Welcome to Road Safety Wales
8/3/11
A system to keep traffic moving along a busy stretch of the M4 is to begin by varying speed limits in response to road conditions. The Variable Speed Limit (VSL) will operate over eight miles between J24 (Coldra) and J28 (Tredegar Park).
Sensors in the road detect traffic build-ups and automatically adjust the speed limit to keep vehicles flowing.
Speed limit changes are displayed to drivers via electronic signs on the verge of the motorway.
Tim Shallcross of the Institute of Advanced Motorists said the system was already working well in other parts of the UK, including the M25 near London and the M42 in the Midlands.
"The idea is it stops people trying to switch lanes to overtake and it smooths the traffic flow, everybody carries on travelling at a lower speed," he said. "These are mandatory speed limits so if you exceed them then you will be prosecuted."
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "Ultimately, it will improve connectivity for Wales and this is essential to the economy. It will not only make for better travelling now, but will also encourage more sustainable travelling in the future."
Average speed cameras have been in operation along the stretch of the M4 since September 2009.
The cameras trigger penalty notices when the 50mph limit is exceeded. More than 6,500 drivers have been issued with tickets according to figures in December 2010.
1/3/11
A group of Pembrokeshire sixth formers are set to make their mark on the silver screen. Students at Ysgol Bro Gwaun in Fishguard have been commissioned to make a road safety film aimed at young drivers.
The youngsters will both produce and star in the film, which will be circulated to schools, youth clubs, colleges and Young Farmers Clubs throughout the County.
Around 55 pupils from the school’s Year 12 are working with Media4Schools, a Cardiff-based educational media company, to make the short film due out at the end of March.
Commissioned by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Road Safety Unit and funded by a Welsh Assembly Government road safety grant, the film will look at issues such as speed, the importance of wearing seat belts, driving while using mobile phones as well as driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
Councillor Jamie Adams, Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning said he was pleased to see the young people engaged in such a worthwhile project.
“Unfortunately too many of the road accidents in our County involve young drivers so it’s important we do as much as we can to educate young drivers to be safe drivers.”
Staff from Media4Schools will teach the students how to write scripts, create storyboards, develop camera skills and process interviewing techniques for filming.
Mike Roberts from Media4Schools said 'The project has been met with great enthusiasm from all of the students involved, and the support from the local community while out filming in Fishguard has been great. It’s been a pleasure to be working here.'
John Gobbi County Road Safety Education Officer thanked staff and pupils at Ysgol Bro Gwaun for supporting the film project.
For more information about road safety contact John Gobbi on 01437 775144.
28/2/11
A young Pembroke motorist is the latest winner of the Pass Plus Cymru quarterly prize.Eighteen year old Gethin Llewelyn from Hodgeston won £250 after his name was drawn from a list of young drivers who had completed the advanced skills course.
Pass Plus Cymru is aimed at novice drivers between 17 and 25, who have passed their driving test.
Organised by local authorities it offers them advanced driving skills beyond the Basic Pass Plus Scheme.
Gethin, who is a pupil at Pembroke School and works part time at Manor House Wildlife Park said: “Pass Plus Cymru gave me valuable extra experience and positive driving skills that I would otherwise have taken longer to acquire and to get the training for just £20 was even better!.”
He was presented with his prize cheque at County Hall by Councillor Jamie Adams, Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning.
“Pass Plus Cymru is a great initiative,” he said. “By educating young and newly qualified drivers it aims to influence them to become better and more responsible drivers thereby making the roads safer in Pembrokeshire and Wales.”
David Williams, Chief Executive of vehicle breakdown cover firm, GEM Motoring Assist said it was delighted to donate the prizes for the safer driving initiative.
“GEM Motoring Assist believes that it is important to learn how to identify and manage risk in today’s traffic conditions early in one’s driving career. To this end Pass Plus Cymru ticks all the right boxes.”
It is estimated that nearly 10,000 novice drivers have taken the Pass Plus Cymru course since 2006.
It costs young people just £20 for the whole course thanks to a special road safety grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.
Full details can be found at www.dragondriver.com
16/2/11
Enzo Calzaghe, father and trainer of World Champion boxer, Joe Calzaghe is used to giving fighters advice on how best to protect themselves while in the ring.
This time round, as part of the ‘Options Seatbelt’ campaign being run by in Partnership with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Gwent & South Wales Police Forces, Capita Symonds and Local Authority Road Safety Officers, Enzo Calzaghe, is urging the public to protect themselves while travelling in vehicles by always wearing a seatbelt.
Enzo Calzaghe said; “I am extremely pleased to be supporting this campaign”. He continued; “wearing your seatbelt really can save your life if you are involved in a road traffic collision”.
Neil Brown, Head of Road Safety, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said; we are delighted that Enzo Calzaghe is supporting this highly important initiative. If this campaign can get more people to wear their seatbelts whilst travelling then we will see less serious injuries and deaths on our roads.
All Wales Seatbelt Campaign was launched by South Wales Police at Barry Town Centre on the 1st February 2011.
The first two weeks of the campaign concentrate on education and publicity and the enforcement side of the campaign commences on the 14th February and finishes on the 28th February.
During the education phase of the campaign both drivers and passengers found to be not wearing a seatbelt are offered the opportunity to attend an option event as an alternative to prosecution. This will consist of a presentation delivered by South Wales Fire & Rescue Service on the dangers of not wearing seatbelts. These presentations take place at various Fire Stations with the intention of raising people’s awareness of the devastating consequences of not wearing a seat belt.
14/12/10
Carmarthenshire council’s road safety unit is supporting this year’s national anti drink-driving campaign by producing it’s own set of support material to bring home to drivers the consequences of drinking and driving. Under the banner of ‘Give Drink-Driving The Red Card’, the campaign uses sporting analogies such as, ‘Kick Drink-Driving into Touch’, ‘Blow the Whistle on Drink-Driving’, ‘Don’t Pay The Penalty – Don’t Drink and Drive’ etc. to raise awareness of the dangers of drink-driving.
Figures show that approximately one in seven deaths on Welsh roads involve drivers who are over the legal limit.
Radio ads, posters, banner-flags and z-cards have been produced with some thought-provoking facts and figures on drink-driving and the consequences of a conviction.
The Scarlets are backing the campaign and helped launch it last week at Parc Y Scarlets.
Don’t fall foul of the drink-drive rules this Christmas – visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk for more information.
Download the poster here
13/12/10
Caerphilly County Borough youngsters have been asked motorists to ‘slow down’ as part of Brake’s Road Safety Week recently.
The theme for this year’s campaign was ‘Kids say Slow Down’, and as part of this, officers from Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Road Safety team visited schools across the borough to help pupils measure the speed of traffic outside their schools.
