Dangerous road hotline launched
Discussion
Road safety campaigners have launched a hotline for people to report dangerous roads in their area.
Lobby group Brake says that too often accidents must occur before action is taken to make a road safer.
It wants to use the telephone calls to draw up a list of roads it says need safety measures such as speed cameras.
But the government has been under pressure to ensure speed cameras are only used where they are needed - in places where there have been accidents.
Brake wants to turn that around - and use the calls to its hotline to draw up a list of roads - before there are deaths and injuries.
The campaign group says road accidents are the biggest killer of children aged 12 to 16.
It is calling for more speed cameras, 20 mile an hour speed limits, signs and crossings on roads considered dangerous.
Earlier this month, an AA Motoring Trust report pinpointed the most dangerous roads in Britain.
The trust said its annual analysis of the road accident records revealed the British risk rate to be one of the lowest in Europe with even some of the recognised high-risk stretches improving over time.
However, it said the worst few roads still produced up to 10 times as many fatal or serious accidents as the safest.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4356643.stm
puggit said:
When will the beard-sporting labour-voting bus-catching lentil-munchers learn? Speed cameras don't make roads safe!
Re-engineering and education is what makes roads safe!
A great idea ruined by ingrained stupidity
I quite agree.
On the radio report i heard, Brake wants the roads reported so that cameras can be introduced and speed limits powered.
Absolutely no mention made of improving road surface, layout, signing, lighting, barriers etc
Letter sent to BRAKE:
I have to comment on your newly announced campaign for the public to report "dangerous roads".
There is no such thing as a dangerous road. For every person who crashes in any given place, several million totally uneventful journeys will have been made via the same spot. This is the last word in buck-shifting and it is time people took responsibility for their actions instead of seeking another force to blame. Particularly an inanimate one.
The real reason why road accidents occur is a fatal combination of idiocy, ignorance, inattention and poor training, and that goes for all road users, not just private vehicle users.
The speed kills mantra is way too simplistic. Road users are becoming increasingly of the opinion that they can do what the hell they like, so long as they don't exceed a posted limit, because "only speed kills". Due to Police Officers being replaced by tin boxes, they are also smugly secure in the knowledge that they can drive backwards down a pavement at 29mph whilst smoking drugs, drinking whisky and toting a shotgun, and they are unlikely to be caught.
This is why deaths continue to rise, despite the burgeoning use of speed cameras.
If you really want to reduce road casualties, rather than just make a political point, what you should be campaigning for is:
- Better road enforcement by the reintroduction of traffic Police
- Better training for all road users, from pedestrians to HGV drivers
- Better awareness of the need to be medically fit to drive
Yours sincerely
>> Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Thursday 17th March 09:53
I have to comment on your newly announced campaign for the public to report "dangerous roads".
There is no such thing as a dangerous road. For every person who crashes in any given place, several million totally uneventful journeys will have been made via the same spot. This is the last word in buck-shifting and it is time people took responsibility for their actions instead of seeking another force to blame. Particularly an inanimate one.
The real reason why road accidents occur is a fatal combination of idiocy, ignorance, inattention and poor training, and that goes for all road users, not just private vehicle users.
The speed kills mantra is way too simplistic. Road users are becoming increasingly of the opinion that they can do what the hell they like, so long as they don't exceed a posted limit, because "only speed kills". Due to Police Officers being replaced by tin boxes, they are also smugly secure in the knowledge that they can drive backwards down a pavement at 29mph whilst smoking drugs, drinking whisky and toting a shotgun, and they are unlikely to be caught.
This is why deaths continue to rise, despite the burgeoning use of speed cameras.
If you really want to reduce road casualties, rather than just make a political point, what you should be campaigning for is:
- Better road enforcement by the reintroduction of traffic Police
- Better training for all road users, from pedestrians to HGV drivers
- Better awareness of the need to be medically fit to drive
Yours sincerely
>> Edited by Mon Ami Mate on Thursday 17th March 09:53
Brilliant letter Mon Ami. I fear that it will be ignored at 'Brake' though. They seem as open-minded as the Spanish Inquisition*.
*This represents my opinion, and in no way the opinion of anyone else, especially not people that could be sued / accused of issuing threats. This does not affect your statutory rights
*This represents my opinion, and in no way the opinion of anyone else, especially not people that could be sued / accused of issuing threats. This does not affect your statutory rights
I heard this on the radio this morning...
