged 18, by a speeding driver.

Fundraising during Road Safety Week

If you belong to an organisation or community group and would be interested in taking part in some fundraising Road Safety Week activities, please contact Lisa to order your free Fundraising Pack – lkendall@brake.org.uk. We would welcome your support.

Buggie Boogie

Thanks to Nicola Ostler and all at Buggy Boot Camp for organising a sponsored Buggy Push Class in aid of Brake. Raising £120, the event was a huge success and helped raise awareness locally of the need for safer driving around communities where children live and play.

Christmas cards

There are only 75 days to go so why not raise money for charity by buying some of our fabulous road safety themed Christmas Cards.  Click here for information on prices and to see the designs available.

Thanks for your help to end the carnage and support road crash victims.

The Brake team

Brake Events

Click on the links below for more info, and call 01484 559909 or email admin@brake.org.uk to book on.

Tackling Driver Tiredness: waking up to the dangers workshop Thursday 21 October 2010, Bristol, explores the latest research and practical methods for fleet managers on preventing driver tiredness.

Road to Recovery - Sudden Death Forum Annual ConferenceTuesday 2 November 2010, Birmingham, explores the latest research and practitioner advice on care and support for people bereaved through sudden death.

Viral road safety campaigns workshop Thursday 25 November 2010, Nottingham, includes a speaker from the team who brought us the globally-successful ‘Embrace Life’ viral.

Meet the experts workshopTuesday 7 December 2010, London, expert researchers in pedestrian safety explore the latest engineering schemes aimed at influencing driver and pedestrian psychology and behaviour.

Best of the Best: Fleet Safety Forum Annual ConferenceThursday 3 March 2011, Birmingham, an opportunity to hear detailed case studies from winners of the 2010 Fleet Safety Forum Awards for best practice. 

Click here for more events around the globe by other agencies.

Research and Reports

Clear guidelines are needed for drivers, managers, and healthcare professionals on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders among drivers in New Zealand, finds the Massey University Centre for Public Health Research.

Safety education, prior to obtaining a learner permit to ride on the road, is vital for improving learner motorcycle safety, finds this report by the University of Queensland.

Side-impact air bags significantly improve front and rear vehicle occupant safety in side-impact crash tests,finds the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

The road casualty rate in England is significantly higher in disadvantaged areas due to the poor quality of the road environment and availability of safe leisure facilities for young people, finds the Department for Transport.

Casualty targets have worked in the UK for the past 20 years and to discontinue them would leave people at greater risk of death and injury, finds this report by the RAC Foundation.

Alcohol advertisements can increase willingness to drink drive through increasing positive attitudes towards alcohol, finds The Ohio State University.

Initiatives

The UK Government approves Lord Young’s recommendation that the Health and Safety Executive should review RIDDOR (regulations on reporting injuries and dangerous incidents in the workplace) with a consultation likely in 2011, announces Prime Minister.   

11 University Transportation Centres will receive $18.7 million to fund new technologies and develop innovative approaches to improve transportation systems and safety, announces the US Department of Transportation.

Google engineers test a self-driving car using mounted video cameras and radar sensors to detect other traffic with the potential to cut road deaths by half, announces Google software engineer Sebastian Thrun.

Road Traffic Police from each European Member State present their own prevention and traffic law enforcement initiatives as part of a European Road Safety Conference to improve traffic law enforcement,announces the European Transport Safety Council.

NCAP launches in Latin America enabling consumers in the region to compare the safety performance of new cars from leading global brands for the first time,announces Latin NCAP.

Fleet operator case studies

Vauxhall Motors won this year’s Company Driver Safety Award (large size fleets) at Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum Awards after achieving a 33% reduction in own damage costs and a 50% reduction in third party damage costs. Click here to read more.

Interactive Driving Systems won this year’s Analysis and Action (service provider) Award after clients achieved significant reductions in collisions rates and costs. Click here to read more.

Fundraise for Brake

Support Brake’s campaign to stop the carnage on our roads by buying a pack of specially designed comic Christmas Cards. Click here to view the Christmas Cards. To purchase them, please contact Sue on 01484 530085 or email admin@brake.org.uk.