Two year six pupils helped measure traffic speed using a speed gun, before taking their results back to school and discussing the impact of speeding traffic and resulting stopping distances with their classmates.
Cllr Rob Gough, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Engineering and Transport said, “Statistics show us that someone is killed by a speeding driver every 15 hours in the UK, so raising awareness of traffic speed is vital in our quest for even safer roads”.
He continued, “A lot of excellent work takes place across our county borough to encourage and promote road safety, and it is especially pleasing that through this initiative our youngsters were able to make their voices heard on how speed affects their lives”.
Pupils have also used the information they learned as part of Road Safety Week to speak in school assemblies to the whole school.
One Year Six pupil who took part in Road Safety Week said, “Our message to speeding drivers is to please slow down. It is really important if we want to make sure its safe for children using the roads in our area”.
9/12/10
Taking the dramas of drink driving to the stage has earned Pontypridd High pupils an award! Talented students representing the school were among those from across Rhondda Cynon Taf who took part in a multimedia competition organised by the Council’s Road Safety Unit.
After taking to the stage to deliver an excellent dramatic performance that depicted and highlights the issues surrounding drink driving, the group were announced as runners-up in the competition.
The group comprised Year 10 pupils Ben Davies, Jessica Davies, Molly Evans, Danielle Jenkins, Demi-Leigh Jones, Leah Jones, Charly-Ann McClagish, Natalie McWee, Ebony Mullen, Ffion Rowlands, Hannah Smith and Rachel Smith.
They secured £250 for their school and were presented with their certificates by star Sophie Evans at the recent launch of the important Stop, Look and Listen Road Safety Unit campaign to increase awareness of holding hands and following the Green Cross Code when crossing the road.
Cllr Andrew Morgan, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Road Safety, said: “Well done to the Pontypridd High pupils for their excellent work to raise awareness of an issue that remains an important and concerning one.
“The Road Safety team work with their partners throughout the year to reduce instances of drink driving, but that work takes on a greater focus during the festive season, which is why this competition was timely.”
9/12/ 10
Children are sending a stern warning to motorists who put young lives at risk by parking illegally and inconsiderately outside schools. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Road Safety Unit and South Wales Police have been working with Cwmlai Primary School all year in a bid to deal with the critical issue of illegal parking on zig-zag and double yellow lines.
Earlier this year, pupils kicked off the campaign with a hard-hitting photocall during which they laid down on the warning markings outside their school to drive home to motorists the fact they were putting lives at risk.
This has since been followed up by numerous operations outside the school involving Road Safety, South Wales Police and the pupils, who have been speaking to motorists, raising awareness and, where necessary, issuing enforcement notices.
The latest stage of the work has seen a competition in the school, with all pupils invited to submit designs for banners that will displayed outside Cwmlai.
Year six pupils Lowri Evans and Megan Howells were chosen as the winners and can now proudly see their designs displayed on the high-profile banners outside the school.
The banners were made possible thanks to local businesses CJ Bird Transport Ltd and RW Christopher Crane Hire, who sponsored the banners, which were made by Advasign in Gelli.
Cllr Paul Cannon, Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, said: “This is a perfect example of what can be achieved when those who have a common issue – in this case illegal parking – come together and deliver a joint action plan.
“Dangerous and inconsiderate parking outside schools remains a priority issue across RCT. We simply cannot have young pupils attempting to cross the road outside their school with limited visibility because cars have parked on the yellow lines.
“It has to stop and Cwmlai pupils have joined us wholeheartedly on this campaign and are now reaping the rewards.”
PCSO Alan Blackburn said, “We have worked closely with the children to ensure they take on board important road safety messages so that they can keep themselves as safe as possible on the roads, but also to get the message across in the best way possible, to adults who are risking the safety of the children by parking irresponsibility or driving too fast through the area.
“The children’s enthusiasm was fantastic, and they can feel proud of the effort they have all put in to keep themselves and their friends safe when going to and from school.”
2/12/10
With Christmas fast approaching drivers across Wales are being warned to think about the devastating effect drink driving can have on people’s lives. At the launch of this year’s Welsh Assembly Government and Police anti drink drive campaign in Llanelli today (2 December) key speakers, including former Wales international Rupert Moon, will promise to join forces in facing the menace of drinking and driving over the Christmas period, and beyond.
Welcoming this year’s campaign, the Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said,
"For many years I have supported the Welsh police forces' campaign to change attitudes and help cut the number of alcohol related deaths on our roads and I am very proud of the work we've done so far.
"We have come a long way and are determined to do everything we can to make Welsh roads safer. But the reality is that we cannot do this alone. We need the support of the public to be able to make a real impact. I urge everyone to play their part. The small minority who continue to ignore the law risk not only their own lives but the lives of others."
This year’s campaign will highlight to drivers that even one drink is too many and the message is clear: if you’re planning a night out this festive season think about organising a taxi or using public transport both on the day, and also the day after.
The Assistant Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police, who are hosting this year’s launch event at Parc Y Scarlets said,
“We’d like to remind motorists that they could still be over the limit right though the following day depending on how much alcohol has been consumed. A conviction for drink driving can ruin your life, and can lead to imprisonment or a criminal conviction.”
Through the nationwide advertising campaign, drivers will be reminded that even having one or two drinks can affect your judgement, slow reactions, and that if you drive over the legal drink drive limit you could receive a heavy fine, lose your licence, and maybe even your life or that of another.
Over the next four weeks thousands of motorists face being stopped as teams from the four forces – North Wales, Dyfed Powys, South Wales and Gwent conduct road checks at various locations across the country.
“Last year, the four Welsh police forces carried out nearly a quarter of all the breath tests conducted in England and Wales,” said Assistant Chief Constable Nick Ingram. “We are committed to making our roads safer, and we’d ask the public to help us do that.”
1/12/10
Designated drivers will be rewarded in thousands of pubs across the country as part of the THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign, launched today by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning. In addition to running radio advertising, posters in pub washrooms and online search activity, THINK! has teamed up with Coca-Cola’s Designated Driver campaign to offer drivers free soft drinks in more than 8,000 participating venues across Britain as part of the Driver Friendly campaign.
Mike Penning said:
"Drivers should be in no doubt that if they get behind the wheel after drinking this Christmas, they risk losing their licence as well as facing a fine and even a prison sentence.
"Christmas should be a time for a celebration not a night in the cells. That is why we have teamed up with Coca-Cola and pub chains this Christmas to reward designated drivers as well as reminding drivers of the consequences of getting a drink drive conviction.
"Last year 380 people were killed in accidents where the driver was over the limit. That is why our message is clear: don't drink and drive."