I suppose that will be the full road network that gets a mention then?
The police and scam prats already have this information and this campaign will only create more hysteria whilst ignoring the facts.
At least Brunstrum seem to have seen the light - we can't have a camera every 10m on every road.
I suppose that will be the full road network that gets a mention then?
The police and scam prats already have this information and this campaign will only create more hysteria whilst ignoring the facts.
At least Brunstrum seem to have seen the light - we can't have a camera every 10m on every road.
Mon Ami Mate said:
The campaign group says road accidents are the biggest killer of children aged 12 to 16.
Mainly because they keep stepping/running out into the road when they shouldn't. Like that idiot who got killed the other day by a fire engine on it's way to an emergency with lights and sirens going full blast.
But do we ever hear BRAKE advocating better road saftey education for school kids?
In fact is there any road safety education for school kids anymore? Police always used to visit schools to do this when I was young, but when I tried checking to see if they still do following some speed camera piece in local paper I never got an answer.
As we all know, there's a polical movement to try and shift all the onus - and the blame - to the car rather than in trying to deal with the real problems.
Which is probably why road deaths in the UK are going up rather than down.
Mon Ami Mate said:
The campaign group says road accidents are the biggest killer of children aged 12 to 16.
I'd be interested to knw if that's true. If anyone has time, check out this PDF, which I'm sure contains the correct data somewhere:
www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/DH1_35_2002/DH1no35.pdf
Here is their press release:
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed – 00.01 17 March 2005
From: Brake, the road safety charity, PO Box 548, Huddersfield HD1 2XZ
Tel: 01484 559909 Fax: 01484 559983 E-mail: news@brake.org.uk
Child safety hotline to name and shame killer roads
Parents and residents who fear for their children’s safety on roads can take action to tackle child deaths and injuries in their community by calling the Zak the Zebra hotline 0800 068 7780 (open 8am-8pm Mon-Fri and 9am-4pm Sat). The hotline, being launched today by Brake, the national road safety charity, can be used to name and shame dangerous roads near schools and residential areas where children on foot or bikes are at risk.
Road crashes are the biggest killer of children aged 12-16 years old. In 2003, 74 child pedestrians under 16 were killed and 12,470 were injured on Britain’s roads. Deaths of 8-19 year olds on foot also rose by a shocking amount, from 87 in 2002 to 110 in 2003, an increase of 26% in just one year.
Tracey Mann’s son Tom, 14, was killed in September 2003 while he was out jogging, training for his football team.
Tracey said: “Deaths and injuries of children on our roads devastate families and communities. Anyone who is concerned about children’s safety on roads should call the Zak hotline and take action to make our roads safer. I urge any drivers who think it’s ok to speed in areas where children may be walking or cycling to think about the trauma bereaved parents suffer. Even driving a couple of miles per hour above the speed limit can mean the difference between life and death if you hit a child.”
With the help of Zak the Zebra hotline callers, Brake will compile a dossier of dangerous roads in the UK to be presented to Downing Street during Road Safety Week 2005 (7-13 November). Brake is calling on the Government to take essential steps to protect children, including introducing 20mph speed limits outside every school, providing funding for more safe crossings and pavements and making road safety education in schools compulsory.
All callers to the hotline receive a free ‘Zak Pack’, an action pack of resources to help them set up campaigns and educate local road users. Callers will also be invited to FREE training sessions on how to campaign for better road safety in their area, provided by the FedEx & Brake Road Safety Academy.
Contact Zak the Zebra on 0800 068 7780 to report dangerous roads or to provide an example of a particularly safe road, such as where a new crossing or slower speed limit has helped children to get to school safely.
The Zak the Zebra hotline is part of Brake’s ‘Watch Out There’s a Kid About’ campaign, which aims to reduce the shocking numbers of children killed on our roads by campaigning for:
• 20mph speed limits around schools and residential areas;
• more speed cameras, pedestrian crossings, pavements and cycle paths around schools;
• modern high-visibility signs highlighting speed limits and the presence of children around all schools and neighbourhoods;
• improved education of children and young people through compulsory road safety education in schools;
• better transport facilities to and from school; and
• tougher penalties for drivers who kill children.
Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, said : “Deaths and injuries of children on our roads devastate families and communities. The death toll on our roads is appalling and not enough is being done to save our children’s lives. We want people to report dangerous roads where crashes, injuries or near misses have occurred to help us gather evidence for our Watch Out There’s a Kid About campaign. The Zak Pack empowers people to take action locally, helping them to save lives in their community.”