Go to these Brake sites for more info:

www.roadsafetylibrary.org for all our TZ stories online.

www.fleetsafetyforum.org for company road risk management and driver advice and guidance (you will need to enter your user name and password to access this site - if you have forgotten yours, emailpassword@brake.org.uk giving your name)

If you have a story for this ebulletin, please email jhickman@brake.org.uk

Have your say on local government budget cuts

Many local authorities are set to launch localised online consultations on how to spread cuts to public spending, using ‘You Choose’ technology. The public will be invited to rate categories such as community safety; council support and public engagement; culture and leisure; children’s services and education; environment and waste; roads; planning and economy; housing and homelessness; and adult social care. If you want to make sure that road safety is protected in your community then visit your local authority website and take part in the ‘You Choose’ consultation.

Just six weeks to go!...

...but there is still time to take part in Road Safety Week 22 – 28 November 2010. Why not get everyone you work with involved? Hold a Brake Bright Day at work to fundraise for road safety, put up Brake posters and get everyone thinking about road safety through your staff newsletter. So far, 5,573 companies have asked for Road Safety Week packs so they can get involved this November. Add your name to the list! Visit our ‘companies’ page for more ideas and freebies.

MP for Brecon and Radnorshire wins road safety award

Roger Williams MP has been putting the pressure on Government to protect young and novice drivers. Roger wants the Government to introduce Graduated Driver Licensing to tackle the disproportionately high number of crashes that involve young drivers. To read more about GDL, click here. To read about what action Roger took,click here.

Beep Beep! Days

In 2010, Brake has organised on average four Beep Beep! Days every week in nurseries and infant schools across the UK. At Beep Beep! Days children under seven are taught fun, life-saving activities that meet early years and key stage 1 curriculum requirements. Nurseries taking part get free road safety resources from Brake to help them teach the kids about road safety. If you want to know more about  Beep Beep! Days and how to get involved, click here.  

New fundraising challenge for 2011

Brake is delighted to offer a new fundraising challenge for all you sporty types. Ever considered doing a ‘trekathon’? It’s a 26 mile walk through some of England’s most beautiful countryside.  The cost of this event is £49 per person to enter and we ask that you raise a minimum sponsorship of £100 towards Brake’s life-saving work. Visit www.brake.org.uk/trek-brake-uk for details of the five trekathons available or email Lisa atlkendall@brake.org.uk

Christmas cards

There are only 75 days to go so why not raise money for charity by buying some of our fabulous road safety themed Christmas Cards.  Visit http://www.brake.org.uk/assets/Xmas_cards.pdf for information on prices and to see the designs available.

Parachute jump

Eleven very brave people threw themselves out of an airplane this weekend to raise money for Brake!  All were jumping in memory of Emma Harold killed in February 2009 by a speeding driver.  Everyone at Brake wants to give a huge thanks to Emma’s sister Michelle who organised and co-ordinated the event.

World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims

On Sunday 21 November 2010 it is World Remembrance day for Road Traffic Victims. There are events happening around the UK so check your local press for details. The event in Norwich is happening at the Cathedral at 3pm.

08 October 2010

Brake Events

Click on the links below for more info, and call 01484 559909 or email to book on.

Tackling Driver Tiredness: Waking up to the dangers Thursday 21 October 2010, Bristol, explores the latest research and practical methods for fleet managers on preventing driver tiredness.

Road to Recovery - Sudden Death Forum Annual ConferenceTuesday 2 November 2010, Birmingham, explores the latest research and practitioner advice on care and support for bereaved and vulnerable people.

Viral road safety campaigns workshop Thursday 25 November 2010, Nottingham, includes a speaker from the team who brought us the globally- successful ‘Embrace Life’ viral.

Meet the experts workshopTuesday 7 December 2010, London, expert researchers in pedestrian safety explore the latest engineering schemes aimed at influencing driver and pedestrian psychology on the streets.

Best of the Best: Fleet Safety Forum Annual ConferenceThursday 3 March 2011, Birmingham, an opportunity to hear detailed case studies from winners of the 2010 Fleet Safety Forum Awards for best practice. 

Click here for more events around the globe by other agencies.

