New statistics published by the British Horse Society (BHS) have highlighted the ‘threat’ horse riders face on Britain’s roads.

The data, published on 24 March, examines the incidents reported to the BHS’s horse accidents website. It reveals between November 2010 and 1 March 2016, 36 riders were killed as a result of road incidents involving horses that were reported to the charity. Released to coincide with the launch of a new BHS campaign, the data also highlights that the charity received a total of 2,070 reports of road incidents involving horses during the same period. The Dead Slow campaign urges drivers to slow down to 15mph when they meet a horse and rider on the road. The BHS says that 75% of accidents happened because the vehicle passed the horse without allowing enough space, claiming that ‘a lot of people aren’t sure how to safely pass a horse when driving’. As a result, BHS has published a video showing drivers how to pass a horse on the road. Lee Hackett, BHS director of policy, said: “We are asking drivers to slow down to 15mph when they see a horse on the road. A lot of people aren’t sure how to safely pass a horse when driving, and so we have produced a video showing exactly how it should be done. “It’s worth remembering that these statistics are just the accidents reported to us, there will be countless others. Almost everyone who rides horses can recount a story about a time they had a near miss on the roads. “We are campaigning for legislative change, but that can take a long time. That is why we are asking for this instant change in behaviour from drivers.”

See more at: http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/4979.html#sthash.XzNBeRhC.dpuf

Learner driver;

• DfT road safety plan to build on Britain’s excellent road safety record
• £2 million for research into driver education, including the possibility of giving learner drivers motorway experience with an instructor before taking their test
• £750,000 grant for police forces to build drug-driving enforcement capability

The Department for Transport today (21 December 2015) unveiled a raft of measures to improve the safety of Britain’s roads.

The proposals will ensure learner drivers are properly prepared before their test, including the chance to gain motorway experience with an approved driving instructor. This follows plans announced last month to introduce a deposit which is returned to the learner driver if they pass, encouraging them to take their test when they are ready.

Other measures to take priority in the government’s plan for road safety include funding to train the next generation of cyclists and extra money for police forces to crack down on drug drivers.

The plan outlines how the government is delivering on its commitment to reduce the number of people killed and injured on our roads during this Parliament.

The main proposals announced today are:

• learner drivers will for the first time be offered the opportunity to drive on motorways •the proposals would see learners allowed to take a motorway driving lesson with an approved driving instructor in a dual controlled car – this is designed to make drivers safer once they have passed their test
• police forces across the country will be able to remove more dangerous drivers from UK roads, thanks to new government funding •£750,000 grant for police forces in England and Wales will fund more officers with drug recognition and impairment testing skills to enable more effective and targeted enforcement
• a grant of £50 million over the next 4 years will support Bikeability cycle training in schools •this funding will help to increase children’s road awareness, encouraging children to be healthy and active
• since its inception, more than 1.5 million school children have received training through the Bikeability scheme – we expect to train 275,000 children during 2015/16
• the government will consult on changes to improve cycle safety to ensure sideguards are not removed from HGVs but remain permanently fitted
• the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) for learner motorcyclists will be strengthened and there will be a consultation on a range of further proposals to support safer motorcycling
• a £2 million in-depth research programme will be launched to identify the best possible driver education, training and behaviour-change interventions for learner and novice drivers
• motorists who endanger lives by using hand held mobile phones while driving will face an increase from the current 3 penalty points to 4, while the fixed penalty notice will rise from £100 to £150 •for larger vehicles such as HGVs where the consequences of an accident can be much more severe, the penalty will increase from the current 3 points to 6 and the fixed penalty notice will rise from £100 to £150

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

“Britain has some of the safest roads in the world but we are always looking to improve that record.

“Today we are delivering common sense proposals that balance tougher penalties for dangerous drivers with practical steps to help youngsters and other more vulnerable groups stay safe on our roads.”

Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation, said:

“One in five young drivers has an accident within 6 months of passing their test so putting the learning process under the spotlight has to be a good thing.

“Mile for mile motorways are our safest roads but can be intimidating places for novice drivers. Exploring ways of letting learners have controlled access to them is welcome.

“The important thing is the official seal of approval provided by the approved driving instructor who will accompany them down the slip-road. This is definitely not the time to have mum or dad in the passenger seat.”

A series of consultations on the specific proposals announced today will follow next year (2016).

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unveils-host-of-measures-to-further-improve-road-safety

Think what a drink drive conviction could cost you. There are strict penalties including:

http://roadsafety-gloucestershire.org.uk/drink-drug-drive/drink-drug-drive-consequences/#Jess

All working speed cameras on the strategic road network will be yellow by October 2016.
Ministers ordered a review of speed camera policy on motorways earlier this year and Highways England has confirmed its plan to increase the visibility of all speed cameras on the
network.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:

“We are on the side of honest motorists. I’ve always been clear that cameras should be visible and get used for safety rather than revenue raising. This move is about applying common sense to our roads. Speed cameras should make journeys safer rather than lead to dangerous braking. I’m delighted Highways England has agreed to meet our timetable to achieve this.”