Zak the Zebra said: “Call my hotline on 0800 068 7780 with the details of a safe or dangerous road near you and together with Brake I’ll be giving roads across the UK the ‘hoof up’ or ‘hoof down’.”
Bestselling children’s writer, Jacqueline Wilson said: "I am horrified that road crashes are such a big killer of young people in this country. It seems to be something that could so easily be prevented. I am happy to give Brake my full support for this campaign and hope that together, we can hammer home the message that we as adults, need to do all we can to make our roads safer.”
The hotline is provided by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, who are corporate partners of Brake.
Michelle Beynon, spokesperson for Irwin Mitchell, said: “As personal injury solicitors we are well aware of how road crashes can devastate lives. We are providing the Zak the Zebra hotline to hopefully reduce the shocking number of child casualties on our roads.”
Ring Zak on 0800 068 7780 with details of good or bad roads near you – he is waiting for your call!
For media enquiries and interviews with Mary Williams OBE, call Caroline Chisholm at Brake on 01484 559909, or email news@brake.org.uk.
Notes for editors:
Brake is an independent, national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the 3,500 deaths and 33,700 serious injuries that occur on Britain’s roads every year and to care for people traumatised by road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week. Brake’s Forum for road safety professionals, the Fleet Safety Forum, provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers, Brake’s support division, cares for road crash victims through a help line and other services.
Brake is funded by donations. Registered charity number 1093244.
--------------------------------
I'm flabbergasted to mention that they are calling for compulsory road safety education in schools.
>> Edited by puggit on Thursday 17th March 12:48
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed – 00.01 17 March 2005
From: Brake, the road safety charity, PO Box 548, Huddersfield HD1 2XZ
Tel: 01484 559909 Fax: 01484 559983 E-mail: news@brake.org.uk
Child safety hotline to name and shame killer roads
Parents and residents who fear for their children’s safety on roads can take action to tackle child deaths and injuries in their community by calling the Zak the Zebra hotline 0800 068 7780 (open 8am-8pm Mon-Fri and 9am-4pm Sat). The hotline, being launched today by Brake, the national road safety charity, can be used to name and shame dangerous roads near schools and residential areas where children on foot or bikes are at risk.
Road crashes are the biggest killer of children aged 12-16 years old. In 2003, 74 child pedestrians under 16 were killed and 12,470 were injured on Britain’s roads. Deaths of 8-19 year olds on foot also rose by a shocking amount, from 87 in 2002 to 110 in 2003, an increase of 26% in just one year.
Tracey Mann’s son Tom, 14, was killed in September 2003 while he was out jogging, training for his football team.
Tracey said: “Deaths and injuries of children on our roads devastate families and communities. Anyone who is concerned about children’s safety on roads should call the Zak hotline and take action to make our roads safer. I urge any drivers who think it’s ok to speed in areas where children may be walking or cycling to think about the trauma bereaved parents suffer. Even driving a couple of miles per hour above the speed limit can mean the difference between life and death if you hit a child.”
With the help of Zak the Zebra hotline callers, Brake will compile a dossier of dangerous roads in the UK to be presented to Downing Street during Road Safety Week 2005 (7-13 November). Brake is calling on the Government to take essential steps to protect children, including introducing 20mph speed limits outside every school, providing funding for more safe crossings and pavements and making road safety education in schools compulsory.
All callers to the hotline receive a free ‘Zak Pack’, an action pack of resources to help them set up campaigns and educate local road users. Callers will also be invited to FREE training sessions on how to campaign for better road safety in their area, provided by the FedEx & Brake Road Safety Academy.
Contact Zak the Zebra on 0800 068 7780 to report dangerous roads or to provide an example of a particularly safe road, such as where a new crossing or slower speed limit has helped children to get to school safely.
The Zak the Zebra hotline is part of Brake’s ‘Watch Out There’s a Kid About’ campaign, which aims to reduce the shocking numbers of children killed on our roads by campaigning for:
• 20mph speed limits around schools and residential areas;
• more speed cameras, pedestrian crossings, pavements and cycle paths around schools;
• modern high-visibility signs highlighting speed limits and the presence of children around all schools and neighbourhoods;
• improved education of children and young people through compulsory road safety education in schools;
• better transport facilities to and from school; and
• tougher penalties for drivers who kill children.
Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, said : “Deaths and injuries of children on our roads devastate families and communities. The death toll on our roads is appalling and not enough is being done to save our children’s lives. We want people to report dangerous roads where crashes, injuries or near misses have occurred to help us gather evidence for our Watch Out There’s a Kid About campaign. The Zak Pack empowers people to take action locally, helping them to save lives in their community.”
Zak the Zebra said: “Call my hotline on 0800 068 7780 with the details of a safe or dangerous road near you and together with Brake I’ll be giving roads across the UK the ‘hoof up’ or ‘hoof down’.”
Bestselling children’s writer, Jacqueline Wilson said: "I am horrified that road crashes are such a big killer of young people in this country. It seems to be something that could so easily be prevented. I am happy to give Brake my full support for this campaign and hope that together, we can hammer home the message that we as adults, need to do all we can to make our roads safer.”
The hotline is provided by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, who are corporate partners of Brake.
Michelle Beynon, spokesperson for Irwin Mitchell, said: “As personal injury solicitors we are well aware of how road crashes can devastate lives. We are providing the Zak the Zebra hotline to hopefully reduce the shocking number of child casualties on our roads.”
Ring Zak on 0800 068 7780 with details of good or bad roads near you – he is waiting for your call!
For media enquiries and interviews with Mary Williams OBE, call Caroline Chisholm at Brake on 01484 559909, or email news@brake.org.uk.
Notes for editors:
Brake is an independent, national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the 3,500 deaths and 33,700 serious injuries that occur on Britain’s roads every year and to care for people traumatised by road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week. Brake’s Forum for road safety professionals, the Fleet Safety Forum, provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers, Brake’s support division, cares for road crash victims through a help line and other services.
Brake is funded by donations. Registered charity number 1093244.
--------------------------------
I'm flabbergasted to mention that they are calling for compulsory road safety education in schools.
>> Edited by puggit on Thursday 17th March 12:48
This could be very useful,
succesful campaigning has recently got rid of some very dangerous conditions on a road near me. They forced drivers of on coming traffic to swerve towards each other as the road narrowed between bollards mounted in either lane. appparantly the local council thought it would calm the traffic but caused near misses and almost a few accidents,
other dangerous sections of road worth reporting would include ones where bumps and dips in the road caused drivers to brake unneccesarily, or to restrict the view of roads with hedging.
final point would be issues with cameras mounted too near to main highways where drivers could fine it needful to pay attention to the dials in car too much and miss pedestrians not trained to use the road correctly.
all of these are dangerous and should be reported ASAP, imho of course :-)
succesful campaigning has recently got rid of some very dangerous conditions on a road near me. They forced drivers of on coming traffic to swerve towards each other as the road narrowed between bollards mounted in either lane. appparantly the local council thought it would calm the traffic but caused near misses and almost a few accidents,
other dangerous sections of road worth reporting would include ones where bumps and dips in the road caused drivers to brake unneccesarily, or to restrict the view of roads with hedging.
final point would be issues with cameras mounted too near to main highways where drivers could fine it needful to pay attention to the dials in car too much and miss pedestrians not trained to use the road correctly.
all of these are dangerous and should be reported ASAP, imho of course :-)
jacobyte said:
Mon Ami Mate said:
The campaign group says road accidents are the biggest killer of children aged 12 to 16.
I'd be interested to knw if that's true. If anyone has time, check out this PDF, which I'm sure contains the correct data somewhere:
www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/DH1_35_2002/DH1no35.pdf
I've just spent a few minutes looking at the tables. Unfortunately the age groupings do not coincide with Brakes grouping, but here are a couple of facts:
Ages 5-14, 2.5 times more likely to die from cancer than a road accident. Conversely ages 15-24 just over twice as likely to die from an RTA as cancer.
you have all missed the obboius. if brake demand cameras where the statistics from the reporting shows it should be - report every bit of road that actually needs it.
ie every street you dont go, schools, MP's home adresses.
after all, the reported statistics cant lie, and money and time will be invested in researching and campaigning for these locations--- leaving them too busy to camerise the pointelss places.
ie every street you dont go, schools, MP's home adresses.
after all, the reported statistics cant lie, and money and time will be invested in researching and campaigning for these locations--- leaving them too busy to camerise the pointelss places.
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff