Road Safety Wales : Press Releases

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24/09/08: WALES ROAD SAFETY AWARDS
The 9th Wales Road Safety Awards, in recognition of outstanding contribution to road safety, will be held at the Future Inns, Hemingway Road, Cardiff Bay on Monday 29 September. The presentation ceremony will take place during the annual Road Safety Wales Conference dinner and awards will be presented by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones. This year’s recipients include a student from the Vale of Glamorgan, a school crossing patrol from Cardiff, a cinema manager from Neath Port Talbot, a car dealership from Rhondda Cynon Taf and two secondary schools from Carmarthenshire. Award recipients will be presented with a souvenir and a cash award. The Deputy First Minister said, “It is a pleasure to be here today to present these awards and I congratulate all of the award winners on their commitment to improve road safety. Improving road safety in all areas of Wales is one of our ‘One Wales’ commitments and since 2000 we have allocated over £54 million directly to local authorities to help them deliver and implement road safety projects and initiatives in their local areas. In addition we have allocated over £27 million to our popular Safe Routes to School initiative and this year £10 million has gone to local authorities to help them implement projects that enhance safe routes in the community.” Photographs of the recipients receiving their Award will be forwarded to the media following the presentation. Chevron has supported the Awards since their inception. For further information contact Steve Baker or Michelle Harrington on 02920 250 600 Click here for a list of award winners
8/09/08: BELT UP! - ALL WALES SEATBELT CAMPAIGN
‘Not belting up can kill’, young people will be warned as part of an All Wales campaign stressing the dangers of not wearing seatbelts. From 8th September 2008, South Wales Police will lead the All Wales Seatbelt Campaign, warning drivers they are risking their lives by not wearing belts and cracking down on motorists and passengers who flout the laws. The two-week campaign by South Wales Police, Dyfed Powys Police, Gwent Police and North Wales Police, will run from Monday 8 September 2008 until 23.59 hours on Sunday 21st September and will particularly focus on young drivers. In Wales so far this year, as in previous years, officers have seen a number of young people killed in collisions who were not wearing belts. As part of the campaign officers will be educating young people, particularly in the 17 to 25 age group, about the dangers of not wearing belts. Officers will also be on the roads stopping and fining drivers and passengers of all ages who flout the law. Officers will be issuing £30 fixed penalty notices and some people could find themselves summonsed to court where they could face fines of up to £500. The campaign launch will take place at the Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay at 10.30am on Monday 8 September.
18/7/08: ALL WALES ANTI DRUG DRIVING CAMPAIGN
Following the recent success of the All Wales Summer Anti Drink Drive campaign, the Welsh police forces are joining together for a campaign targeting drug drivers. Dyfed Powys Police are leading the All Wales Anti Drug Driving Awareness Campaign which will be launched at 11a.m on Monday the 21st of July at the YFC stand in the Royal Welsh Show. For the launch, a Music Challenge will take place aimed at young people aged from 14 to 26 from all over Wales. The challenge involved getting a band/group together and producing a song about the issues and dangers of drug driving. Each Local Authority will have a band to represent their county at the final. The overall winner will be judged and announced on the day. The winner of the Summer Anti Drink Driving Launch will also be there to perform their winning song. Assistant Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police, Mr Nicholas Ingram said: “The message that drinking and driving is illegal and will not be tolerated is well known and has been used for years - but it's vitally important for everyone to be aware that taking drugs and driving is also illegal and will not be tolerated. This is also a lethal combination - people who take drugs and drive run the risk of killing themselves and other innocent road users. By engaging with youngsters on this issue, and getting them to think of the dangers through a medium they enjoy - hopefully the message will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
14/7/08: ALL WALES SUMMER ANTI DRINK DRIVE CAMPAIGN RESULTS
More drivers than ever before have been breath tested during an All Wales summer anti drink drive campaign, but less than 5 per cent were found to be over the legal limit. Over 12,000 drivers were breath tested by the four Welsh forces in the campaign which ran from June 1 to June 30. This compares to 7,970 in 2007. Of these 4.2 per cent proved positive which compares to 5 per cent for the previous year. The percentage of drivers giving a positive test after collisions was 6.5 per cent. The number of under 25s breath tested was 3,635 with 353 positive, refused or failed to provide; which equates to 4.2 per cent. In Dyfed Powys Police one of those arrested was just 15 and found to be over the legal limit. Deputy Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police, Andy Edwards, said: “It is pleasing that the percentage of positive tests has fallen. “What is concerning is the number of people found to be over the legal drink drive limit following collisions. This clearly demonstrates the serious risk they are putting themselves and others at. “All the Welsh forces target drink driving throughout the year and our message is simple – if you drink don’t drive.”
