Welcome to Road Safety Wales
12/8/10
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Jon Davies Scarlet’s centre, 9 year old Cara Edwards competition Winner, Tracey Lewis Road Safety Special Events Co-ordinator, 11 year old Kai Silverthorne competition Winner and Tavis Knoyle scarlet’s Scrum Half. Picture Jeff Connell |
Make sure you are seen - wear luminous green, and, protect your head - improve your street cred…
These are among the poetic lines delivered by hundreds of primary school children across the county who entered a Carmarthenshire Council road safety poetry competition.
English poem winner nine-year-old Cara Edwards is a pupil at Llanegennech Junior School and the Welsh winner is Kai Silverstone, of Ysgol Ponthenri.
They received their prizes at Parc-y-Scarlets after delivering their poetic works based on varied aspects of road safety as walking, cycling seat belt and helmet wearing.
As well as having their poems professionally illustrated the winners also were awarded a signed Scarlets jersey.
Carmarthenshire Council chief executive Mark James said: “Our transport teams do tremendous work getting safety messages across to youngsters at an early age.
“This was a innovative idea get impressionable children from seven to 11-year-olds involved in thinking about road safety in a colourful, memorable and inventive way.”
12/8/10
Lollipop men and women from schools across Rhondda Cynon Taf were given the latest training and advice to help them combat the risks of the road. The awareness-raising event was organised by RCT Council’s Road Safety Unit to benefit school crossing patrol staff.
They attended the Mayor’s Chamber in the Municipal Buildings, Pontypridd, for presentations on training, occupational health, risk assessments and the latest update in their field of work.
Mayor Councillor Simon Lloyd was guest of honour and spoke at the event, as well as Councillor Andrew Morgan, Cabinet Member for Transport, Customer Care and Emergency Planning.
The school crossing patrol staff were then given the opportunity to ask questions and also air their views on the service.
Coun Morgan said: “Events such as these happen because they are very important.
“We invited all school crossing patrol staff to the Municipal Buildings so they could find out the latest information and ensure we heard their views on the service.
“I am so pleased so many were able to attend and find out more, we consider them to be very valuable members of staff who work in the community on behalf of young people come rain or shine.”
Pedestrian and Motorist Advice given on the day included:
Stop means stop – motorists must stop when signalled to do so by a school crossing patrol and it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act not to obey the STOP sign.
Patrols are trained never to hold up traffic for longer than is absolutely necessary, but motorists must be patient with them, as they will always wait until the last pedestrian has reached the opposite pavement before they leave their position.
Remember the Patrol needs time to get back safely to their side of the road as well, so please don’t pull away too quickly.
The School Crossing Patrol, when on duty, is there for everyone, young or old, that might wish to cross the road at the patrol point.
11/8/10
Twenty-one McDonald’s restaurants across Wales support campaign to educate young people about responsible driving
Local McDonald’s franchisee Ron Mounsey today announces his support for a campaign which aims to educate young people in Wales about the dangers and consequences of poor driving.
The campaign, pertinently called ‘Deadly Mates’, was set up to tackle the high number of young people killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions on Welsh roads. In 2009, 24 young people aged between 17 and 24 were killed either as drivers, passengers or riders in road traffic accidents in Wales – nearly a quarter of all fatalities.
Ron Mounsey and his team of staff at seven of his restaurants across Carmarthen, Swansea, Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock, will distribute over 70,000 ‘Deadly Mates’ leaflets to young people visiting the restaurants and drive-thru areas this year. The leaflets, along with hard-hitting posters set to be displayed in the restaurants, prompt young drivers to think more responsibly about driving safely and tackle the issue of peer pressure, encouraging young passengers to speak up if they feel their friends are driving carelessly.
Deadly Mates is funded and managed by the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership and supported by the four Welsh police forces, local authorities, Welsh Assembly Government, HMCS and the emergency services. Ron Mounsey’s involvement follows a successful pilot launch in Bangor and Caernarfon in 2008, and it is one of twenty-one McDonald’s restaurants across Wales supporting the initiative.
Ron Mounsey said: “This is the first time we’ve decided to proactively give out leaflets to our young customers and it’s because we believe the Deadly Mates campaign can have a real impact. The posters and leaflets are very hard hitting and young drivers are going to be given them just at a time when they could make all the difference. We serve thousands of young people in our restaurants and drive-thrus every month so we hope our involvement will raise awareness of the risks of reckless driving and peer distraction and directly help reduce the number of accidents and deaths of young people on Welsh roads.”
Jim Moore, manager of the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, said: “Unfortunately, far too many young people are losing their lives every year in road traffic collisions in Wales, either as passengers or drivers. By linking up with McDonald’s, we hope to get the message out there that poor driving can have devastating consequences for those behind the wheel and their passengers.”
Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service RTC Reduction Officer said: “It is great to be working with partners from the public and private sectors, in order to educate young people on road safety. McDonald’s has a huge potential to reach young drivers who visit their restaurants and should be applauded for their commitment to the safety of their customers. We would encourage all young drivers to engage in Pass Plus and other advanced driving courses.”
11/8/10
A mother who lost her 16-year-old son in a crash has urged young people to have the "courage" to get out of a car if they are worried about the driver. Angela Smith's son Kyle was a passenger in a car driven by a teenager who lost control in Cardiff in 2005.
She is supporting Deadly Mates, a road safety campaign targeting the young.
Campaign posters are being put up in 21 McDonald's restaurants in Wales and flyers are also being printed.
In 2009, 24 young people were killed in road crashes in Wales.