There are approximately 200 camera sites on England’s motorways, some of which contain multiple cameras.

Existing guidelines already make clear that where cameras are used on the strategic road network signs must be put up to alert drivers. This latest move will ensure maximum visibility of the cameras themselves.

The majority of colour changes will take place during standard renewal of speed camera units alongside other planned work to minimise the cost. Units which are not due to be upgraded within this time frame will be made yellow.

Highways England will be monitoring its camera sites to address any impact the change in colour has for drivers.
The government has also taken action at a local level. Local authorities and the police are required to publish information on the impact of speed cameras on road safety, so that they can be held accountable locally.

Clear guidance for local authorities on speed cameras states that fixed speed camera housings located within an area of street or highway lighting should be coloured yellow either by painting both the front and back of the housing or covering both the front and back of the housing with retro-reflective sheeting. In an area not covered by street or highway lighting, the speed camera housing should be treated with yellow retro-reflective sheeting.

Source: AIRSO 27/11/2015

TRL develops eCall test procedures ahead of 2018 deadline

The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), has developed new test procedures for the European type-approval of eCall in-vehicle systems.

The eCall system installs a device in vehicles that will automatically alert emergency services in the event of a serious road accident.

Following legislation from the European Parliament and EU member states, eCall will become mandatory across Europe from 2018 in a move to reduce the time it takes for the emergency services to reach casualties, thereby improving survival chances.

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) points to research which shows that with eCall, emergency service response time will be cut by around 50% in rural areas and 40% in urban areas. And a German study, “STORM” (Stuttgart Transport Operation by Regional Management), showed almost 50% rescue time improvement in rural areas, with a net gain of around 10 minutes.

The system works by wirelessly sending airbag deployment and impact sensor information, as well as GPS coordinates, to local emergency agencies.

The TRL draft proposals, which were developed for the European Commission, provide recommendations on the safety requirements for eCall systems and aim to ensure that sub-standard system designs, which could jeopardise the safety of road users, will not be allowed onto the European market.

Matthias Seidl, senior vehicle safety researcher at TRL, said: “Our in-house test sled allows us to simulate collisions with peak decelerations considerably higher than most current vehicle tests. These high levels are necessary to ensure that eCall systems are still able to make an emergency call, even after a severe crash.”

“The results can be used to help shape the technical discussions at an international level in order to ensure that the same level of protection is provided to road users around the world. In fact, the suggested European standards have also been proposed to the United Nations working group on automatic emergency call systems.”

– See more at: http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/4703.html

Source: Road Safety GB 13/11/15

– See more at: http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/4697.html#sthash.rQ4QLDvp.dpuf

Source: Road Safety UK

British drivers find road signs confusing with some not even able to recognise the national speed limit.

A survey found that 90% of British drivers said they found road signs confusing, with a third unable to recognise the national speed limit and more than 40% confused by the ‘no vehicles’ sign.

Sixty years after the introduction of standardised road signs in the UK, the figures, from car finance broker Zuto, found that almost half of drivers believed that there were too many signs on the road, with one-in-twenty admitting they’ve made driving mistakes due to confusing road signs.

Almost one in ten said they found the ‘men’ at work road sign sexist and due for a makeover, while over four million UK drivers don’t understand the ‘level crossing without a barrier’ sign, a further 31% failed to recognise the National Speed Limit sign.

 James Wilkinson, CEO of Zuto, commented: “As the research has shown, I’m sure every motorist can relate to being baffled by road signs at some point and, after 60 years serving the UK roads, perhaps it’s time for some signs to enter retirement.”

The research also revealed that one in four don’t recognise the ‘Cars & Motorbikes Prohibited’ sign, with 13% incorrectly believing the exact opposite of the sign’s meaning – that cars and motorbikes are allowed.

But Britain’s most confusing sign is one only half of all motorists recognise, the admittedly bizarre sign for ‘no vehicles carrying explosives’, while almost a quarter don’t understand the archaic ‘no horse drawn vehicles’ sign.

Confusing road signs:

• Signs which tell drivers to increase space – 42%

• Signs which warn of emergency vehicles approaching – 41%

• Signs which tell drivers using mobile phones to stop – 41%

• Signs which all read the same in critical situations i.e. emergency – 36%

• Signs which allow drivers to communicate i.e. Stop Tailgating! – 27%

• Signs which graphically depict accidents to deter reckless driving – 18%

• Hologram signs on the road, rather than on the sides, to avoid distraction – 13%

Source; adi NEWS

http://www.adinews.co.uk/#!British-drivers-confused-by-road-signs/c1nni/5629f1fc0cf201c73ae57204

We share the roads, Respect everyone’s Journey.

Warning: the content of this road safety film contains graphic images which some viewers may find upsetting.

Source: DOE Northern Ireland. accessed 02/10/2015