2/6/08: WALES SAYS DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE
The Welsh police forces are joining together for a summer campaign targeting drink drivers. The campaign starts on June 10 and will involve increased stop checks by all the Welsh police forces. People are being urged to think before they drink and not to get behind the wheel if they have consumed alcohol. Acting Chief Constable Andy Edwards, of Dyfed Powys Police who are leading on the campaign, said: “In the summer many people take advantage to have parties and barbecues especially when the sun is shining." “However as these events may take place over a number of hours they may lose track of how much they have had to drink. We would like to remind people there is no set amount of alcohol which can be consumed before legally getting behind the wheel." “People who drink and drive run the risk of killing themselves, their passengers, and other innocent road users. If you are stopped and found to be over the limit you face being disqualified from driving and having a criminal conviction which can have a massive impact on your life." “The best advice is simple - if you drink, don’t drive.” During the campaign last summer 7,970 breath tests were administered in Wales with 400 (5 per cent) being positive. Download poster here
30/1/08: TOO MANY NEEDLESS DEATHS 25 YEARS AFTER SEATBELT LAW
Twenty-five years after a successful RoSPA campaign to introduce the first seatbelt law, around 370 people a year are still being killed in road crashes because they do not wear a seatbelt. Well over 50,000 lives have been saved by seatbelts since 1983. But Steve Baker, Head of RoSPA Wales, said: “It is shocking that a stubborn minority of people still do not belt up when they get into a vehicle. Research shows that about a third of car occupants receiving fatal injuries are not wearing seatbelts. “We need to understand why they are still not getting the message and to ensure there are regular targeted campaigns so that deaths and injuries continue to reduce. “It may be that some people simply forget to wear their belts and need to be encouraged to get into the habit. Others may not feel they are necessary or that it is not ‘cool’ to wear one. Perhaps it is time to consider giving drivers three penalty points when they fail to wear their belts.” The first seatbelt law came in 25 years ago on January 31 after RoSPA’s then President, Lord Nugent of Guildford, won the day for compulsory wearing in the front seat of cars by introducing an amendment to the Transport Bill in the House of Lords. A law making it compulsory to wear seatbelts in the back of cars was introduced in 1991. “Thousands of lives have been saved by seatbelts thanks to RoSPA and Lord Nugent’s efforts,” Steve Baker said. “Unfortunately, while around 94 per cent of people in the front of cars wear their seatbelts - and that is still too low - only about 70 per cent of adults wear them in the back. “As television advertisements have shown, an unbelted rear seat passenger can be thrown forward and kill someone in the front of a car. In a crash at 30mph, if unrestrained you will be thrown forward with a force of between 30 and 60 times your own bodyweight. “There is also a big problem with van drivers (69 per cent wearing rate) and their passengers (58 per cent) and we need employers to do more to ensure their drivers and other employees put on their seatbelts. “Recent car seat laws have done more to protect children, but adults need to set an example by wearing their own belts so that children understand the true value of seatbelts as they grow too big for a child restraint.” www.thinkseatbelts.com
10/12/07: YOUNG TARGETTED IN SPEED CAMPAIGN
A new all-Wales campaign to educate young people about the dangers of driving too fast is being launched.The Deadly Mates campaign will see traffic officers stopping young drivers and handing out promotional material. One in four car drivers killed or seriously injured in crashes in Wales is under 25, say police. The most dangerous drivers are young men with passengers because they drive for the thrill of it and to "show off", said a road safety scheme spokesman. Gwent Police will run the two-week campaign for the three other forces in Wales and the Mid and South Wales Safety Camera Partnership. The campaign has a website and dedicated police road patrols will target young drivers. It will also run alongside the all-Wales anti-drink drive campaign which began on 3 December.Insp Lee Ford of Gwent Police's Roads Policing Unit said young drivers had more accidents than anyone else and the aim was to make them think of the consequences of their actions."They are responsible for around one in five of all the accidents where someone is killed or seriously injured." "There appears to be a very cavalier attitude to safety amongst some young drivers where they do not value or understand good driving skills. " Jim Moore of the Mid and South Wales Safety Camera Partnership said the most dangerous drivers were most likely to be new, with little or no experience. "Their friends put pressure on them to take risks at the wheel for a laugh or they race other cars which is stupid and really dangerous," said Mr Moore. "Making sharp risky driving moves at speed or driving too close behind other cars is really dangerous as they won't be able to brake in time if, for example, a child runs into the road," he said. "The most dangerous people behind the wheel are young men with passengers - because they drive faster for the thrill of it and to show off."
30/11/07 : GOT A LIVING, GOT A LIFE?