ACPO lead on roads policing, Chief Constable Mick Giannasi said:
"This year we are using information from the public to target those areas where drink driving is a particular problem and so the chances of getting caught are greater than ever.
"If the police stop a driver, and there is any suspicion that they have been drinking, then they will be asked to provide a breath test and drivers should be in no doubt that if they are found to be over the limit they will be brought before the courts.
"Many drivers don’t realise that alcohol stays in the system for a number of hours, and that they could still be over the limit the next morning when driving to work or dropping the children off at school. That is why we are asking drivers to be safe, not sorry, this Christmas."
Jon Woods, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Great Britain and Ireland said:
"With Christmas just around the corner, our consumers are gearing up to celebrate. We know how much they enjoy the festive period and we don’t want to dampen their spirits.
"This Christmas we’re proud to be partnering with the Government’s THINK! initiative to help raise awareness of responsible drinking. By rewarding those drivers who choose not to drink with a free Coke or diet Coke, we can encourage people to do the right thing while still enjoying a great night out. It’s a different approach to responsible drinking but our consumers love it."
Designated drivers should ask at the bar about how to take advantage of the buy one soft drink, get one free offer at participating pubs.
The THINK! drink drive radio advertising campaign will run from 1 December 2010 to 1 January 2011 and posters will appear in pub washrooms from 6 December to 2 January.
30/11/10
Welsh Police Forces are reminding motorists to take precautions when driving on icy or snow covered roads.
With the current low temperatures, motorists are urged to be alert and to drive according to the conditions during the winter conditions.
Follow these simple tips to help keep yourselves and other road users safe:
• Check that your car is up to the journey, tyres are correctly inflated and in good condition, and that your lights are clean and working properly. Be seen and be safe.
• Ensure anti-freeze has been added to the radiator and make sure you have sufficient windscreen washer fluid.
• Tell a friend or relative where you are going.
• Take a spade, flask of hot drink, torch, mobile phone (fully charged or with charger), blanket and appropriate outdoor clothing.
• Slow down on icy or snowy roads and leave a greater distance between you and the car in front.
• Allow extra time for your journey.
• Ensure your petrol or diesel tank is sufficiently full.
• Check your route with organisations such as RAC Travel and AA Road-watch, and tune into local radio before you set out.
• Use your mobile phone if you need to access the emergency services for help.
Pembrokeshire Road Safety Forum has produced a timely reminder on how to drive in ice and snow, to view the advice click here
29/11/10
The biggest Police crackdown in Wales against uninsured and illegal drivers which saw over 400 vehicle seizures and 30 arrests made in connection with driving whilst disqualified has been hailed a success.
The all Wales Illegal Driver Campaign, which ran between 19th October and 2nd November, was launched at the Rhyl Community Fire Station with all four Welsh police forces and the three Fire and Rescue Services.
The crackdown targeted those driving whilst disqualified, driving with no insurance or driving without a valid licence.
In North Wales, nine people were arrested for driving whilst disqualified and 124 for driving licence and insurance offences. Officers also seized 117 vehicles. The Commercial Vehicle Unit also dealt with 21 incidents of drivers’ hours offences involving heavy goods vehicles.
Throughout the campaign officers utilised ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology and worked closely with colleagues at the Motor Insurance Bureau and DVLA.
“This campaign was about denying criminals the use of the roads, saving the ordinary driver from higher insurance premiums and reducing road casualties,” said North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard.
“Although the two-week enforcement period has ended, we will continue to target those who flout the law and endanger the lives of other road users and we will continue to work closely with other agencies such as the Motor Insurance Bureau and DVLA to target illegal drivers. There has been public support for this approach, and together we can help make our roads safer for all.”
Susan Storch, Chair of Road Safety Wales and Dyfed Powys Police Road Safety Officer said: “It is disappointing that some drivers choose to ignore the law by driving illegally, however throughout Wales it is excellent news that police seized over 400 vehicles from illegal drivers during the campaign.
“Road Safety Wales wants to keep Wales on track as being one of the safest countries in the world in which to travel. Our partnership aim is simple – to ensure that the majority of road users can use our network safely and with confidence.”
As a result of some of the arrests made in north Wales during the campaign, officers are also pursuing other lines of enquiry for other offences such as burglary and driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.
North Wales Police are continuing to ask for the public’s assistance in their efforts to make the roads safer for all. If anybody has information about illegal drivers they should contact the police on 101, the Force’s non-emergency line, or Crimestoppers Wales anonymously on 0800 555 111.
|
30 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
347 |
82 |
67 |
63 |
135 |
106 |
42 |
17 |
15 |
32 |
417 |
117 |
67 |
81 |
152 |
Penalties for illegal drivers can include:
- Driving without insurance: 6-8 points and up to £5,000 fine (£200 for fixed penalty ticket)
- Driving whilst disqualified: 6 points, up to £5,000 fine, discretionary disqualification, and you could face a minimum 6 month prison sentence
- Driving other than in accordance with your driving licence: 3-6 points and £1,000 fine
- Failing to identify the driver of the vehicle: 3 points
Uninsured drivers are:
- Three times more likely to have been convicted of driving without due care and attention
- Six times more likely to drive an unsafe vehicle
- Nine time more likely to be involved in a road traffic collision
- 10 times more likely to have a drink drive conviction
23/11/10
 |
Pictured Left to Right: Julie Palmer – Head of Business Development, DVLA, Angela Smith, Jim Moore Partnership Manager, Go Safe, Garry Monk Captain, Swansea City AFC and ACC Nick Croft, South Wales Police |
The DVLA and Driving Standards Agency (DSA) are backing Go Safe’s Deadly Mates campaign to educate young people about the consequences of poor driving and the importance of peer pressure in getting young motorists to drive carefully and slow down.
Run by Go Safe – the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, the Deadly Mates campaign aims to educate young people about the dangers and consequences of poor driving and the importance of peer pressure in getting young motorists to drive carefully and slow down.
22 DSA Driving Test Centres across Wales are supporting the campaign, supplying thousands of leaflets to young customers on ’10 ways to lose your licence’ and placing posters on their display boards. The DVLA are also supporting the campaign in their centres across Wales - Swansea, Cardiff and Bangor.
Chief Executive of DVLA, Simon Tse, said:
“Britain’s roads are the safest in the world, but we cannot be complacent. That is why DVLA support the Deadly Mates campaign: the friends of newly qualified drivers are often best placed to encourage good driving and challenge bad behavior.”
Chief Executive of DSA, Rosemary Thew, added:
“We work very hard to help young people become safe and responsible drivers. If you reach six or more penalty points in the two years after passing the test, you will lose your licence and have to pass the theory and practical tests all over again. DSA supports the Deadly Mates campaign because it helps the friends of novice drivers understand their role in keeping our roads safe.”