Kyle had visited a McDonald's shortly before his death, and Mrs Smith, of Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan, said: "Had someone handed out a flyer to the driver of the car my son was travelling in, then perhaps he would still be here.
"It might have made the driver think."
Deadly Mates is funded and managed by the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership and supported by the four Welsh police forces, local authorities, the Welsh Assembly Government, the courts service and the other emergency services.
In 2009, 24 young people aged between 17 and 24 were killed either as drivers, passengers or riders in road traffic accidents in Wales - nearly a quarter of all fatalities.
Mrs Smith added: "I think it's fantastic McDonald's is involved. It seems a perfect partnership because McDonald's is popular with young drivers.
"Anything that makes people aware of the dangers of speed and irresponsible driving is invaluable. If it saves one life then it would have been a success."
She said her son's death had "destroyed" her family's lives.
Kyle was travelling in a Renault Clio car along with his 15-year-old brother, which was being driven by a 19-year-old neighbour.
Kyle did not have a seat in the car and was not wearing a seatbelt, and when the driver lost control Kyle was catapulted out of a window.
"Young people need to have the courage to get out of a car if they think the driver isn't good enough and not up to it. A lot of these deaths can be avoided," she added.
Jim Moore, manager of the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, said far too many young people were losing their lives in road traffic collisions in Wales, either as passengers or drivers.
He added: "By linking up with McDonald's, we hope to get the message out there that poor driving can have devastating consequences for those behind the wheel and their passengers."
A spokesman for Mid and West Wales Fire and Sescue Service said McDonald's had a "huge potential to reach young drivers who visit their restaurants and should be applauded for their commitment to the safety of their customers".
10/8/10 
Teenagers were given the chance to take the wheel for the day, as part of the ongoing range of exciting opportunities offered by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Services for Young People E3+ scheme.
Fifteen young people signed up for the Driving School at Hawthorn Comprehensive School, which was delivered in partnership between Services for Young People and Awesome Driving School.
It gave the pupils aged 14 and above the chance to enjoy a day of driving and learning basic skills in a real environment, not a simulator. They covered aspects of the theory sessions, before taking to the wheel of one of five cars from the driving school in the afternoon.
The day was a huge success and forms part of a wider programme of events organised at Hawthorn Comprehensive School for its pupils, those who attend its cluster schools and the wider community, for the summer holidays.
Cllr Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said: “This is yet another example of the world of opportunities we are offering young people via the far-reaching and innovative Services for Young People.
“Throughout the long summer holidays, the department is working to not only beat boredom, but also introduce young people to a wide range of opportunities and activities that are based on what young people themselves have said they want.
“Barriers such as transport and cost have been removed, leaving an exciting, enriching and extensive range of extra-curricular activities.”
For more information on Services for Young People and opportunities for the community, visit www.wicid.tv
6/8/10
Speeding drivers in Blaenau Gwent now face having their speeds flashed up on new boards in an effort to slow them down. Gwent Police and Blaenau Gwent Council are now using new roadside speed boards to raise awareness of drivers’ speeds in local communities.
The new speed boards will be used where local people have raised concerns about the speed of vehicles - with the first now fully operational on Intermediate Road in Brynmawr.
A number of wards in Blaenau Gwent have identified "speeding" as one of their three priorities at their regular People and Communities Together
(PACT) meetings.
The new speed boards record the details of specific vehicles - but they are not "speed cameras" and are not an "enforcement" device. The aim is to raise awareness of the speeds that motorists are travelling at in areas which have been identified by local communities.
In addition, these devices provide accurate information about the average speeds of vehicles to establish the level of the problem in the areas where the signs are installed. Local people will be provided feedback at their PACT meetings. If initial surveys indicate that additional enforcement of speed limits is needed then this will be consider.
The speed boards will be moved on a regular basis to different locations throughout the country borough of Blaenau Gwent. Eventually every area should have the opportunity to have the speed boards, if local people request it.
Partnership Inspector, Phillip Morris, said "We purchased the "speed boards", as a result of listening to the concerns raised by communities in PACT meetings. The new boards will be used to educate drivers and provide valuable information to the Police, Partners and the community, so that we can all work together to ensure that road casualties continue to reduce in Blaenau Gwent
Coun John Mason, Deputy Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council, said: "We are working with Gwent Police to tackle the problems of speeding and irresponsible motoring. The police speed boards can show motorists exactly how fast they are driving - and the information can be added up to give an accurate picture of average vehicle speed.
Local people have serious concerns about speeding. Speed boards help us guage the problems accurately - and we will report back to local people at PACT meetings.”
4/8/10An event aimed at raising awareness of road safety is being hosted by North Wales Police. To tie in with the Force's eight-week summer campaign aimed at promoting good partnership working between the police, other emergency services and local councils, North Wales Police are hosting a ‘Motorist Education Event' in Llandudno on Friday, August 6th.
This particular event ties in with the Road Safety theme and will see the weekend campaign begin next Friday evening, between 6 and 10pm in Mostyn Champneys outside the park's Homebase store.
Taking part in the event are the Llandudno Neighbourhood Policing Team, North Wales Police' Roads Policing Unit, Deadly Mates, Bikesafe, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service with their fire bike and Impact Roadshow, the Welsh Ambulance Service and Conwy County Borough Council. Also supporting the event are Homebase and JJB Sports.
PC Gary Donnelly, Community Beat Manager for the Mostyn ward said: "We hope this event will encourage drivers, and in particular young drivers, to exercise greater responsibility for themselves, peers and other road users whilst driving.
"By working in partnership with other agencies we want to get across messages such as the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt, driving too fast and using mobile phones.