The 2007 Anti Drink Drive campaign, designed to highlight the problems and issues associated with drink driving - especially with the lead up to Christmas, will be launched on Monday 03 December at the All Nations Centre, Sachville Avenue, Heath, Cardiff. Assistant Chief Constable, South Wales Police, Mr Giles York will be speaking at the event on behalf of the police and Joy Smith, Chair of Road Safety Wales will act as compere for the event and introduce the winners of the Road Safety Wales poster competition. Reflecting on some of the different aspects relating to drink driving the Welsh Assembly Government Road Safety Team, the Police, Road Safety Wales Officers and Local Authority representatives will be working together to advise drivers to watch out for the dangerous 'Moment of Doubt' times, as it takes less than you think to become a drink driver. Angels of Chaos, an all girl band from Ebbw Vale Comprehensive School in Blaenau Gwent, will be performing their song 'Just Stop' at the event. The band won the Road Safety Music Challenge 2007 organised for comprehensive schools all around the Gwent area. The song, composed specially for the Challenge, reflects on the consequences of drinking and driving. Robin Shaw, Chief Executive, Transport Wales, Welsh Assembly Government will present the winners and runners up of The Anti Drink Drive Poster competition with prizes that have been supplied by Road Safety Wales. Drivers across Wales are reminded that they can’t calculate their alcohol limit and that even having one or two drinks can affect their judgement and slow down their reactions. Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport said: “Drink driving costs more than lives and I am urging drivers to leave their cars at home if they are out socialising this Christmas. You can’t calculate your own drink-drive limit so the only safe option is not to drink and drive. "Drink Drivers are a danger to themselves and others and there is no place for them on our roads in Wales." Assistant Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Mr Giles York said, "Last year, over 14,000 motorists were breathalysed so our message to all drivers is: 'Don’t drink and drive because you will get caught'." "On average, 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in the UK in drink drive collisions. Yet, last Christmas nearly 600 Welsh motorists still lost their driving licence because they took their own lives, and other innocent lives, into their hands." "Statistics show the 17-24 age group make the mistake of thinking they can get away with drink driving, which is why this year's campaign is clearly directed towards them and any other driver who is intent on breaking the law." Drivers in Wales are reminded that if they drive over the legal drink drive limit they could receive a hefty fine and lose their driving licence, their job, their friends and maybe even their life.
2/11/07 : NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY WEEK
The safety of children whilst out on roads and pavements will be given extra emphasis next week (5 – 11 November) during National Road Safety Week. Brake, the national road safety charity and co-ordinators of the week, will be urging drivers to slow down around schools and homes and is calling for further measures to help and protect children travelling on foot and by bike. For further information about National Road Safety Week and its aims log on to: www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk Although child road casualties in Wales have decreased since the mid 1990’s by nearly 50% there were still 10 children killed, 134 seriously injured and 1,153 slightly injured in 2006. During road safety week in Wales, road safety practitioners will continue to engage in the promotion of ongoing accident prevention work within the following initiatives: The Children’s Traffic Club www.trafficclub.co.uk Kerbcraft Pedestrian Training Kerbcraft in Wales The Junior Road Safety Officers Club www.jrsocymru.org.uk Through various other initiatives local authorities will also be encouraging young road users to wear fluorescent and/or reflective material as the darker evenings approach. Specific initiatives are also being held as follows: A media launch is being held in Gabalfa Primary School, Cardiff at 10.00am on Tuesday 6 November Blaenau Gwent pupils will be learning more safety skills at a Crucial Crew event A Junior Road Safety Officers Conference is being held in Bridgend Carmarthenshire County Council’s road safety mascot Gari Gofal will be touring the County’s schools with Pudsey Bear collecting money raised for Children in Need as a result of school road safety initiatives. New National Standards Cycle Training is being held in Bridgend New National Standards Cycle Training Instructors are being trained in Bridgend and Denbighshire Children’s Traffic Club birthday parties are being held in Denbighshire Neath Port Talbot will be taking their road safety trailer throughout the county to raise awareness of the week. Swansea’s road safety mascot ‘Rocky the Rooster’ will be touring primary schools
12/10/07 : ALL WALES SEATBELT ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN
Don’t be a dummy. Belt up! Dyfed Powys Police launched the All Wales Campaign at Llandrindod Wells on September 10th, which was followed by a 2-week enforcement period. Unfortunately there are still people travelling on our roads that insist on not wearing a seatbelt with over 97% of those caught being drivers and adult passengers. There is no excuse for not wearing a belt; the consequences if you’re unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision are simply not worth the risk. The aim of this campaign was to tell drivers and passengers the importance of wearing a seat belt both in the front and the back of a vehicle as well as ensuring that any children under the age of 14 were carried safely but unfortunately there are drivers carrying children in ill-fitting or damaged child restraints. We would urge you to check all child seats within your vehicle and ensure you follow your manufacturer’s guidelines for the correct restraint. Chief Inspector Phil Davies, Operations Dept, Dyfed Powys Police said, “Although enforcement of the law was the primary tactic used by the Four Welsh Forces in this campaign it is important to note that education remains a key feature in our overall aim of reducing the number of casualties in motor collisions and to this end we will continue to raise awareness of seat belt wearing to improve road safety on our regions roads.” Cllr Gwilym Evans, Powys County Council said, “In-car safety checks have been carried out at numerous locations throughout Powys with startling results. On average, only 2 – 5% of all checked car seats pass the inspection. The most common problems include seatbelts being incorrectly routed, car seats that are incompatible with the make of vehicle and ill-fitting harnesses.” Cllr Evans added, “I would urge all parents and guardians to take advantage of these In Car Safety checks whenever they are in your area, as using the appropriate restraint significantly increases your chance of survival in a road traffic collision.” Remember, belting up saves lives! All Wales Seatbelt Enforcement Campaign Results 2007 »
7/09/07 : DON'T BE A DUMMY. BELT UP!