Jim Moore, manager of Go Safe - the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, said: “We devised Deadly Mates after a report revealed that a certain group of young drivers aged 17-24 were unlikely to be affected by shock tactics in some road safety campaigns. Instead, Deadly Mates looks to change their behaviour by targeting peers to encourage these drivers to slow down. The message is simple - if you have a friend that drives too fast, they can take your future away from you in a second.
“In Wales, between 2005-2009, 164 young people aged between 17 and 24 were killed either as drivers, passengers or riders in road traffic accidents – over a quarter of all fatalities. We hope with the support of the DSA and DVLA in distributing our ’10 ways to lose your licence’ leaflets and posters, we can continue to 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.”
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.
For further information on the campaign please visit www.gosafe.org and its sister site www.deadlymates.com
5/10/10
Are you aware of anybody who is driving illegally? If so the Police would like to hear from you.
Later this month, Welsh forces will be launching the all Wales Illegal Driver Campaign - a campaign aimed at targeting those who drive whilst disqualified, drive with no insurance or drive with no valid driving licence.
Chief Inspector David Roome from the North Wales Police Operational Services Group said: "We are urging anybody who may be aware of illegal drivers using the roads to contact the police immediately.
"Anybody found to be driving illegally can face being arrested. We will use all available powers to seize illegal vehicles and remove them from the roads. By doing this, we are helping safeguard the lives of others.
"It can be devastating if you are involved in a collision with an illegal driver. We want to put a stop to this and get the message across that we are targeting those who are driving illegally.
He added: "The public can be reassured that we will not tolerate crime on our roads. If you suspect an illegal driver please contact us."
North Wales Police are asking for the public's assistance in their efforts to make the roads safer for all. If anybody has information about illegal drivers they should contact the police on 101, the Force's non-emergency line, or Crimestoppers Wales anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The photograph shows an officer utilising ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology.
Penalties for illegal drivers can include:
• Driving without insurance: 6-8 points and up to £5,000 fine (£200 for fixed penalty ticket)
• Driving whilst disqualified: 6 points, up to £5,000 fine and you could face a minimum 6 month prison sentence
• Driving other than in accordance with your driving licence: 3-6 points and £1,000 fine
• Failing to identify the driver of the vehicle: 3 points
3/9/10
The number of drink-drivers detected during a month-long summer crackdown in Wales has risen slightly on last year's figure, say police. Of the 25,714 people stopped and breath tested by Welsh police, 513 (2%) tested positive or refused or failed a test. This compares to 1.8% during the same campaign last year.
"It is disappointing that people continue to ignore the drink-drive message," said Chief Insp Dave Roome, of North Wales Police.
This year's anti-drink and drug driving campaign was led by Gwent Police with support from the other three Welsh forces.
Officers used various methods to identify over-the-limit drivers. These included intelligence-led operations, encouraging members of the public to report drivers who they suspect have been drink driving or intend to drink drive, and stopping drivers to test them at the roadside.
Gwent Police Chief Constable Mick Giannasi said Wales' police forces were committed to a "relentless" focus on drink and drug drivers to ensure road safety.
"In addition to targeting offenders through intelligence-led policing, we invite the general public to take part in our campaign on a voluntary basis," he said.
"The majority of the people who we stop and invite to take part do so willingly, and there is a great deal of public support for the pro-active approach we are taking.
"Although it is disappointing to see a slight rise this year in offending across Wales, our efforts to tackle drink/drug driving and to make the roads safer for all will continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year."
| Force Area |
Drivers Tested |
Positive Tests |
| North Wales |
6,876 |
103 |
| Gwent |
9,620 |
77 |
| South Wales |
4,430 |
234 |
| Dyfed Powys |
4,788 |
99 |
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.
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 havebeen 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.”
4/8/10
An 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
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
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
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.
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."
12/5/10
Children from Priory School in Brecon took part in a speed reduction initiative as part of the Dyfed-Powys Police’s Speed Awareness Week.
The year-six pupils were given a classroom input on the danger of speed to drivers and pedestrians, from Sergeant Jason Owen and PCSO Simon Beaton, and shown a series of road safety videos. The children were then asked to comment on what the video content to gauge if they realised the dangers.
Then the fun part started as they were invited to take part in an interactive demonstration on stopping distances. The children were taken into the playground asked to place a cone at what they believed to be the stopping distance of a vehicle at 30 mph and then 20 mph.
Split into groups, the pupils who guessed the distance were all way off the mark of the actual 23 metres at 30 mph, which would have resulted in a possible fatal incident. Then, when asked to judge the stopping distance at 20 mph a majority of the children over-estimated (12 metres), highlighting the significance of this speed limit near schools.
Following this game the pupils were taken outside the school gates and took in turns in using the Speed Gun, to check if passing motorists were adhering to the 20 mph speed limit.
Sergeant Jason Owen said: “Thankfully no motorists were found to be exceeding the speed limit, so the children didn’t have to have that quiet word with drivers! However, although there were a ‘sea’ of High-Visibility jackets present, which may have influenced motorists, this demonstrates that visibility is an effective form of education.”
After the practical the children were given handouts to take home and discuss with their parents to ensure the message of engagement and education is passed on.
Priory School Deputy Head Kevin Phillips added: “The workshop was a great success and the children were actively engaged in thinking and learning about the associated dangers and risks of speeding. I’m sure that they will be keen future ambassadors for raising much needed public awareness of National Speed Week into our wider communities.”
30/4/10
A worrying three-quarters of car seats in Carmarthenshire are wrongly fitted, according to safety checks. Child car seats across the county were inspected as part of Child Safety Fun Days organised by the council’s Road Safety Unit at Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthen, Amman Valley and Llanelli leisure centres.
A total of 250 seats were checked over the four days and road safety officers found that 75 per cent were fitted incorrectly. Of those, 30 had major faults, seven were incompatible with the car and two seats had to be condemned.
The aim of the events was to raise awareness of the risks to babies and children if seats are not fitted properly. It is also against the law not to have the correct child restraint. Parents and guardians were given expert advice and warned about the dangers of using second-hand car seats.
Road Safety Manager Keith Griffiths said: “The safest way for young children to travel in cars is in a child seat that is suitable for their weight and size as well as the vehicle concerned. Even in a minor crash, an unrestrained child would be thrown about inside the vehicle, injuring themselves and others. They could also be thrown from the car through one of the windows.”
Last year at a similar event, 82 per cent of car seats checked were fitted incorrectly.
“There is a slight improvement this year, but it is not good enough” added Mr Griffiths, “it is clear that parents are not regularly checking their seats, and unfortunately, this can lead to tragic accidents.”