He added: "We want to encourage as many people as possible to attend so that they can take advantage of this great opportunity to engage with us."
Paramedic, Dermot O'Leary, the Welsh Ambulance Service's Volunteer Road Safety Champion in North Wales said: "All too often, as a frontline emergency service, we see the devastating impact that incidents on and around the road can have. It can affect not just immediate family, but friends, neighbours and whole communities. We want to make sure that people think twice about the dangers and distractions not just on the road but also the ones affecting pedestrians as well."
Also supporting the events are the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Community Safety Team member, Richard Westwood said: "We are hoping that the day will help these young people understand our life saving safety messages, and help to drive down the tragically high number of youngsters losing their lives in road traffic collisions. By using visual demonstrations such as the impact road show it gives the youngsters an opportunity to see for themselves how firefighters cut a person out of a car and the effects of an incident involving cutting a person free."
Martyn Schlangen, Safer Roads Officer at Conwy County Borough Council said: "Road Safety is everyone's responsibility. We work with Wales Casualty Reduction Partnership and the Emergency Services to make our roads safer for everyone to use.
He added: "The Motorist Education Event in Llandudno will give road users an opportunity to learn what is being done and how to play a part. There will be lots of information available and professionals will be on hand to answer any questions."
Leaflet
3/8/10
The latest Official Statistics on Monitoring ‘A Walking and Cycling Action Plan for Wales 2009-2013’ produced by the Welsh Assembly Government were released on 3 August 2010 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.
Statistics on Monitoring ‘A Walking and Cycling Action Plan for Wales 2009-2013’ include data for Wales for 2007 up to 2009. This is the first of a series of bulletins that will be released on an annual basis.
The key points from this release are:
- The target to increase the percentage of children who walk to school to match the UK National Average was met in 2007-08. The percentage of 5-16 year olds walking to school in Wales is currently 45 per cent.
- The target to triple the percentage of children cycling to school cannot currently be monitored against the baseline set in the Action Plan due to a substantial change in the survey used to monitor this target. Work is currently underway with colleagues responsible for the Action Plan to develop an alternative data source.
- The target to increase the number of people who walk to work to 20 per cent has not been met currently. However, the latest available data does show that there has been an increase in the proportion of people walking to work up from the baseline of 10.3 per cent to 11.0 per cent.
- The target to triple the percentage of adults whose main mode of travel to work is cycling has not been met currently. The latest available data shows that the proportion of adults cycling to work is stable at the baseline level of 1.4 per cent.
- The target to increase the number of people walking for recreation to 50 per cent has not been met currently. The latest available data shows that the proportion of adults who have done any walking (over 2 miles) in the past four weeks has fallen to 34 per cent from the baseline of 40 per cent.
- The target to double the percentage of adults cycling for recreation has not been met currently. However, the latest available data does show that there has been an increase in the proportion of people who have cycled in the past four weeks up from the baseline of 5 per cent to 8 per cent.
SB 65/2010 'Walking & Cycling Action Plan for Wales 2009 – 2013’, Monitoring Report
30/7/10
Pictured are students from the Lluest Equine Centre, University Aberystwyth who have recently taken their British Horse Society Riding and Road Safety Test.
The students were trained by Ceredigion Road Safety Officer Terry Jones who is a qualified Riding and Road Safety Trainer and examiner.
The Riding and Road Safety test certificate is a pre-requisite for the B.H.S stage 2 examination. Riders must show knowledge of road craft, both theoretically and practically, compiled with road awareness and horse control and must also be able to demonstrate knowledge of the Highway Code and Riding and Roadcraft Manual.
The test is recognised by the Qualifications Curriculum Authority as part of the National Qualifications Framework and Equestrian Qualifications and Learning.
30/7/10
Caerphilly County Borough’s longest walking bus belongs to Ysgol-y-Lawnt in Rhymney – with a staggering 186 walkers on board!
As part of national Walk to School Week recently, hundreds of children from primary schools across Caerphilly county borough took part in a special ‘Walking Bus’ competition.
Ysgol-y-Lawnt in Rhymney were crowned the winners of the competition after 186 pupils, teachers, parents and support staff made theirs the longest walking bus in Caerphilly county borough and probably one of the longest in the whole of Wales.
Officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and even the local vicar came along and took part in the 20-minute walk to school.
Cllr Rob Gough, Cabinet Member for Transportation and Planning presented Ysgol-y-Lawnt with a beautiful glass trophy as their prize for winning the competition.
He said, “I am delighted that so many young people have signed up to walk to school across Caerphilly County Borough. Not only do walking buses help promote road safety and reduce congestion, they also help tackle pollution and help promote a healthier lifestyle for our young people.”
He continued, “A special congratulations must of course go to Ysgol-y-Lawnt in Rhymney for achieving the County Borough’s longest walking bus.”
Schools across the Caerphilly County Borough hope to build upon this success in time for October, which is International Walk to School Month.
For further information on Walking Buses or School Travel Plans in Caerphilly CBC, please contact Susan Davies, School Travel Plans Co-ordinator on 01495 235 402.
28/7/10
Supported by
The annual Welsh Road Safety Awards recognise the good road safety practice, innovative projects and personal contributions being undertaken in Wales. The Award Scheme publicises and raises awareness of the contributions towards road casualty reduction targets.
Nominations should be submitted on the attached form, (accompanied by any relevant supporting material) no later than Friday 20 August 2010. The Award winners will be invited to receive their Award at the Road Safety Wales Conference dinner on Tuesday 21 September at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells. Award winners will receive £100 and a souvenir gift.
