EVENTS
Driving for Better Business: Managing Risk, Improving Performance
Event Date: 9:30 am March 23, 2011
Closing Date: 5:00 pm March 22, 2011
Location: London
Member Price: £210.00
Non-member Price: £240.00
VAT Exempt: No
Full Location
BT Centre
81 Newgate Street
London EC1A 7AJ
As many as one in three road casualties may be injured while driving for work. This includes not just the drivers of heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches but also those who are driving cars on the way to and from business appointments. Risk on the road can and should be managed by employers in the same way as we think about dangerous equipment or slips, trips and falls.
For the last four years, Driving for Better Business, delivered by RoadSafe on behalf of the Department for Transport, has campaigned to raise awareness of the importance of work-related road safety in the business community and public sector by using advocates drawn from these communities to promote the business benefits of managing it effectively. Central to the campaign are 50 business champions – firms that are prepared to champion good practice by taking a business message to business.
This conference will highlight the achievements made by those organisations in cutting risk and improving performance. It will also highlight the resources available to organisations wishing to embark on a similar journey. The programme brings together a range of companies from multi-national to small enterprises and both the public and not for profit sectors. It aims to celebrate success and to identify continuing challenges for road safety in the next decade.
NEWS
RAIB Investigates Train Derailment
The RAIB is carrying out an investigation into the derailment of train 1P02, the 00:38 hrs First TransPennine Express passenger service from Manchester Airport to York, in the early hours of 28 December 2010.
The accident occurred when the train was passing underneath a ventilation shaft in a tunnel. The train struck a large body of ice which caused derailment and the front driving cab of the train to strike the tunnel wall. No injuries have been reported.
Partnership for Safety
Link: http://bit.ly/fiBlwB
DBDA and RoSPA, both members of PACTS, have announced the establishment of a new partnership for safety resources. Further details can be found via the link to dbda’s website.
Decade of Action for Road Safety Website Launched
The UN Decade of Action for Road Safety will be launched around the globe on 11th May 2011.
The Decade of Action was announced by the UN General Assembly in March 2010, in recognition of the alarmingly large number of people who are killed and injured on roads worldwide each year. Road accidents are currently the global leading cause of death for 15 – 29 year olds, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts they will become the 5th leading cause of death for all ages by 2030, overtaking HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and lung cancer. Click here for the WHO report on Global Road Safety.
The official site for the Decade of Action for Road Safety is being maintained by WHO, the lead UN agency for the Decade, and will be updated with information on policy and events.
The campaign site providing artwork, ideas and the opportunity to order the Decade Tag, is hosted by the FIA Foundation.
DfT Publishes ‘Know Your Traffic Signs’
Link: www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_191955.pdf
The Department for Transport’s ‘Know your traffic signs’ booklet is now available on Directgov.
THINK! New Partnership Launched
Link: http://bit.ly/dWu4lH
The DfT announced a new partnership today between THINK! child road safety campaign and four football clubs.
Channel Tunnel Train Fire Report Published
Link: http://bit.ly/cwz90O
“The report into a fire on a freight shuttle train in the Channel Tunnel on 11 September 2008 has been released. The report was prepared jointly by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) in the UK and their counterparts in France, the Bureau d’Enquêtes sur les Accidents de Transport Terrestre (BEA-TT). The investigation was led by BEA-TT because the fire occurred on French territory (approximately 12 kilometres from the French portal of the tunnel). The ‘Protocol of Cooperation’ between BEA-TT and RAIB allocates responsibility for leading an investigation to the organisation from the country in which the accident or incident occurred.”
Experts Call For Ban on HGVs in Britain’s Cities to Protect Cyclists
Link: http://bit.ly/aqA1pU
The Guardian reported:
“Experts are calling for a ban on heavy goods vehicles in Britain’s cities after a study found that despite making only 4% of road trips they were involved in 43% of London’s cycling deaths.
Embrace Life Wins YouTube Ad of the Year
Link: http://bit.ly/ckpCom
Embrace Life, the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership’s seatbelt advocacy commercial has won the inaugural YouTube Advert of the Year Award during a glittering ceremony at the Campaign Media Awards.
Up against competition from global advertising agencies, the entries were initially judged by a panel of industry experts before being given over to a public vote. Embrace Life won hands down with viewers, receiving three times more votes than the nearest competitor.