Research and Reports

In the US, there has been a 28% rise in distracted driving deaths between 2005 and 2008, finds the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Inconsistent data collection and false self-reporting is leading to significant under reporting of US distracted driving deaths, finds the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Speed cameras achieve an 11 - 44% reduction in death and serious injury crashes, finds the University of Queensland.

Many people see fate as the reason for road crashes causing them to take risks and neglect safety measures, finds the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety, Australia.

Advertising billboards increase the time required for drivers to respond to road signs and contribute to the frequency of driver errors, finds the Monash University Accident Research Centre.

Driving simulator feedback produces short-term benefits in novice drivers but is more effective in the long-term for more experienced drivers, finds Tsinghua University.

Mathematical modelling could lead to an in-vehicle device predicting driver lapses in concentration on monotonous roads, finds the Queensland University of Technology.

Banning drivers from using hand-held and hands-free mobile phones would save lives, reduce injuries and save CA$36 million in Alberta, Canada, finds University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine.

Restricting mobile phones use while driving could have prevented an estimated 1.3 million crashes in the US during 2008, finds the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Initiatives

Female crash test dummies will be used for the first time to simulate crashes involving women as part of an upgraded 5-Star Safety Ratings System for new vehicles, announces the US Department of Transportation.

As part of the EU strategy for halving road deaths by 2020, the European Commission is proposing a programme where Member States can exchange injury data and best practice in crash response.

‘Independent driving’, requiring candidates to spend 10 minutes driving safely without step-by-step directions from an examiner, becomes part of UK driving tests, announces the Driving Standards Agency.

Speeding enforcement measures and a targeted radio advert campaign is launched to tackle the increase in motorcycle collisions in red route bus lanes, announces Transport for London.

The European Commission launches a road safety website aimed at providing information about various road user groups, behaviour, education and vehicle safety. 

Fleet operator case study

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions won this year’s Company Driver Safety Award for medium size fleets at Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum Awards after achieving a 63% reduction in driver risk and a 43% reduction in actual incidents. Click here to read more.

Fundraise for Brake

Support Brake’s campaign to stop the carnage on our roads by sponsoring a click through web-banner on any of our five major websites (Brake, Road Safety Week, Fleet Safety Forum, Road Safety Forum and Road Safety Library). To find out more about purchasing a web-banner, please contact Joel Hickman, Corporate Liaison, on 01484 550064 or email jhickman@brake.org.uk. 

Go to these Brake sites for more info:

www.roadsafetylibrary.org for all our TZ stories online.

www.fleetsafetyforum.org for company road risk management and driver advice and guidance (you will need to enter your user name and password to access this site - if you have forgotten yours, emailpassword@brake.org.uk giving your name)

If you have a story for this ebulletin, please email jhickman@brake.org.uk

29 September 2010

The cost of the carnage in 2009

Statistics for road deaths and injuries that occurred in Great Britain in 2009 have been published by the Government this week. The report shows massive under reporting of serious and slight injury once again. An informed estimate of 56,000 serious injuries and 426,000 slight injuries were not reported by the police and have not been included in the Government’s analysis of progress towards reducing casualties on British roads. The statistics show that:

·         2,222 people were killed (official data from police)

·         80,000 people were seriously injured and 620,000 people were slightly injured(estimates based on police figures plus data from national surveys)

For the first time, the Government has estimated  the total savings that could be made if ALL these crashes, deaths and injuries were prevented (including the injuries not reported by police). It comes to a massive £33 billion in this year alone. This includes human costs, loss of earnings, and costs to the NHS, police and emergency services. Even more importantly, each of these deaths and serious injuries is a terrible tragedy that could and should have been prevented.

The UK’s road safety strategy and targets came to an end in 2010 so Brake is calling on the Government to set out a bold long term strategy for reducing deaths and injuries on our roads with the long term goal of achieving zero deaths.

Spread the word! Write to your MP and to the Transport Secretary, Phillip Hammond. You could also talk about these figures if you are doing media interviews, for any educational work you do in the community on road safety or even in conversations around the dinner table!  It all counts!