Download the Nomination Form here
Please return this form by to:
Road Safety Wales, RoSPA, 2 Cwrt-y-Parc, Llanishen, Cardiff, CF14 5GH
Fax: 029 2025 0601 E-mail: jbibby@rospa.com
View 2009 winners here
27/7/10
A Gwynedd teenager is celebrating a bonus award after taking part in a campaign to help young drivers stay safe while behind the wheel of a car. The Pass Plus Cymru scheme is a driver improvement course targeted at young drivers aimed at improving their general motoring skills and driving down the chances of being involved in an accident.
The scheme, which is supported by the Gwynedd Road Safety Partnership, awards a £250 cash prize to one participant every three months. The winner this season is Llanrug teenager Morys Williams.
Morys, 18, a student at Coleg Menai, Bangor said: “It was great to have the extra training with a professional after passing my test and to pay only £20 was even better.”
Young people taking part in the scheme will pick up tips and pointers about:
- Heading off on the motorway
- Driving techniques and hazard awareness
- Getting around at night
- Coping with busy towns and cities
- Driving on rural country roads
Colin Jones, Gwynedd Council’s Road Safety Manager, a member of the Gwynedd Road Safety Partnership, said:
“The Pass Plus Cymru scheme is a great way for young people to improve their driving skills and be less likely to injure themselves, their passengers or other road users in a road accident.
“Sadly, drivers in this age group are the most likely to involved in accidents and anything we can do to prevent this is good news indeed.
“Everyone who takes part in the scheme is entered into a draw and one lucky winner will win £250. Well done to Morys Williams for winning this draw.”
The Pass Plus Cymru course costs £20. Those interested in taking part should visit the website www.dragondriver.com
26/7/10
Swansea Road Safety Team recently held it’s annual Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSO) Club Conference. It was held on Wednesday 14 July 2010, at the Scout & Guide HQ, Brynmill, Swansea.
All primary schools in Swansea that participate in the scheme were invited to send their JRSOs along for the day. A total of 63 children from 19 schools attended and had a great day.
The day was based on Road Safety and included sets from South Wales Police, Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service, Get Cycling and the Swansea Road Safety Team. All the JRSOs had great fun and learnt a lot about road safety. This knowledge can then be passed on by them to their school friends, teachers and families.
To view the latest Swansea JRSO newsletter click here
16/7/10
At this time of year thousands of us head off to one of the many local or national summer shows and festivals around Wales. One of the largest events, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show runs next week, and offers the opportunity for a timely road safety reminder to attendees in and around the busy showground.
Susan Storch, Chair of Road Safety Wales said, “Event co-ordinators at the Royal Welsh Show strive to ensure that everyone attending has an enjoyable and safe time, we would however encourage people to take personal responsibility as pedestrians, passengers, riders and drivers.
“A festival atmosphere can cause people to take risks which they would normally never take. We want people to enjoy the Show without putting themselves or others in danger on the road.
“It’s particularly important to take extra care if alcohol has been consumed. As it takes several hours for alcohol to disappear from the body, someone who was drinking the previous evening could very easily still be impaired or over the limit on their journey home the next day.”
Powys County Council Road Safety Team will be on hand throughout the Show, Sarah Morris Principal Road Safety Officer for Powys and the Vice Chair of Road Safety Wales encouraged show-goers to visit the stand, saying, “The Royal Welsh Show provides us with a great opportunity to raise awareness of a number of initiatives developed to reduce road casualties. Here we can engage with the full range of road users; from children to older drivers; providing tips and road safety advice as well as highlighting key messages and signposting attendees to a host of road safety schemes available throughout Wales.”
BikeSafe, the motorcycle assessment scheme offered by all four Welsh Police Forces, will be promoted at the stand along with Pass Plus Cymru, an initiative which offers young drivers the opportunity of further training. Now into its fourth year, in excess of eight thousand novice drivers have participated in the Pass Plus Cymru initiative. Available in all 22 Welsh Local Authorities, the cost is an affordable £20 thanks to a heavy subsidy made possible as a result of special Welsh Assembly Government funding.
13/7/10Primary pupils on Anglesey provide the vocal talent behind a new educational DVD aim
ed at promoting responsible behaviour on school buses.
Pupils from Ysgol y Fali became professional recording artists for a day when the North Wales School Transport Project ZOom asked them to record bilingual voice-overs for the “Fit To Travel” DVD.
ZOom is a WLGA funded project and works in collaboration with all six North Wales Authorities. The project looks at innovative methods to reduce anti social conduct such as driver distraction, truancy, bullying and vandalism.
The interactive DVD will be distributed to more than 450 North Wales primary schools. “Fit To Travel”, which highlights the issues of bullying and driver distraction on school transport, is aimed at year six pupils who’ll soon be using school transport to get to their new secondary school.
A normal class room was converted into a temporary recording studio and housed 12 bilingual voice-over artists for the day. In the usual ZOom sprit the DVD is creative, thought provoking and heaps of fun.
The lesson based DVD will be teacher led and includes roll playing of bullying and behaviour which causes driver distraction. The aim is to discuss uncomfortable situations, teach courteous conduct and to empathise with fellow passengers. The DVD will encourage responsible pupil behaviour if they’re confronted with a real situation in the future.
Anglesey’s Head of Highway Services, Dewi Williams, explained, “Fit To Travel is a scenario based DVD which looks at a number of topics including unruly behaviour and vandalism. The DVD provides a great way of interacting with students and gauging their reaction in a safe environment. Pupils learn by discussing how they’d react differently if ever confronted by a similar situation on school transport in the future.”