Grandmother Mary Davies went along to Amman Valley Leisure Centre to have her grandaughter Carys’s seat checked.
She said: “We couldn’t adjust the straps and as she is getting older it was getting too tight.
“We have now found that there is actually a fault with the seat so we will have to contact the manufacturer.”
Mrs Davies was able to borrow a car seat from the event to get Carys home safely.
“I think it is really good,” she added. “We didn’t know there was a problem or we would have done something sooner.”
Llwynhendy mum-of-two Catherine Williams wanted to check she had the right car seat for her youngest daughter Ffion, aged three.
She said: “Ffion is quite tall but very light for her age so I wanted to check I had the right type of seat and that it was fitted correctly. I think it is a brilliant event.”
Partner agencies and businesses also attended the fun days including the Community Safety Partnership, Flying Start, Dyfed-Powys Police, the RNLI, Western Power, Real Nappies, and Pure Baby Organics. As well as learning about road safety, children were able to meet Gari Gosafe, Sali Mali, Postman Pat, and Scarlets players. There was magic and fun with Mr Tricks the clown and a bouncy castle. There was also free family swimming on completion of the car seat check.
For further information on child car seats contact the Carmarthenshire County Council’s Road Safety Unit on 01267 224346.
You can also visit www.childcarseats.org.uk for information and advice including the law and your responsibility as a driver.
Facts:
• An unrestrained child can be killed in an impact at speeds as low as 5mph.
• If properly restrained, a child is three times less likely to sustain a head injury in a collision that an unrestrained child.
• It takes less than a fifth of a second for an unrestrained child to be catapulted through a car window in a collision at only 30mph.
23/4/10
A safety campaign is being launched in Carmarthenshire to help protect school crossing patrol officers. Because there have been an increased number of incidents involving motorists failing to stop for lollipop men and women, the county’s road safety unit is launching a ‘Stop Means Stop’ campaign.
It is targeted at drivers to highlight the importance of stopping when they see the lollipop sign brandished by patrols outside schools.
Starting in May, to coincide with the new school term, the “Stop Means Stop” initiative is aimed at drivers who fail to stop or are rude and abusive to school crossing patrols.
Last month a 32-year-old Llanelli woman driver was given five penalty points on her driving licence with penalties totalling £335 for driving without due care and attention when passing a lollipop lady in Llandeilo Road, Llandybie.
The campaign is also designed to remind drivers of the legal and personal consequences of failing to stop for school crossing patrols.
Motorists are legally bound by the 1984 Road Traffic Act to stop for school crossing patrols. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to £1,000, a minimum of three penalty points or disqualification from driving.The campaign will be backed up with radio advertising school banners, posters and leaflets.
County road safety manager Keith Griffiths said: “School crossing patrol officers play a vital role by ensuring school children are provided with a safe route to and from school. They should be able to do this without fear of intimidation and threatening behaviour from inconsiderate motorists.
“The school crossing patrol team are among the most committed group of people that continue to play a very important role in keeping our community a safe and friendly place. The message is quite simple. All road users must stop when a school crossing patrol officer asks them to do so.
“Drivers should allow a little extra journey time if their route takes them through a patrolled area - and be prepared to slow down and stop when requested to do so by a patrol officer."
School crossing patrols were established in the UK in 1954 to assist children cross the road on their way to or from school safely. The famous ‘lollipop stick’ was designed so that details of a vehicle which failed to stop for the school crossing patrol could be chalked on the black panel on the stick head. These details were then forwarded to the local police for them to progress.
Today, every school crossing patrol officer is issued with a notebook to record detailed information about any motorist that fails to stop or continues to drive by when it is obvious that the patrol officer has asked them to stop from the side of the road.
They are encouraged to make a note of the registration number, make, model and colour of vehicle, time of the incident and gender of the driver. Whilst the method may have changed in recent times, the information is still forwarded onto Dyfed Powys Police so they can take appropriate action.
19/4/10
To promote the anti drinking and driving message, schools/organisations are invited to devise, perform and record a live action multimedia presentation that will warn people of the dangers and/or consequences of drinking and driving.
Competition guidelines:
1. There should be a maximum of 6 performers.
2. Team members must be aged between 11 and 25.
3. The presentation should be under 3 minutes in length and can use a range of media including any of the following:
• Musical performance
• Drama/Sketch
• Poetry/Oration
• Animation
• Documentary
• Comedy
• Dance
4. The presentation must be filmed and submitted on video or DVD with contact details provided.
5. The presentation will be judged under the following criteria (not in priority):
a. Originality
b. Message
c. Performance
d. Impact
The winning entry for each County will receive prizes from their local authority. The winning entry will then be submitted to the Regional Competition. Winners of the Regional Competition will receive £500 for the school/organisation they represent and individual team prizes. Nationally, the four Regional winning entries will be invited to receive their prize and give the presentation at the All Wales Drink Drive launch at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli on Thursday 2 December (all expenses will be covered).
Judging for the national competition will take place on Monday 8 November 2010
Interested groups can contact their Road Safety Officer click here for their contact details
View 2009 competition entries below
Gwent Winner, Abertillery Comprehensive, Blaenau Gwent |
South Wales Winner, Bonymaen Project, Swansea |
North Wales Winner, Yale College, Wrexham |
Dyfed Powys Winner, Amman Valley High School |
North Wales Highly Commended, Nathan Lloyd Jones, Gwynedd |
Dyfed Powys Highly Commended, Trecastle YFC |
Please feel free to use the poster to promote the competition.
31/3/10
This month's Pembrokeshire Rural Road Safety Campaign reminds drivers that texting while driving is extremely dangerous - and also illegal.
Motorists need to give their full attention to driving at all times. Research shows that drivers who use a mobile phone while driving are four times more likely to crash.
Young drivers in particular appear to be unaware of the dangers and think they can text and drive. It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone or similar device while driving.
The penalty is £60 and 3 penalty points. If the case goes to court, drivers face a maximum fine of £1,000 (£2,500 if driving a bus, coach or heavy goods vehicle), discretionary disqualification and 3 points.
The police are able check phone systems if a driver causes an accident while texting.
John Gobbi County Road Safety Education Officer said if passengers saw their driver texting they had a responsibility and should insist they stop texting - or stop the vehicle.
View the campaign flyer here
30/3/10
Pupils at a Flintshire high school are to benefit from a presentation offering advice to consider when applying for a provisional driver’s licence.
With the aim of reducing casualites on the county's roads, the Council's Road Safety unit is continuing its free Pre-Driver Awareness Programme in secondary schools following its success last year. One in three new drivers will have a collision during the first two years of driving, putting young drivers and their passengers amongst the most vulnerable of road users.
