TISPOL Bulletin 17 July 2018

Ireland's Transport Minister launches the formal countdown to
Project EDWARD 2018

Ministers, policymakers and road safety professionals joined senior police officers in Dublin last week for the launch of the countdown to this year’s Project EDWARD – the European Day Without A Road Death. 

Ireland’s Transport Minister Shane Ross TD (pictured above at the wheel) offered his support for Project EDWARD at the Dublin launch today. “I would really encourage everyone to get behind this year’s Project EDWARD, to be held on 19 September 2018. Project EDWARD is an opportunity for road users across Europe to work together to aim for one day where there is no loss of life.

“Last year it brought the whole of Europe together in one concerted effort to reduce road deaths. This year let’s make it a record breaking road safety event in Europe and save more lives. You can pledge your support on projectedward.eu.”

Organised by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, Project EDWARD seeks to bring together everyone with an interest in reducing the number of people killed on our roads. 

Also supporting TISPOL and Project EDWARD is Ireland’s Road Safety Authority, whose Chief Executive Moyagh Murdock (pictured above) said that road users across Ireland were happy to get behind the initiative. 

Speaking at the launch, she said: “Independent research by Behaviour & Attitudes for the RSA this year has shown that there is great public support and good will out there to campaigns like Project EDWARD. In fact of those who were aware of last year’s European Day Without a Road Death, almost three quarters said the initiative was effective in influencing people to drive safer. 

“Raising greater awareness of Project EDWARD and getting more people to sign up to the online pledgethis year are our main goals. Hopefully we will repeat last year’s success of having no deaths on Ireland’s roads on 19 September 2018!”

 

 

What can we do for road safety?

TISPOL General Secretary Ruth Purdie said: “We urge drivers, riders, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users to pause for a moment on 19 September to reflect on one simple question: what can I do for road safety today?

Speaking at the Dublin launch last week, she asked everyone to consider ways they can reduce risk and improve safety, to help achieve that ultimate goal of no deaths on Europe’s roads.

“Please support Project EDWARD, sign the pledge and challenge all your friends to do the same," she said.

Ruth is pictured above on the right. Next to her is Donna Price, Founder and Chairperson of the Irish Roads Victims' Association. Also pictured are Transport Minister Shane Ross TD, Moyagh Murdock, Ch Supt Aidan Reid and other members of TISPOL's Executive Committee. 

Ch Supt Aidan Reid, Roads Policing said:- “Although this is a mainly educational initiative, there will be an enforcement plan being put in place, assisted by the 87 recently appointed Roads Policing members. It will be advertised heavily in advance so please take this opportunity to reflect on how you act on the roads and avoid any penalties or incidents."

 

A quick glance at the ProjectEDWARD.eu resources section

We will be launching the resources section of the ProjectEDWARD.eu website with our next Bulletin (21 August). here you will find an array of designs and artwork, images, press releases, flyers and other useful items - all available for download free of charge. 

If you require any artwork before the section becomes available, please drop an email to media@tispol.org. 

A selection of artwork can be seen below:

 

Other ways to help in 2018:

• Contact media@tispol.org if you have some specific ideas, or wish to ensure you are included in all the Project EDWARD information we share
• Record a video message we can put on the Project EDWARD website
• Help spread the word on social media using #ProjectEDWARD
• If you have a budget and could become a supporter - or might be able to connect us to organisations willing to assist - then we would be enormously grateful. 

 

 

BOOK YOUR PLACE AT THIS YEAR'S TISPOL CONFERENCE

The 2018 TISPOL Conference takes place on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 October at the Radisson Blu Hotel,
Manchester Airport. If you would like to join us but have not yet made your booking, please confirm as soon as possible.

Find out more about delegate packages

Interested in exhibiting? Find out more

 

And a quick round-up of roads policing and safety news from across Europe:

Belgium: Alcohol interlocks now mandatory for high-level and repeat offenders

Judges in Belgium now have to oblige high level or repeat drink-driving offenders to follow an alcohol interlock rehabilitation programme after new legal changes came into force on 1 July 2018. Previously the alcohol interlock requirement was a little-used legal option, but it has now become mandatory in most cases. According to research by VIAS, ETSC’s Belgian member, recidivism is reduced by 75% for those who install an alcohol interlock and follow the accompanying rehabilitation programme.

Full story >>

 

Spain: mobile phone offences for drivers to increase

From now on, using a mobile phone while driving will carry bigger sanctions in Spain. Pere Navarro, the new head of the national traffic authority (DGT), announced plans to stiffen the penalties for a common habit that is closely tied to road collisions. Distractions at the wheel are the leading cause of death on Spanish roads, ahead of alcohol consumption and excessive speed.

More details >>

 

UK: new mobile phone detection system launches in Norfolk

A new mobile phone detection system, the first of its kind to be used on UK roads, has become operational in the county of Norfolk. The system has been developed by Norfolk County Council in partnership with signs manufacturer (and #ProjectEDWARD sponsor) Westcotec, as part of efforts to deter motorists from using mobile phones at the wheel.

The unit identifies what type of signal is being transmitted by the handset and whether it is being used via the vehicle’s Bluetooth system. 

When the relevant signal is detected – indicating that a mobile phone is being used within the vehicle – the road sign is activated as the vehicle passes, giving a flashing visual message intended to prompt the driver to stop using their phone.

However, at present there is no facility to record a vehicle’s number plate – although Norfolk County Council says this is likely to be a future development.

Inspector Jonathan Chapman of Norfolk Roads Policing unit said: “This scheme is a good example of how we can work with local authorities to make using a mobile phone whilst driving as socially unacceptable as drink or drug-driving. 

“Any scheme which prevents this kind of behaviour is welcomed."

Chris Spinks of  Westcotec said:  "We have worked closely with the road safety team at Norfolk County Council to get to this position and are glad that we’re able to assist them in promoting awareness about the dangers of mobile phone use in the car.”

 

RSS to analyse 2017 casualty data

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that its Reported Road Casualties Great Britain, main results: 2017 report is likely to be published at the end of September.

As soon as the figures are available Road Safety Support (RSS) will begin analysing the data and five-year casualty reduction progress reports will be produced for every force area in England and Wales.

The 43 Casualty Reduction Comparison Reports, which will reveal how areas performed between 2011 and 2017 and how their progress ranked nationally, will be available to download on the RSS members’ website.

 

Germany: Minister calls for EU-wide safety system for truck 'blind spots'

Germany's transport minister wants trucks fitted with compulsory 'blind spot' safety systems to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being killed by careless drivers.

Properly arranged mirrors normally ensure that truck drivers can see all areas in front of and beside their vehicles. But a series of fatal collisions in recent months has strengthened calls from road safety activists for more stringent measures.

Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer plans to meet with truck manufacturers, freight companies, cycling advocates and police to discuss the use of sensors to aid drivers. His spokesman Ingo Strater said Friday "the minister would prefer to introduce such systems as soon as possible" but is also bound by European vehicle approval rules.

The group ADFC says 21 cyclists have been killed by right-turning trucks so far this year in Germany.

 

That's all for this edition. As usual, the Bulletin will be taking a little summer break and we will return with the next edition on Tuesday 21 August. If you have any items you would like us to include next time, do drop an email to media@tispol.org. Thanks and have a great summer.