Highways portfolio holder, Councillor Hefin Thomas, added, “School Bus safety is a very serious matter and so it’s important that we educate pupils. In keeping with the ZOom style the DVD is informative, interesting, stimulating as well as educational. This, I believe, makes for a great learning experience.”
8/7/10
The annual Illustrated Poem Competition, jointly organised by the Road Safety Team of Capita Symonds and Heddlu Gwent Police, has been a resounding success with 676 entries received.
Pupils in schools across Gwent were asked to write and illustrate a poem outlining the importance of in-car safety. The most popular themes in the winning entries were correct use of seatbelts and the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving. Some less obvious themes were also highlighted, for example making sure that your dog is
safely restrained on journeys.
Penny Thorpe, Principal Road Safety Officer with Capita Symonds said, “I am delighted with the number of entries for this competition. Hundreds of young people have thought hard about the implications and risks of car travel in order to write their poems, the end result will be safer drivers in the years to come.”
The winning entries were awarded cash prizes by Gwent Police ACC Jeff Farrar at a special ceremony at County Hall at the start of Child Safety Week.
Winner
|
Amber Turner |
Gilfach Fargoed Primary, Caerphilly |
| Runner Up |
Lydia Hemmings |
Gilwern Primary School, Monmouthshire |
| Runner Up |
Emily Vokes |
Gilfach Fargoed Primary, Caerphilly |
| Highly Commended |
Stephanie Pretlove |
Eveswell Primary, Newport |
| Best School |
Shirenewton Primary |
|
Winner
|
Jessica Bardsley |
Risca Community Comprehensive, Caerphilly |
| Runner Up |
Hope Johnson |
St Joseph’s High School, Newport |
| Runner Up |
Ffion Berry |
Blackwood Comprehensive |
| Best School |
Blackwood Comprehensive |
|
8/7/10
The number of people injured in road accidents in Swansea has fallen by 132.
Swansea Councils Road Safety Team and local police have welcomed the latest road casualties figures which were published recently by the Department for Transport.
The figures showed that 836 road casualties were reported in 2009 compared to 968 in 2008.
The safety work is also helping to reduce the number of accidents and casualties involving children on Swansea roads. Latest figures show the number of accidents involving children are at an all-time low with 82 casualties recorded for children aged up to 15 years. Up to 15 years ago, the figures for the same age group were more than double.
Cllr John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment in Swansea Council, said: "Our aim is to ensure our roads are as safe as possible for both motorists and pedestrians.
"I'm pleased that we're having a positive effect in terms of reducing accident figures involving children. The continuing road safety work along with good road safety education will ensure all our children are safe on roads."
Jeff Green, Swansea Council's Road Safety Officer, said: "It's clear that the work we're doing in conjunction with the emergency services is having a positive impact in reducing road casualty figures.
"The introduction of 20mph speed limits and other traffic calming measures in communities is helping slow down traffic and results in much safer walking communities for children and the elderly."
8/7/10
Neath Port Talbot Trading Standards, Road Safety and Mid and West Wales Fire Rescue Services carried out an extensive week long series of events including child car seat checks as part of Child Safety Week 2010.
NPT has carried out child car safety checks over a number of years and as a result have seen a marked improvement in the number of seats failing the checks. Nearly all failures are due to incorrect fitting of the seat into the vehicle. The successful and well attended safety check roadshows were staged at Tesco, Pontardawe and Morrisons, Baglan Moors. Parents found the child car seat installation demonstrations effective and informative.
A total of 178 seats were examined, with 65 (36%) passing and 113 (64%) failing. This is an improvement on the past rates of around 80% failing. The commitment of this successful partnership is clearly demonstrated by the increased levels of awareness this initiative has shown and by the decrease in failure rates.
Council Leader Ali Thomas said "Neath Port Talbot take the safety of all our residents very seriously indeed. We are pro-active in educating communities to the dangers of incorrectly fitting a child's car safety seat and we will continue to support these initiatives across the authority to safeguard our children's future well being."
7/7/10
Young drivers looking to buy their first car can now get helpful advice thanks to a free booklet, Powys County Council has announced. The council’s Road Safety Unit and Trading Standards Service have joined forces to offer a booklet called ‘On the road: A guide to buying your first car’. The booklet has been produce by the Trading Standards Institute.
The booklet will be distributed by the Road Safety Unit to secondary school pupils in years 11 and 12 as part of their road safety lessons. The 32-page booklet provides information on numerous aspects of buying your first car including legal rights, dealing with problems, common problems and maintaining your car.
Cllr Geraint Hopkins, Board Member responsible for Road Safety, said: “Ensuring that our roads are safe for everyone is an important aim for our Road Safety Unit. By providing this booklet to young drivers as part of their road safety lessons, they can avoid any pitfalls when they want to buy their first car and ensure that it is safe and road worthy.”
Cllr Graham Brown, Board Member responsible for Public Protection, said: "Buying a car is a big step, and it's important to think about what you want before you start looking. Making these important decisions will help you to avoid problems later on. Even if you don't know anything about how a car works, there are things that you can look out for before you buy your car to check that it is safe, legal and in a reasonable condition.
In addition to being distributed in schools, limited copies of the booklet are available from the Road Safety Unit or Trading Standards Service. To request your free copy, ring 0845 6027030 or 01597 827460 and ask for Trading Standards or the Road Safety Unit or email trading.standards@powys.gov.uk to request a copy.
If you require consumer advice about the purchase of a car please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit their website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
6/7/10
In a feature titled Stories of Survival, BBC Wales' popular programme
X-Ray covered
how a motorcyclist, Malcolm Roberts, survived a horrific accident.