Slow down for Tommy

Tommy Kenny was just 10 years old when he was killed crossing the road back in 2007. His death devastated his young friends. Three years on, they have made a video documenting how they have coped with their loss and how they feel now. Tommy’s friends are calling for limits to be reduced to 20mph around schools to prevent more tragedies like the loss of their little friend. Tommy’s friends support Road Safety Week and this year’s theme of KIDS SAY SLOW DOWN! Read more about this story and watch their video on the Road Safety Week 22 -28 November 2010 website. If you are moved by their words then remember to take action this Road Safety Week to help get their message across to drivers and the Government.

Speeders demand lower speed limits

Research by Brake and Direct Line shows that 92% of drivers want 20mph limits around schools, 56% want 20mph limits in all areas with lots of people on foot and bicycle and 70% want lower speed limits on derestricted rural roads. Despite this demand for lower limits, the majority of drivers also admitted speeding above the current limit on urban or rural roads in the past year. The research indicates that drivers understand that slower speeds are safer and they support them, despite regularly speeding themselves. So what’s stopping them? Brake asked them what would make them slow down. 63% said more police and cameras would persuade them, while 46% said tougher penalties, and 26% said more publicity campaigns by Government. Read more here.

Less than eight weeks and counting to Road Safety Week 22 – 28 November 2010!

If you haven’t got your Road Safety Week posters yet, then click here and we’ll send them out post haste! If you are shy of ideas then take a look at our communities page which is chock full of different ways that you can contribute to Road Safety Week. Whatever you do, why not let your local media know about it and spread the message further!

Brake gave oral evidence to Transport Select Committee

Brake campaigns officer, Ellen Booth, was down in Parliament last week being interviewed by the Transport Select Committee for their inquiry into drink and drug driving law. The Transport Select Committee is a group of MPs that carries out reviews of Government policy on different transport topics, including road safety issues, and then makes recommendations to the Government. Brake used the inquiry to call for the drink drive limit to be lowered to 20mg alcohol per 100ml blood and a new law against driving on illegal drugs. Read the full transcript here.

Zak the Zebra is ready and roaring to go!

Are you furiously campaigning for road safety improvements in your local area but getting nowhere with the local authority? Need a break from banging your head against a brick wall? Why not get Zak the Zebra down to visit for a protest? He can do two things. Firstly, he can bring the media spotlight to your issue, helping show the council how important the issue is to local people. Secondly, he has a wonderful talent for spreading smiles and joy wherever he goes. If you want to discuss getting Zak to help with a protest or campaign event, email Ellen onebooth@brake.org.uk.

Brake volunteers train the police

Brake has been offering training to police family liaison officers (FLO) since its inception, helping them to provide an empathetic service to families bereaved in road crashes. Brake has a dedicated team of eight bereaved or seriously injured volunteers who deliver training to forces across the country. They tell them about their own experiences with their FLO, what works and what doesn’t, and what support services Brake can offer through their literature and helpline. This week, some of these volunteers came to Brake HQ to share their experiences training different forces, swap hints and tips and meet the Brake team. The Brake team really enjoyed their presentations and were reminded of why they work so hard! A huge thank you to these Brake volunteers who dedicate so much effort to helping other families experiencing bereavement!

Call out for media helpers  in Oxfordshire, South Wales or the West Midlands

Brake is currently looking for bereaved or injured child volunteers who live in Oxfordshire, South Wales or the West Midlands who would be happy to speak to the media for our Road Safety Week regional media launches. The launches are taking places at schools and the theme is ‘Kids say SLOW DOWN!’ Do you have children who have been affected by a road death or injury that would be willing to speak out about the dangers of speeding? If so, please get in touch with Lisa on 01484 683294 or email lkendall@brake.org.uk.

Survey drivers for Brake – volunteers needed!

You can help Brake by conducting surveys of drivers on their attitudes to taking risks on the road, road safety awareness and Government policy. The results from these surveys are written up into reports and are invaluable in our campaign work in the media and in Parliament. We would love to get a greater number of volunteers working on this to improve the quality of the research as well as making the process easier for current volunteers. Volunteers typically conduct between 10 and 100 surveys per report and are asked to do this two or three times a year. Any help is greatly appreciated. If you think you can spare the time, please email Ellen onebooth@brake.org.uk.

Congratulations!