Dyfed Powys Police are leading an All Wales Seatbelt Campaign that will be launched on Monday September 10th 2007 in Llandrindod Wells in conjunction with the Powys Community Safety Partnership to remind drivers and passengers of the dangers of not belting up. Since the law to wear front seatbelts was introduced in 1983, it’s estimated that 50,000 lives have been saved, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Although most road users are fully aware of the potential consequences of not wearing a seat belt, police officers throughout Wales will be clamping down on those who continue to ignore the law, endangering all road users. Dyfed Powys Police Chief Inspector Phil Davies said: “Wearing a seat belt is such a simple, easy thing to do. As police officers, we see the consequences of driving without a seat belt all too often at crash scenes. While you will face a fine if you are caught without your seat belt on, the key message we are trying to get across is that wearing a seat belt really could mean the difference between life and death - and that applies just as much to passengers as it does to drivers.” By simply wearing a seat belt, drivers and passengers can increase their chances of survival in a collision by as much as 60%. During the last All Wales campaign in 2006, over 3,000 people were caught not wearing their seatbelt with most of those being drivers. If you travel in a car vehicle without your seatbelt on you are not just putting yourself at risk in a collision but are putting others travelling with you in danger too. Chief Inspector Phil Davies added, “From September 2006 until June this year (since the new child seat regulations came in) we have seen 372 offences in Wales whereby children have not been safely restrained while travelling in the vehicle. I would urge parents/carers/guardians to attend the launch on September 10th to receive practical advice from a child seat expert (provided by Powys County Council) who will be available all day at ALDI car park in Llandrindod Wells. ” The two-week enforcement campaign will run throughout Wales from September 10th to 24th 2007. Full Story»
30/05/07 : ALL WALES SUMMER DRINK/DRUGS DRIVE CAMPAIGN 2007
Police forces throughout Wales will be stepping up the pressure this summer in a concerted effort to deter people from driving motor vehicles whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The campaign will start on June 4th 2007 and the likelihood of drivers being stopped by the police during this time will increase. It is of real concern that despite significant improvements over recent years together with advertising campaigns and education programmes, people are still being killed or seriously injured as a direct result of drink driving. Indeed there is evidence to suggest that the problem of young men willing to risk all by driving while drunk is re-emerging. Any amount of alcohol or drugs in the body can affect a person’s driving ability and judgment. Coupled with youthful exaggeration of driving ability it makes for a fatal combination. Full Story»
28/03/07 : BIKESAFE CYMRU LAUNCH
Gwent Police is co-ordinating the launch of BikeSafe Cymru in association with Road Safety Wales and Gwent Road Resource Centre. The launch event will take place at Abergavenny bus station on Sunday April 15, 2007 between 10am and 3pm (official launch 1pm) with Chief Constable Mike Tonge and MPs David Davies and Lembit Opik in attendance. Full Story»


13/03/06 : ALL WALES MOBILE PHONE ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
Gwent Police Assistant Chief Constable Bill Horne will launch the All Wales Mobile Phone Enforcement Campaign, at Magor services on Tuesday March 13, 2007 at 11.00am on behalf of the four Welsh Forces. In partnership with Capita Symonds the four Welsh forces aim to remind drivers and passengers of the dangers and subsequent consequences of using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving. With effect from February 27, 2007 using a mobile phone whilst driving became an endorsable offence and carries a fine of £60 and 3 penalty points. Full Story»

09/06/06 : NEW CHAIRPERSON FOR ROAD SAFETY WALES
The election of Joy Smith (County Road Safety Officer for Neath Port Talbot CBC) as new chairperson comes at an exciting time for Road Safety Wales. The partnership, which embraces road safety professionals from across Wales has just launched a major initiative aimed at tackling the high rates of young drivers and passengers killed and injured on Welsh roads. Full Story»

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