The presentation is delivered by Driving Standards Agency approved instructors and includes driver behaviour and attitude; aggressive driving and speed; seat belt wearing; overloading; drunk/drug driving and mobile phone use. The use of driving simulators is included in the presentation.
Flintshire County Council’s executive member for Environment, Councillor Tony Sharps, said: “We hope young drivers will heed this important safety message which aims to improve their driving and make Flintshire's roads even safer."
Year 11/12 students from Holywell High School watching the presentation - From L to R: Tom Garner, Mark Stamatiou, Barry Dunn (instructor) and Katherine Hogarth
23/3/10
The four Welsh Police Forces, led by South Wales Police, in partnership with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, the Welsh Assembly Government, and Road Safety Wales today (Tuesday 23rd March 2010) launched an All Wales Anti Mobile Phone Driving Campaign at the Aberavon Shopping Centre, Port Talbot.
JAG Communications retail store also supported the campaign by giving 50% off all Bluetooth mobile phones and handsets for today only.
Despite the recent law change where mobile phone driving results in three penalty points and a £60 fine, a number of drivers in Wales are still persisting with this dangerous activity and breaking the law.
Police patrols to target mobile phone driving will increase across Welsh roads for the month of April to promote the safety message and raise awareness of the dangers and penalties amongst motorists.
T/Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis of South Wales Police attended today's launch at the Aberavon Shopping Centre in Neath Port Talbot and said,
“The All Wales Anti Mobile Phone Driving Campaign is aimed at raising awareness amongst drivers about the real dangers involved when driving whilst using a mobile phone.
“When you’re using a mobile phone or handheld device at the wheel you’re distracted and your reactions will be affected. It only takes a momentary lapse in concentration before you could become the cause of a serious collision or be involved in a fatal road traffic collision.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve got the phone to your ear or you’re texting on your lap, research shows that it affects concentration and reduces hazard perception and reactions.
“Driving and mobile phones do not mix. Using a mobile phone whilst driving makes you four times likely to have an accident and a phone call isn’t worth the risk.
“One of the five major contributory factors in all fatal and serious injury collisions nationally, involve the misuse of mobile phones by drivers.
“Penalties were increased in February 2007 to a minimum £60 fine and three points on your driving licence. If you are caught, you face being disqualified from driving and could end up in court with a £1500 fine and a prison sentence.”
“We want the use of a mobile phone at the wheel to be seen as just as reckless and socially unacceptable as drink driving and anyone caught using their mobile phone while driving will be prosecuted. Our message to them is that it’s NOT safe at all. You run the risk of killing yourself, your passengers, and other innocent road users.”
“Research by the Department for Transport has shown that three quarters of people believe that drivers who use their mobile phone are needlessly risking their own and other people’s safety.
“In the South Wales Police force area alone, in 2008 there were 3316 people caught and issued with a fixed penalty notice for misuse of a mobile phone. In 2009, this increased to 3641 which shows it is an increasing danger on our roads.
“We are committed to educating drivers, however, let there be no mistake, we are also committed to enforcing this law rigorously and will be stepping up patrols to target this illegal activity during April.”
Ali Thomas, Leader of the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council said,
"I am really pleased that this All Wales initiative to highlight the dangers of using mobile phones when driving is taking place in Neath Port Talbot. Our Road Safety team have worked closely with South Wales Police to lead on this initiative and I must thank them for all the hard work carried out to highlight this problem."
16/3/10
The Cornerswell and Stanwell Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Penarth have started an operation to target speeding motorists in residential areas. Officers are being deployed with hand held speed guns at different locations, particularly along Redlands Road, not only monitor but to deter car drivers who flaunt the speed limits.
Excessive speed has been identified as a concern for local residents during recent local PACT meetings. The Vale of Glamorgan council have recently conducted a traffic survey and are working with the police to find a long term solution to the issue.
Penarth Neighbourhood Officer, PC Emma Fitzgerald said: “We have been working closely with the local councillors for the two wards to develop operation Conquer.
“It will be a continuing initiative which will cover several areas and will try and target times that have been identified as particularly problematic for residents.
“Motorists will not know where or when we will be carrying out these operations so the best advice is to slow down so you won’t get caught.”
Early results from two two-hour exercises on Redlands Road saw a total of 552 vehicles monitored by the speed camera with an average speed of just over 26 mph. Over these vehicles 32 were exceeding the 30 mph speed limit. Three were issued with endorsable Fixed Penalty Notices and the remainder were only slightly over the speed limit and were given verbal warnings.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Penarth, Chris Owen said: “We will be taking steps to enforce the speed limit in this area. We will not tolerate inconsiderate and potentially dangerous driving along what is a very busy thoroughfare.
“Speed limits are put in place to ensure the safety of motorists and other road users as well as of pedestrians. Specially trained officers will carry out regular speed checks in the area and will take positive action where appropriate.”
Picture caption: PC Emma Fitzgerald monitors the speed on traffic with the support of PCSO Surinder Singh Taak
16/3/10
A crackdown on road safety has been launched by the Skewen Neighbourhood Policing Team. The six-week campaign under the banner of Operation Crystal will target all forms of road safety issues, from speeding to dangerous parking outside schools.
The operation has been set up by the Skewen Neighbourhood Policing Team following concerns raised by the public through PACT meetings and other community engagement events with local officers. It got underway on 2 March when a number of vehicles were seized and a number reported for being defective.
Skewen Police Community Support Officer Dominic Edgell said: “Operation Crystal has been set up to tackle the escalating issues regarding road safety which have been raised at the Coedffranc PACT meeting and various police surgeries.
“We are concerned about speeding, illegal parking and the illegal use of vehicles in the area is harming public safety. “Our operation will promote all forms of road safety in the coming weeks to make Skewen a safer place for all motorists and residents.” The operation started with the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology in the Skewen and Neath Abbey areas.
This resulted in two arrests for disqualified driving, one for possession of 200 Valium tablets and three vehicles being seized. A further four were issued with defect notices.
The operation will continue in the coming weeks with speeding and further ANPR exercises as well as school patrols to tackle illegal parking at the school gate.
There will also be days of action to target motorists who don’t wear seatbelts and use a mobile phone at the wheel.
PCSO Edgell said: “Our operation is underway and I hope the people of Skewen will see a noticeable improvement in the manner of driving in the area which will ultimately make the roads safer and deny criminals the use of the road.”
11/3/10
A series of child safety fun days are being held during the Easter holidays by Carmarthenshire’s Road Safety Unit. The main aim of the day is to check as many child car seats as possible, as over recent years it has been found that up to eight out of 10 car seats checked have been fitted incorrectly.
