Julian Huppert, Cambridge MP Supports New HGV/Cycle Design Competition

A new competition supported by Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge, unites cyclists and drivers to prevent road deaths; April invites designers to enter the hunt for new hazard symbol warning road users of the dangerous lorry risk zone.

The InTANDEM Road Safety Competition which launches after fatal or serious injury cycle casualties increased beyond the 2,500 mark; 20 percent of cycle accidents in the capital involve Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV).[1] The new initiative encourages road users to work in tandem to maximise road safety, as both drivers and cyclists are encouraged to enter designs.

Huppert, recently named MP of the month for his cycle safety campaign, said “This is an excellent competition which focuses on the real danger to cyclists from heavy lorries while at the same time making drivers and cyclists think about the action they need to take to minimise the risks.”

The hazard symbol will combat a common accident which occurs whilst turning left at a junction; cyclists are in danger of being crushed against the wheels of a large vehicle, if the driver cannot see the cyclist on their nearside. The new sign will advocate that extra care is needed when passing a large vehicle on the nearside

The new symbol has answered Huppert’s call for better signage; “The sign, designed to compliment other lorry safety equipment such as sensors, turning alarms, extra mirrors and safety bars, could go a long way to saving lives.”
The winning design will be judged by Robert Smalley, Chief Driving Examiner for RosPA, Subash Ludhra, President of IOSH, Creative Director Gary Harringman, Studio Harringman and Managing Director Amanda Jackson, Tigerfish PR.

Supported by How’s My Driving?, the UK’s first driving feedback service, the winning entrant will receive £1000 for the most creative design. More details can be found on the competition’s webpage www.intandemcompetition.com, facebook www.facebook.com/InTANDEMComp or Twitter @InTANDEMComp.

Speeding: No-One Thinks Big Of You

Cambridgeshire County Council Road Safety Officers have launched a new campaign targeting young male drivers who speed. 

The campaign, titled 'Speeding: no-one thinks big of you', is inspired by a similar campaign in Australia and aims to use peer pressure in a cheeky, subtle way to reduce young male driver and female passenger casualties. 

Given the target audience, the campaign centres around information, advice and discussion on the Road Safety Team Facebook page and Twitter feed. 

This will be accompanied by posters, featuring students from Huntingdonshire Regional College, which depict young females waving their little fingers, 'pinkies', at guys who are speeding or driving dangerously to show off. 

Local Cambridgeshire County Councillor Andy Pellew said; "It's encouraging to see the County Council taking the issue of speed seriously but there is a great deal of work still to do to make our roads safer, especially for young people who are disproportionately victims of this kind of crime.

The target of this campaign is the young male driver, the aim is to give their passengers the confidence to tell their friends to slow down. Let's hope, with the high numbers of young people attending CRC and the Manor this new approach is successful."

Matt Staton, Road Safety Officer for Cambridgeshire County Council, added:  "The aim of this campaign is to encourage teenage girls to tell their boyfriends/friends when they don't like their driving and show they are not impressed.  We also want to make young male drivers aware that they don't impress people when they show off in their cars." 

Be Bright, Be Seen As The Nights Draw In

Road Safety Officers at Cambridgeshire County Council are urging all road users to take extra care on the roads once the clocks go back this weekend.

The change of the clocks means it will be darker in the afternoons, when many people are making their way home from work or school. The darker conditions make it harder for pedestrians and cyclists to be seen by other road users.

Parents are being encouraged to make sure they and their children 'be bright, be seen' by attaching reflective strips to their bags and coats or other clothing. Cyclists are also reminded that they must use lights during hours of darkness and should ensure their bike reflectors are clean and clearly visible.

To support this message, Richardsons Cycles are providing reflective bands to be given to children at selected primary schools around the county, along with advice for parents from Road Safety Officers.

Matt Staton, Road Safety Officer for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "It is very important that pedestrians and cyclists ensure they can be seen when making journeys in the dark, but it is equally important that other road users are extra vigilant in the knowledge that pedestrians and cyclists will be harder to see."

Simon Haydn, Bikeability Project Officer for the County Council, added some extra advice for cyclists: "All lights should be fitted to the bike, and although helmet or head torches are useful, they can be potentially blinding for other road users."

On behalf of Cambridgeshire Road Safety Partnership...

It’s here, the Christmas office party, the firm’s “do”. Traditionally it’s a time to have a great time with your work mates and give the boss some gentle stick. It’s also the time for some to lose their driving licence, get a huge fine and possibly a prison sentence. Now there’s a party they’ll never forget.  Everyone likes a good time at Christmas and New Year. It’s the party season. The only safe course of action is not to drink and drive. Not only on the day of the office party but also on the day after it. (Don’t think that the morning after provides your body with an instant all clear. It doesn’t). So on the day and the day after take the bus, a taxi or arrange to have a non-drinking designated driver. But do not drink and drive.

Alcohol severely impairs the driver Alcohol tends to make you feel over confident and more likely to take risks when driving. This false confidence increases the danger to all road users, including you. The legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. But any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely. The effects include Slower reactions Reduced co-ordination Loss of ability to judge speed, time and distance Diminished concentration There is absolutely no failsafe method of how to stay under the legal limit. Nor is there a magic formula to employ that allows you to drink and drive safely. Many elements have to be taken into account, including your weight, age, sex and metabolism; your stress levels; the amount and type of alcohol; and an empty stomach. The only safe option is not to drink if you plan to drive. And never offer a drink to someone else who is driving. A driver will be found guilty of drink driving if he or she has more than: 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine Drinking and driving does not mix and the law is very clear on how it deals with it: Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit (or unfit through drink) carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum 12 months driving ban. An endorsement for a drink-driving offence remains on a driving licence for 11 years. That means 11 years before a convicted driver will have a clean licence again. Being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal limit or unfit through drink could result in three months imprisonment plus a fine of up to £2,500 and a driving ban.

Should a driver refuse to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis the penalty is a maximum six months imprisonment, up to £5000 fine and a driving ban of at least 12 months. Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison; a minimum two year driving ban; and a requirement to pass an extended driving test before being able to   rive again legally. Think before drinking and driving, is it worth: The humungous taxi bill resulting from say a three year ban Being separated from family and friends whist serving up to 14 years in prison Your savings being frittered away paying a fine (typically £5000) Being forced to sit an extended driving test Getting a criminal record that could also make you unemployable Having your insurance costs go through the roof Experiencing a real problem hiring a car for the next 10 years Even on the morning after you’re still not safe On the morning after you’ve been out drinking you may still be affected by the alcohol you’ve consumed. You could feel fine but in reality be unfit to drive or be over the legal alcohol limit. Showering, drinking coffee, or other ways of sobering up will not help. It is impossible to get rid of alcohol from your body other than through time. You could still lose your licence if you drive the day after your party. Remember Any amount of alcohol will affect your judgement. Starting with your judgement about whether you should have another drink or not. And if you think you won’t get caught, think again. More than half a million breath tests are carried out each year and on average 100,000 are found to be positive. Take the bus.