North Wales BikeSafe Co-ordinator, Paul Cheshire, provided tips for safer biking and highlighted the importance of keeping skills updated.
View the story here
For more information about BikeSafe Workshops visit www.bikesafe.co.uk
28/6/10
Road Safety Wales, the partnership of all key road safety personnel across Wales has announced the appointment of Susan Storch as its new Chairperson and Sarah Morris as Vice Chair.
Susan Storch, civilian Road Safety Officer for Dyfed Powys Police, succeeds Joy Smith, Road Safety Manager for Neath Port Talbot, who expanded the role of Chairperson during her four year tenure.
Susan has previously worked as an Approved Driving Instructor and a Road Safety Officer with Carmarthenshire County Council.
She welcomed her appointment saying, “I am delighted to accept the role and very much look forward to continuing to develop and stimulate national road safety initiatives which will keep Wales on track as one of the safest countries in the world in which to travel. Together with Vice Chair, Sarah Morris, Principal Road Safety Officer for Powys, I hope to consolidate the good work in road casualty reduction carried out throughout Wales. Making our roads safer is a challenge for all of us and the Road Safety Wales partnership will ensure that future road safety education, training and publicity schemes undertaken in Wales are as relevant as possible.”
24/6/10The Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones today welcomed new statistics that show the number of people either killed or injured on Welsh roads is the lowest since records began in 1968. The figures - ‘Road Casualties in Wales, 2009’ – show the number of road accidents, injuries and deaths have all seen falls compared to the previous year.
- During 2009 there were 7,126 road accidents involving personal injury recorded by the police in Wales, 658 (8 per cent) fewer than in 2008.
- These accidents resulted in 10,354 casualties, 832 (7 per cent) fewer than in 2008.
- 125 people were killed on Welsh roads, 17 (12 per cent) fewer than in 2008.
- 1,096 people were seriously injured in 2009, 158 (13 per cent) fewer than in 2008.
- 9,133 people were slightly injured, a decrease of 657 (7 per cent) compared with the previous year.
The Minister said:
“These figures show that casualties on our roads are now the lowest since records began. In every category, from deaths to the number of accidents, we have seen falls and this must be welcomed.
“I believe it is only right to pay tribute to all the organisations involved in road safety who have contributed to this success. The Welsh Assembly Government will continue to work in partnership with local authorities, the police, the Fire and Rescue Service and road safety organisations to highlight the importance of road safety and to remind all road users of their responsibilities to themselves and others.
“The allocation of over £30 million since 2007 has enabled local authorities to implement a range of road safety projects that have contributed to this downward trend of casualties that we see today.”
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Road Casualties, 2009
22/6/10
The Children’s Traffic Club has celebrated another successful year in Pembrokeshire. At Cilgerran Church in Wales VC School, the reception and nursery class children had fun at the Club’s annual party.
The pupils learnt all about the club before playing party games and dressing up as Larry Look and Lucy Listen to learn how to stay safe on or near the roads.
They were given goody bags and cake to take home. All the children are signed as members of the club.
“Three and four-year-olds learn through play and fun,” said Councillor Jamie Adams, Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning.
“The Children’s Traffic Club pack is an excellent resource for all parents and guardians to use to encourage the teaching of road safety at such a vulnerable age.”
The club activity books introduce friends such as Sammy Seatbelt, Rhonda Red and Handy Hold.
Children around the county can become members at special children traffic club events at their school, organised by Pembrokeshire’s road safety office. Alternatively, they can receive information on the Club from Health Visitors from the local health trust at the child’s 36 month check up.
Membership is free as the registration fee is paid by Pembrokeshire County Council from funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
Once parents/guardians have registered, their child will receive their first book, followed by a further five books at regular intervals.
Pembrokeshire County Councillor Jamie Adams added: “The Children’s Traffic Club is an effective and proven way to deliver road safety information to pre-school children.
“The message is reinforced at school early years units, playgroups and nurseries through the Children’s Traffic Club Nursery Pack.”
Nursery packs can be acquired free of charge by all school early years units, playgroups and nurseries by contacting County Council road safety education officer Kirstie-Anne Donoghue on 01437 775434.
21/6/10
Encouraging residents in Neath Port Talbot to take up walking and cycling as a way to improve their health has taken a major step forward this week. To coincide with National Bike Week (19-27 June), the Council has launched a four year walking and cycling strategy which aims to change social attitudes towards walking and cycling.
The Council's climate change team has organised a Bike Festival in Margam Park on 26th June to celebrate the launch of the strategy.
The local community, families and anyone who wants to get on their bike or go for a walk are invited to this free event. There will be cycle routes for all ages and abilities, training in cycle skills and bike maintenance as well as themed walks, a picnic and a treasure hunt for children.
"Creating a healthier society is the driving force behind this initiative," said Council Leader, Ali Thomas.
"The strategy has been out to wide public consultation and has now been adopted by the Council.
"We must now increase awareness of the health benefits to be gained and promote how cycling and walking can easily be a part of everyday life."
The strategy sets out ways of improving levels of fitness across the county borough. These include making communities more active through walking and cycling, promoting tourism opportunities, improving the walking and cycling network and encouraging people to walk or cycle to work.
18/6/10
A Monmouthshire schoolgirl put her best foot forward recently to raise money for the Welsh children's cancer charity, Latch. Ten-year-old Robyn Evans, a pupil at Rogiet Primary School, took part in the glow walk.
This was a walk around Caerleon starting from Caerleon Comprehensive School which saw around 500 people taking part.
Organiser of the glow walk, Helen Beveridge, said they are now on target to raising around £6,000 for this charity once all the sponsorship comes in.
She said the walk went "brilliantly" and that they hope to hold it again next year. As part of her preparation for the walk, year five pupil Robyn Evans took part in walk to school week. This saw her walking the 3.5 miles from her Caerwent home to her Rogiet school, accompanied by her mum and deputy head teacher Vicky Curtis.
10/6/10
New driver Rebeca James from Aberbargoed is celebrating after winning a cash prize as part of the Pass Plus Cymru quarterly draw. Rebeca, aged 18, signed up to take part in the Pass Plus Cymru scheme which provides additional practical training for new drivers. Her name was drawn from a list of all the participants who returned their evaluation form on completion of the course.
Rebeca’s £250 prize was donated by GEM Motoring Assist. Their Chief Executive Officer, David Williams said ‘We are delighted to donate the prizes for this safer driving initiative. GEM Motoring Assist believes that early in one’s driving career it is important to learn how to identify and manage risk in today’s traffic conditions. To this end Pass Plus Cymru ticks all the right boxes.”
On receiving her prize Rebeca, who is a student at the University of Wales, Pontypridd, said, “It was great to get the extra training with a professional after I passed my test - and to get the training for just £20 was even better!”
Rebeca’s prize was presented by Councillor Rob Gough, CCBC cabinet member for transportation and planning.
Over the last twelve months 108 young drivers from Caerphilly have taken advantage of a Pass Plus Cymru Course. 385 young drivers from across the wider region have opted to become better drivers, and a majority have benefitted from lower insurance premiums because they took the time to take extra training.
9/6/10
Young people are being encouraged to get on their bikes as a new cycling initiative launches in Cardiff today. Bike Club is aimed at youngsters between the ages of 10 and 20. It hopes to stimulate their interest in cycling and encourage them to build it into their daily lives.
Bike Club in Wales has been formed by a consortium of three charities - cycling charity CTC, Youth Cymru and ContinYou Cymru which promotes informal learning.
Part of a UK-wide organisation, Bike Club offers youngsters the opportunity to try out a variety of cycling related activities. They include bikeability skills for safe riding on roads, off-road or BMX bike riding experiences and lessons about bike maintenance.
Development officers will work with schools and youth organisations to assist them in setting up clubs in their local area.
The scheme aims to promote social inclusion as well as a healthy lifestyle Melanie Davies, the scheme's development officer for Cardiff, said: "Bike Club is an exciting opportunity for children and young people to engage in interesting and unique cycling activities.
"I'm looking forward to working with groups of young people and helping them to apply for funding."
Bike Club organisers aim to use cycling to broaden children and young people's horizons, promoting social inclusion as well as health and well-being.
Funded in England by the UK Department of Transport, Bike Club is being launched in Wales with sponsorship from Asda's Pedal Power scheme.
A series of Bike Clubs will be established in Cardiff and the surrounding areas in June.
The project will be officially launched today by the Welsh Assembly's environment minister Jane Hutt at the Urdd headquarters at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay.
2/6/10
The summer anti-Drink and Drug Drive campaign of the four Police Forces in Wales was launched at the ASDA store in Blackwood on Tuesday 1st June.
The main speakers were Jeff Farrar, ACC of Heddlu Gwent Police, Joy Smith, Chair of Road Safety Wales and Kevin Barry, Deputy Chief Fire Officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Cllr Vera Jenkins, Deputy Mayor of Caerphilly CBC. Road safety professionals and members of the emergency services from across Wales were also present in support of the campaign.
At the event a display dispelling some popular myths surrounding alcohol was on show and information on drugs was also available. Gwent Police’s substance misuse team were on hand to advice about drug and alcohol related problems. ASDA Blackwood’s Events Team joined the displays with a demonstration of their alcohol-free drinks.
Penny Thorpe, Principal Road Safety Officer with Capita Symonds said, “Drink Driving is still a big factor in road casualty statistics in Wales. With the barbeque season here people may be tempted or even encouraged to have a drink before driving, this could have tragic consequences. We are particularly concerned if they are still affected the morning after, even though they may feel OK to drive.”
Statistics from the Gwent area over the last three years show that collisions and casualties as a result of drink driving peak between May and September. April 2007 to March 2010 statistics for Gwent police force area show that 62% of casualties in drink drive collisions occur in the summer months (April to September) with only 38% in the winter months (October to March)
Alan Rookes, Technical Director with Capita Symonds said, “The risks of drinking and driving are still not recognised by a lot of people, they assume Christmas is the critical time but the summer months figure much higher in the statistics.”
27/5/10
Almost 2000 motorists were caught driving whilst using a mobile phone during the All Wales Anti Mobile Phone Driving Campaign. The campaign aimed to raise awareness amongst motorists about the real dangers involved when drivers break the law through phoning or texting at the wheel.
Through April, officers from all Welsh Forces carried out proactive patrols to target motorists who endanger other road users through this behaviour, and educated drivers on the penalties they face if caught.
During the month-long campaign, officers detected a total of 1949 mobile phone driving offences.
South Wales Police issued 847 fixed penalty notices to law-breakers, while in Gwent, a total of 426 were issued. In the Dyfed Powys force area, 498 notices were given, while in North Wales a total of 171 offenders were caught and apprehended.
Results show that men over the age of 25 were the worst culprits, receiving 54% (1045) of the fixed penalty notices that were issued during the campaign.
Men under the age of 25 came in second, receiving 375 fixed penalty notices, followed closely by women aged over 25, who were given 339.
Officers also caught 9 people who were supervising learner drivers on their mobile phones.