As well as learning about road safety, children will have the chance to meet Gari Gosafe, Sali Mali and Sam Tan along with some of the Scarlets players. There will be magic and fun with Mr Tricks the clown. Other attractions will include a bouncy castle and ‘love food-hate waste’ cookery demonstration. Free family swimming will be available at the Leisure Centres on completion of the car seat check (time restrictions may apply).
The free fun days will take place from 10am to 4pm at:
• Newcastle Emlyn Leisure Centre on Tuesday April 13th
• Carmarthen Leisure Centre on Wednesday April 14th
• Amman Valley Leisure Centre on Thursday April 15th
• Llanelli Leisure Centre on Friday April 16th
The Road Safety Unit has invited other agencies and businesses to take part including the Community Safety Partnership, Flying Start, Dyfed Powys Police, Fire service, Community First, CYCA and Pure Baby Organics.
View the flyer here
08/03/10
Neighbourhood Policing Teams across Carmarthenshire are helping to put the brakes on speeding drivers. The Community Safety Partnership has purchased a speed radar gun for local Neighbourhood Policing Teams to use in communities where residents are concerned about speeding.
Drivers caught travelling over the speed limit will be prosecuted; but it is hoped the move will help to reduce speed generally and improve road safety for everyone living in the area.
Chairman of the partnership’s Road Safety Action Group Trevor Sage said: “Road safety is a key priority for the partnership which is working hard to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
“Speeding is a major safety issue and is a huge concern for local communities. As a result, much work is being done across Carmarthenshire not only to reduce the speed of our traffic but also to educate drivers about the consequences of driving too fast.
“Hopefully this will make motorists think twice about the dangers they pose and help us make the roads safer for everyone.”
The Community Safety Partnership includes the council and the police as well as a number of other agencies and its aim is to make Carmarthenshire a safer place for both residents and visitors.
CAPTION: Neighbourhood Policing officers PC Wendy Janas and PC Hayley Oliver use the speed radar gun in Llwynhendy
Picture: Jeff Connell
The word Stammtisch is German and means a regular get-together or meeting. In 2000, it was applied to a truckers surgery that was arranged by German traffic police to give truck drivers the opportunity to speak directly to the police on a range of subjects that directly affected them, in confidence.
Following similar events in the Dyfed Powys Police Force region, the first to take place in Greater Gwent saw traffic police working with Road Safety at Magor Services. A range of drivers were more than happy to spend some of their rest time asking advice or just chatting after hours of solitary “trucking”.
From Eddie Stobart drivers, to Latvian drivers and even a military convoy, this “get together” showed the need for creating communication opportunities.
Future events will take place on the first Wednesday of every month at Magor and Raglan Service Stations.
1/3/10
Gwent Police officers have been patrolling the M4 motorway as part of a focussed operation to target irresponsible/ illegal driving. Roads Policing officers used unmarked vehicles to identify drivers committing offences. Offences were filmed and the footage may be used for evidential purposes.
57 road traffic offences were detected during the operation which took place over 8 days throughout January and February this year.
Offences detected included driving without a seatbelt, using a mobile phone while driving, careless driving (including one person flossing their teeth while driving), vehicle defects (including light failures), vehicles being driven over their weight limitation, vehicles being driven carrying insecure loads, no driving licence and a learner driver towing a load.
All offences were dealt with either by a fixed penalty notice or the driver being reported for summons.
Inspector of Roads Policing for Gwent Police, Lee Ford said;
“It is very concerning that a number of drivers are driving irresponsibly and carelessly on our motorways.
The potential risks that some of the offences detected as part of this operation can have on not only the safety of the driver involved, but also other road users, should never be underestimated.
You may think that you are a very experienced, competent driver but it only takes a couple of seconds for your attention to be distracted and result in very serious consequences.
Road safety laws are in place for the benefit of all drivers and road users and should always be adhered to. Responsibility to ensure that your vehicle is road worthy and your documentation is in order should never be neglected.”
Officers will be repeating the exercise throughout the year.
4/2/10
The Welsh Assembly Government has published maps showing the location of road traffic casualties in each Local Authority area in Wales. These maps identify where casualties are clustered together and where they are more widely dispersed.
The number of casualty markers may differ from the total number of casualties reported for the following reasons:
- Multiple casualty accidents will just display a single marker for the highest severity casualty.
- Inaccuracies with recorded grid references may not allow the location to be plotted.
The maps cover car occupant casualties, motorcyclist casualties and pedestrian casualties. They show fatalities, and serious and slight casualties; they also show the major roads and settlements in each Local Authority area.
To view click here
3/2/10
THINK! are keen to work with a wide range of partners who can provide valuable support in communicating road safety messages to the public. As part of its commitment to raising awareness of the risks of driving whilst using prescription and over the counter medicines, DfT has developed a pilot partnership with Boots in consultation with a number of organisations including the British Medical Association.
One million leaflets will be distributed through 2,600 Boots stores while medicine bags will be labelled with stickers prompting drivers to check with their doctor or pharmacist that they are safe to drive while taking their medication.
Those taking medicine should follow the instructions properly and continue to take it as directed. Anyone with questions about their medication should contact a health professional for advice.
If the pilot proves to be successful the opportunity could be opened out to pharmacies nationwide. If you are interested in accessing the materials, please email think@23red.com.
More from DfT here
1/02/01
A hard-hitting THINK! campaign reminding drivers of the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seatbelt was launched today by Road Safety Minister Paul Clark.
The £1.3 million campaign shows that if you have a crash without wearing a seat belt you actually experience three crashes, even at everyday speeds like 30mph. First, your car crashes and stops. Second - because there's nothing to stop you moving - your body carries on and hits the inside of the car. Third, you stop but your internal organs keep moving, hitting the inside of your body and can rupture under the force of the impact.
Paul Clark said:
"If you are involved in an accident while not wearing a seatbelt then your body experiences a series of three collisions damaging vital internal organs. This campaign reminds drivers that - no matter how short their journey or how slowly they are driving - they are risking their life if they set off without putting their seatbelt on.
"I hope this campaign will help everyone realise that they need to belt up every time they get in a car."
You are twice as likely to die in a crash if you are not wearing a seat belt and about one life could be saved in Britain each day if everyone always wore a belt.
The THINK! campaign - which includes television, radio, cinema, and outdoor advertising - is based on detailed research into people's seat belt wearing habits which showed that people are less likely to wear seat beats on low speed, short journeys on familiar roads, even though they are still risking their lives in these cases.
The advert is so realistic and graphic it can only be shown after 9pm. An edited version will be used for earlier showings - describing but not showing the damage to internal organs.
25/1/10
A unit set up to check commercial vehicles travelling on the roads of north Wales has issued £6,000 worth of fines in its first week. The most common problem was false documents and licences.