Well done to Andy Sewart and Rona Rendle who both organised music evenings in aid of Brake and in memory of loved ones. A huge amount of organisation goes into arranging events like this, so thank you to everybody who helped and supported them.  If you want to hold an event in aid of Brake, take a look at our fundraising  page which has lots of useful ideas, hints and tips for how to make your event a huge success.

The 2young2die annual competition 2011 is open!

Each year, 11-25 year-olds can enter Brake’s competition for young people campaigning on road safety. In groups, they devise an innovative and effective way of getting a road safety message across to the public as well as raising funds to support victims of road crashes in the process. There are fantastic prizes up for grabs including the chance to receive an accolade at the Houses of Parliament. Tell your kids, tell their friends, tell their school; don’t miss out! Visit the competition web page to read more.

Brake enters the twenty-first century!

Yes, that’s right; you can now follow us on Facebook, in the blogosphere, on YouTube and on Twitter! Keep up to date with campaign news and service delivery as well as using these formats to interact with other volunteers.

23 SEPTEMBER 2010

Brake Events

Click on the links below for more info, and call 01484 559909 or email to book on.

Duty of Care for Fleets workshop Thursday 30 September 2010, Edinburgh, explores the latest legal perspectives including how corporate manslaughter legislation is now being used.

Tackling Driver Tiredness for Fleets workshopWednesday 20 October 2010, Southampton, explores the latest research and practical methods on preventing driver tiredness for fleet managers.

Viral road safety campaigns workshop Thursday 25 November 2010, Nottingham, includes a speaker from the team who brought us the globally- successful ‘Embrace Life’ viral.

Best of the Best: Fleet Safety Forum Annual ConferenceThursday 3 March 2011, Birmingham, an opportunity to hear detailed case studies from winners of the 2010 Fleet Safety Forum Awards for best practice. 

Click here for more events around the globe by other agencies.

Research and Reports

The majority of British people think that poor enforcement of traffic laws provides inadequate deterrent to bad drivers, finds this report by the Department for Transport.

Child road deaths should receive the same publicity as child abuse, assault and homicide,finds this report by PACTS.

Regular speeders claim they do it in order to remain alert and reduce boredom, finds this report by Queensland University of Technology.

Implementing Graduated Driver Licensing could help save up to 200 lives every year and save the UK economy £890million, finds the Cardiff School of Medicine.

44% of Scottish drivers were victims of road rage within a two-year period, finds this report by the Scottish Executive.

Record seat belt use and drink driving campaigns help explain continued reductions in US road deaths, finds this report by the US Department of Transportation.

Most drivers admit to speeding despite supporting lower speed limits and tougher enforcement,finds this report by Brake and Direct Line.

Initiatives

Tesco and Stobart Group join forces to feature the UK government’s THINK! campaign messages on the back of their trucks, announces the Department for Transport.

Citroen is the first to receive additional points under EuroNCAP’s new reward system after fitting driver-set speed limiters across a model range, announces the European Transport Safety Council.

Finding the right child seat to fit both child and vehicle is still a significant problem for consumers in the US, announces the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Road Safety Knowledge Centre, a UK online directory of UK road safety activity, replaces The Road Safety Time Bank, announces Road Safety GB

55% of UK fleet organisations are now using vehicle tracking, with the majority seeing an increase in productivity and employee performance, finds the Ctrack Vehicle Tracking Survey 2010.

Fleet operator case studies

Glasgow City Council won this year’s Analysis and Action Award at Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum Awards after achieving 54% reduction on all reported crashes and a 50% reduction in the number of blameworthy crashes. Click here to read more.

Applied Driving Techniques won this year’s Fleet Safety Provider of the Year Award after clients achieved record crash reductions and savings. Click here to read more.

Fundraise for Brake

Run a ‘Bright Day for Brake’ during Road Safety Week and get staff to dress brightly and donate £1 each to Brake. Click here to order your resource pack and download your template press release.

Go to these Brake sites for more info:

www.roadsafetylibrary.org for all our TZ stories online.

www.fleetsafetyforum.org for company road risk management and driver advice and guidance (you will need to enter your user name and password to access this site - if you have forgotten yours, emailpassword@brake.org.uk giving your name)

If you have a story for this ebulletin, please email jhickman@brake.org.uk