T/Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis of South Wales Police said:
“It is unacceptable that almost 2000 drivers have chosen to ignore the message that driving whilst using a mobile phone is dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
“Over 70% of drivers caught were in the over 25 age group, and these more experienced road-users should really know better, and should be setting an example to younger motorists.
“We’re urging the public to recognise that answering that ‘quick’ call at the wheel or texting at the traffic lights is just not worth the risk. If you choose to use your phone at the wheel, you’re choosing to endanger the lives of others as well as yourself.
“Driving whilst using your mobile phone affects your ability to concentrate and react to your surroundings in the same way that drink-driving does. That momentary lapse in concentration is all it takes to cause a serious or fatal collision, and there’s no excuse for it.”
Mr Lewis added: “Although penalties have increased to a minimum £60 fine and three points on your driving licence, these results show that a minority of road-users are still behaving irresponsibly. Those who are caught face the possibility of disqualification from driving, and could end up in court with a £1500 fine and a prison sentence.
“We will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to this crime, so that irresponsible road users who persist to ignore the dangers and risk others are dealt with appropriately.”
26/5/10
Safety checks on more than 100 child car seats in Powys found that nearly all of them had problems with the way they were fitted, according the council.
Out of 115 seats checked in Brecon, Builth Wells, Machynlleth, Newtown and Ystradgynlais, 92 were found to have problems. Council road safety unit adviser Fran Vickery carried out the survey. Powys Council said it was disappointed more parents did not take part.
Fifty seven per cent of the seats examined had a minor problem that needed to be rectified, which included tightening the seatbelt, said the council.
It said 12% of the seats had major faults, which included the seatbelt being incorrectly routed, while 6% were unsuitable for the vehicle or the child and should not have been used.
Councillor Geraint Hopkins, who is responsible for road safety, said: "I'm pleased that these checks meant that so many of the faults identified were rectified.
"However, I was disappointed that more parents did not support this wonderful project.
"We go out of out way to ensure that children are travelling around Powys as safe as possible and it is disheartening that some parents will not allow a few minutes out of their say to look after their child's safety in the car."
21/5/10
A new walking bus is making its way around Ynysddu to help local children get to school safely. Caerphilly County Borough Council is keen to encourage as many youngsters as possible to walk to school and schemes such as the walking bus are helping to get more and more pupils involved.
A 'Walking Bus' sees pupils travel to and from school in supervised groups. The initiative has really taken off over recent years and many parents welcome the opportunity to see their children escorted to school in a safe, organised group with their friends.
The new walking bus at Ynysddu Primary School is being launched during National Walk to School Week (17 - 21 May), to encourage more school pupils to walk, rather than be driven to school.
CCBC cabinet member, Cllr Rob Gough, said: "Initiatives like this are an excellent way to help reduce the number of cars on our roads doing the daily school run. As well as helping to cut congestion and reduce pollution, the schemes also encourage pupils to lead a healthier lifestyle by allowing them to enjoy a daily walk in the fresh air with
their friends."
Ynysddu Primary School Head Teacher, John Farmer, said: “The enthusiasm with which the whole school community has approached the initiatives introduced through the School Travel Plan has been fantastic. The children in particular have been really keen to get involved and the group they set up to lead on these initiatives. The Walk to the Future Team has generated some great ideas for running and promoting the Walking Bus.”
Local ward officers for Ynysddu - PC Alan Tinsley and PCSO Louise Jenkins - have been working with Ynysddu Primary School to make sure that the pupils are getting to school safely, as well as to raise awareness of dangers on the roads.
A green cone scheme has also been set up at the school. The local ward officers worked with the school and Caerphilly county borough council to start the scheme after it became clear that there were too many vehicles trying to park outside of the school. The green cones are placed outside the school at the start and end of the school day to encourage more people to walk to school or park away from the entrance.
PC Alan Tinsley, said: "Parents and residents have already said that the green cones have helped to ease the traffic problems that were being experienced outside the school. Our main aim is to ensure that the children get to and from school safely as previously there were too many vehicles trying to park outside the school at the same time, which could have posed a danger to the pupils."
PCSO Louise Jenkins, said: “The walking bus is being launched to help pupils get to school safely and to encourage more of them to walk, rather than be driven to school. The children will be accompanied by adults to make sure that they stay safe.”
Most schools across the area have developed School Travel Plans which set out ways of developing safe routes to school from surrounding towns and villages. A lot of investment has been provided for new walking routes, cycle paths and other measures to help create safe routes in the community.
21/5/10 
Schoolchildren in Rhondda Cynon Taf have received expert advice in a fun and informative way to warn them of the dangers of not taking care while crossing the road. Pupils from Blaengwawr Primary have worked for 10 weeks on the Kerbcraft scheme, which was delivered in their school by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Road Safety Unit.
During the initiative the five to seven-year-olds have been learning about being safe pedestrians, such as crossing the road, being safe – being seen and more.
Kerbcraft is a successful scheme developed by the University of Strathclyde that aims to teach children about safe use of the roads in a practical environment, rather than a classroom.
As such, all of the work completed by the children has been outside, where they have looked at safe places to cross, crossing safely near parked cars or junctions.
As well as expert support from the Road Safety Unit and their teachers, the children at Blaengwawr also benefited from the input of their parents, who volunteered their time to help deliver the course.
Cllr Andrew Morgan, Cabinet Member for Transport and Customer Care at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: ““We are all aware of the possible dangers associated with traffic on the road and the sooner we educate children on these hazards, the safer they become.
“Once again, these initiatives manage to inform and educate young children in an entertaining manner which helps them to remember the basic rules of road safety.”