One German vehicle, with a Spanish trailer, was found to be carrying chemicals illegally, and two Romanian drivers had false documents. The North Wales Police and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) unit is the first of its type in the country.
It was set up following public concerns about commercial vehicles travelling along the A55 to Holyhead Port.
"Foreign wagons area big concern for the public," said Sgt Ifan Jones, who is responsible for running the unit. He added that 750 trucks each day came through Holyhead Port, with a large number of drivers being forced to drive illegally because of the pressures imposed on them by their bosses, who are suffering because of the state of the economy.
Officers will act on intelligence whenever possible, but also be involved in operations dedicated to specific areas, such as checking taxis and school buses, he added.
"It's all about addressing public concerns," said Sgt Jones.
"Foreign drivers have been highlighted, but we will be targeting all commercial vehicles - and for every 10 wagons we stop there is a fault with at least six of them," he added.
Helen O'Grady from VOSA said the partnership with the police was good because VOSA officers have no powers of arrest or the right to exceed the speed limit.
"This unit now enables us to check more vehicles in a shorter space of time," she added.
Information suggesting that commercial vehicles are flouting the law can be passed to the Commercial Vehicle Unit - contact Sgt Ifan Jones, PC Nick Power, PC Meurig Jones or Helen O’Grady on 101 if in Wales, or 0845 607 1001 (Welsh line) or 0845 607 1002 (English line).
Alternatively you can text 66767 or e-mail northwalespolice@north-wales.police.uk.
22/1/10
More drivers than ever before have been breath tested during the All Wales Christmas Drink Drive campaign. Throughout Wales, almost 55,000 drivers were breath tested by the four Welsh forces in the campaign, which ran from 1st December 2009 to 1st January 2010 - compared to over 36,000 in 2008.
The campaign was launched in Caernarfon by the four Welsh forces and the Welsh Assembly Government, with the support of the families affected by the fatal collision which occurred in Menai Bridge in February 2009.
In North Wales 16,398 breath tests were administered which resulted in 131 arrests
Out of these 2,936 tests were administered to under-25s which resulted in 38 arrests.
In Gwent, 20,578 breath tests were administered which resulted in 80 arrests
Dyfed-Powys Police carried out 10,863 tests with 141 arrests
South Wales Police administered 6, 956 breath tests with 285 arrests
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Shannon said: “It is disappointing that drivers still put their own lives and other road users’ lives at risk, just to have a drink, with over 600 people caught over the drink drive limit throughout Wales during the month-long campaign.
“We will continue to target drink and drug drivers throughout the year. Our enforcement is not seasonal. There has been public support for this approach, and together we can help make our roads safer for all.”
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “We are determined to do everything we can to make the roads of Wales safer; however we cannot do this alone. We need the support of the public to be able to make a real impact. I urge everyone to play their part – drink drive limits cannot be calculated and the only safe way is for you not to drink and drive.”
19/1/10
Pembrokeshire's roads policing unit spent 2009 keeping the roads of the county safe. The Roads Policing Unit caught 141 more people driving whilst using a mobile phone than the previous year, issued 30 more speeding fines and took 385 vehicles off the road for not having the correct documentation.
Pembrokeshire division also increased the number of breath tests it carried out by over 3,000 but 65 less drivers were caught driving while over the legal alcohol limit.
Inspector Andy Phillips said: "Hopefully the message about drink driving is finally getting through.
"However we have seen an increase in other offences such as driving without the correct documents. This can result in your car being seized from it so we urge people to obey by all the laws of the road or there maybe expensive consequences."
The unit along with the Armed Response Unit also detected 181 crimes, arrested 165 people for drug offences and issued 58 cannabis warnings.
Inspector Phillips added: "The RPU and ARV are proactive in their approach and aim to deny criminals use of the roads and keep the roads of the county safe.
"In 2010 we will continue to target those who flout the law."
14/1/10
After weeks of travelling in snow and ice, drivers are being warned about foggy conditions predicted in some parts of the country today and tomorrow.
When visibility is reduced, an accident involving one vehicle can quickly involve many others, especially if they are driving too fast and too close to one another. Previous multiple-vehicle pile-ups demonstrate that many drivers do not adjust their driving sufficiently for the conditions.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA’s head of road safety, said: “The ability to see and to hear clearly is vital for drivers. Fog is the most potentially dangerous of all weather conditions. Freezing fog - when poor visibility is compounded by the road surface being slippery - is a driver's worst nightmare.
“Drivers should follow weather forecasts and general advice about driving conditions, and should avoid driving in fog unless absolutely necessary.
“If you must drive in fog, allow plenty of extra time for your journey. Before setting out, check that your car is in good working order, particularly that all the lights, including fog lights, work.
“Reduce your speed and keep your distance from the vehicle in front. You should always be able to stop in the distance you can see in front of you. If the fog closes in, lose more speed.”
Other tips if you must drive in fog include:
- Switch on headlights and fog lamps if visibility is reduced
- If you can see the vehicles to your rear, the drivers behind will be able to see you - switch off your rear fog lamps to avoid dazzling them. Think of them as rear main beams
- Use the demister and windscreen wipers. Remember that fog also makes the road wet and slippery
- Do not “hang on” to the rear lights of the car in front as you will be too close to be able to brake safely
- Switch off distracting noise and open the window slightly so that you can listen for other traffic, especially at crossroads and junctions
- Beware of speeding up as soon as visibility improves slightly. In patchy fog you could find yourself “driving blind” again only moments later. Always imagine that there is a broken down vehicle just on the other side of the fog bank.
- If you break down in fog, inform the police and get the vehicle off the road as soon as possible. If possible, avoid parking on the road in fog and never leave a vehicle without warning lights of some kind if it is on the wrong side of the road.
See www.rospa.com/RoadSafety for more winter driving tips from RoSPA.
7/1/10
Welsh Police Forces are reminding motorists to take precautions when driving on icy or snow covered roads.
With the current low temperatures, motorists are urged to be alert and to drive according to the conditions during the winter conditions.
Follow these simple tips to help keep yourselves and other road users safe:
• Check that your car is up to the journey, tyres are correctly inflated and in good condition, and that your lights are clean and working properly. Be seen and be safe.
• Ensure anti-freeze has been added to the radiator and make sure you have sufficient windscreen washer fluid.
• Tell a friend or relative where you are going.
• Take a spade, flask of hot drink, torch, mobile phone (fully charged or with charger), blanket and appropriate outdoor clothing.
• Slow down on icy or snowy roads and leave a greater distance between you and the car in front.
• Allow extra time for your journey.
• Ensure your petrol or diesel tank is sufficiently full.
• Check your route with organisations such as RAC Travel and AA Road-watch, and tune into local radio before you set out.
• Use your mobile phone if you need to access the emergency services for help.