Congratulations to the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, Writer/Director Daniel Cox and Producer Sarah Alexander.
BHS Accident Reporting Website Launched
Link: http://bit.ly/dv9Y0t
BHS (the British Horse Society) have launched a new dedicated accident reporting website. It is hoped that everyone who is involved in any equestrian related incident, regardless of the part they play, will go directly to the website and report their issues.
Young and Emerging Drivers Report Published
Document: http://bit.ly/g423PZ
In 2008, there were 460 fatalities in Great Britain involving people aged 16 to 25 years old in road collisions. This represents 25% of all road deaths in 2008. A new report on young and emerging drivers has been published by Devon County Council. It highlights available evidence to identify reasons for the over-involvement of young drivers in road collisions, examines current ETP (Education, Training and Publicity) initiatives and considers recommendations for reducing collisions concerning young drivers in the future.
RESEARCH
Older Pedestrians
Date: January 5, 2011
Sheffield City Council has published a report on older pedestrians, investigating road traffic collisions involving a pedestrian aged 60 and above.
Research Finds Cameras Save Lives
Date: November 24, 2010
The RAC Foundation announced today that eight hundred more people could be killed or seriously injured each year on Britain’s roads if all the fixed and mobile speed cameras operational before the road safety grant was cut in summer 2010 were to be decommissioned.
STATISTICS
Rail Safety Performance – September Summary Published
The Rail Safety and Standards Board published the September update on safety performance.
Summary of Safety Performance can be viewed at http://bit.ly/g0qJKm
Monthly SPAD/TPWS Update can be viewed at http://bit.ly/h7ZZgk
All Safety Performance Reports can be viewed at http://bit.ly/gfzqap
Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: Quarterly Provisional Estimates Q2 2010
The quarterly provisional estimates of the Reported Road Casualty Statistics were published and can be viewed at http://bit.ly/e75tt7.
The 2010 Quarter 2 estimates show:
-Road Casualties down by 3 per cent, and killed or seriously injured casualties were down by 7 per cent compared to the 12 month period ending June 2009
– Road accidents reported to the police fell by 3 per cent and the number of fatal accidents by 19 per cent compared to the 12 month period ending June 2009
PARLIAMENT
Bills and Acts
Localism Bill Introduced
Date: December 13, 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/gqnUWm
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Mr Eric Pickles, introduced the Localism Bill to Parliament.
PACTS Comments on 2nd Reading of Daylight Saving Bill
Date: December 3, 2010
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety today welcomed the Second Reading given to the Daylight Saving Bill proposed by Rebecca Harris.
Commenting on the Bill’s progress, Robert Gifford, Executive Director of PACTS, said “This is a great day for road safety. A change of time zones to give us more light at the end of the day and reduce crashes and accidents as dusk falls. The Second Reading given to this Bill and the size of the majority in the House of Commons show the breadth of support for this measure.
“I hope that it will now continue its progress through the Parliamentary stages and end up on the Statute Book. Rebecca Harris deserves to be congratulated for her efforts so far.”
Select Committee
PACTS Comments on Select Committee Report on Drink and Drug Driving
Date: December 2, 2010
Today the Transport Select Committee published their report Drink and Drug Driving Law in response to Sir Peter North’s report.
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety welcomed the Transport Select Committee proposal for a zero limit with regard to drinking and driving. Such an approach reflects the strong level of public support shown in polling evidence provided in the 2010 RAC Report on Motoring. This showed that 46% of drivers supported a zero drink drive limit.
Commenting on the report, Robert Gifford, Executive Director of PACTS, said “This report sets a challenging but achievable goal for government and the road safety community. What we need now is a clear timetable for action, not the rather vague words “in the long term”.
“The Committee has rightly identified the success of a zero approach to smoking in public places and asked whether a similar model could apply to drinking and driving. In the light of the public health White Paper published on Tuesday and of the setting of a new strategic framework for road safety beyond 2010, I would urge the Government to commit itself to a new limit of 20mg by 2015 at the latest, making Great Britain one of the leaders in Europe on this issue.”
Ministerial Statements
Motorcycle Testing
Date: December 20, 2010
Link: www.pacts.org.uk/2010/12/motorcycle-testing/
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Mike Penning, published an interim report on the review of motorcycle testing in Great Britain.
Local Sustainable Transport Fund and Local Transport Capital Blocks Settlement
Date: December 13, 2010
Link: www.pacts.org.uk/2010/12/local-sustainable-transport-fund-and-local-transport-capital-blocks-settlement/
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Norman Baker, announced that he will publish next month detailed guidance on the operation of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, for which £560 million has been set aside in the four-year period to 2014-15.
Debates
Penning Supports Average Speed Cameras
Date: November 8, 2010
Link: http://bit.ly/h58AK7
In a Westminster Hall Debate Mr Mike Penning, the Minister responsible for Road Safety and Standards, showed support for average speed cameras, tackling uninsured vehicles, and improving the driving test.
Parliamentary Questions
“Parliamentary questions are tools that can be used by Members of Parliament to seek information or to press for action. They oblige Ministers to explain and defend the work, policy decisions and actions of their Departments.”
All transport safety parliamentary questions and PACTS comments can be viewed on the PACTS website.
This question was asked on the week beginning 13th December:
M42: Road Traffic Control
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the operation of active traffic management between junctions 3a and 7 of the M42 on (a) the number of crashes and injuries, (b) levels of vehicle emissions, (c) average speeds of vehicles and (d) vehicle capacity in the latest period for which figures are available. [29204]
Mike Penning: An assessment of the benefits of active traffic management (ATM) between junctions 3A and 7 of the M42 was made following twelve months of operation of hard shoulder running (HSR). This assessment showed that:
(a) The average number of personal injury accidents (PIAs) reduced from 5.08 per month before the implementation of ATM to 1.83 per month following the introduction of HSR. The average number of casualties reduced from 8.48 per month before the implementation of ATM to 4.00 per month following the introduction of HSR.
(b) The effect of ATM on emissions from all vehicles was:
Carbon monoxide (CO) -4%
Particulate Matter (PM) -10%
Hydrocarbons (HC) +3%
Carbon-dioxide (CO2) -4%
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) -5%
Fuel consumption -4%
(c) When HSR was operated at 50mph the average traffic speed was 49mph. When HSR was subsequently operated at 60mph the average traffic speed increased by 5 mph compared with HSR at 50mph.
(d) The operation of HSR on the M42 ATM section increased the observed capacity of the motorway by an average of 7% compared to conditions before the implementation of ATM.
Motorways: Road Traffic Control
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in the specification for Active Traffic Management (ATM) have been proposed for future use of ATM on the motorway network; and if he will publish the report on the basis of which such changes were made. [29205]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency is considering the design of Active Traffic Management (ATM) in view of the experience gained from operating the pilot section on the M42. This includes what reduction can be made in the provision of gantries, signing, emergency refuge areas and signalling which will reduce costs but maintains the level of safety.
The M42 ATM pilot operation of a Managed Motorway has shown that opening the hard shoulder to peak time traffic, with speed limit controls in place, improves reliability and reduces the number of accidents. The Highways Agency has demonstrated that Managed Motorways can deliver a substantial proportion of the benefits of conventional road-widening solutions, while securing cost savings of 40%, and the agency is aiming to increase these savings still further by driving efficiencies in how it specifies and deliver projects, encouraging the introduction of standardised solutions.
The evidence base drawn together so far through the experience gained from operating the M42 pilot and sections on the Birmingham Box, has enabled more cost-effective designs to be introduced for future schemes. The agency has shown that it can operate hard shoulder running at 60 mph, and extend the distances between gantries and emergency refuge areas, without adversely affecting the operation of the road or the safety of the road user.
PACTS comments: Active Traffic Management on the M42 has allowed motorists to drive on the hard shoulder at peak times. The analysis of this scheme, details of which appear in the response to Mr Leech’s first question, show that it reduced emissions and increased capacity without any negative impact on safety. Indeed accidents rates actually fell during the first year. The challenge will be to ensure that these reductions are maintained over a full three year period.
These results are very significant and indicate the potential of ATM to be used throughout the UK and beyond. PACTS recommends that future schemes are carefully monitored in order to ensure that they too present the same benefits and that safety is not compromised at any point.
While this Parliamentary Question has given a good deal of information, it is a pity that Mr Penning did not offer to place a copy of the evidence base in the House of Commons library.
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