Νέα από TISPOL

Today we begin the 100-day countdown to #ProjectEDWARD 2019

Stand by, everybody...
we are switching on the #ProjectEDWARD countdown clock today...
in just a few minutes from now!

Join us LIVE on Twitter...

TISPOL President Volker Orben has also recorded a short message for #ProjectEDWARD. You can watch that right here:

Please make use of our short introductory #ProjectEDWARD videos - all free to download and share!

Please don't waste this opportunity to share the #ProjectEDWARD information!

Please ensure you download the appropriate version for you, and take steps to:

• put it on your website
• share it on social media
• share with road safety stakeholders in your country
• send it to your broadcast media and press organisations 
• maximise its use, starting today!

Here are the download links:

Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Romania
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
UK

All change at the OPG...

TISPOL's Operations Group (OPG) is now in the safe hands of the Netherlands, following yesterday's official handover in Brussels. 

The OPG coordinates TISPOL's pan European police checks and subsequently reports on how many road users offended against traffic rules within a given period of time. This data is vital in understanding the main causes of fatal and serious collisions. It is also the reason why all TISPOL member countries support the OPG.

Coordination of the OPG was previously the responsibility of Germany, with the highly capable Sandra Auen fulfilling the role of OPG Secretary. 

The new OPG Chair is TISPOL Vice President Egbert-Jan van Hasselt, and the new OPG Secretary is Henk Jansen.

In the picture above, we see Sandra, Henk,  TISPOL President Volker Orben and Egbert-Jan. 

ETSC REVIVE Project: Final Conference
Today at the Thon Hotel EU, Brussels
1400 to 1800

Sharing best practice in Emergency Medical Service and Rescue/Fire Service across the EU

Improvements in emergency response can help prevent deaths and life-changing injuries in road collisions. However, emergency response has not been getting a fair share of attention in terms of research, best practice exchange and measures in the European Union. The aim of the Revive project is to map Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) practices in the EU28 and raise the profile of both EMS and FRS on the national and European political agendas. 

The Revive project aims at improving post-crash care provided by EMS and FRS in order to mitigate the consequences of road collisions. One of the key outcomes of the project is to have established an international network of experts, researchers and practitioners in the field of post-collision care and emergency response. 

Netherlands: speed, risk and
effective solutions

Speed ​​is only part of the problem on trajectories with many (fatal) collisions. Other causes, such as road layout, also play a role in one-third of the most unsafe routes in the Netherlands. This is reflected in a new STAR study, a collaboration between police, insurers and software developer VIA.

On roads where other causes play a role, relatively most victims fall. The danger of this type of road is also reflected in the risk figure. Roads with many accidents and where there is no speeding, especially 50 and 80 roads, have a risk figure that is 3.5 times higher than roads with many accidents where there is a speeding.

According to the researchers, a possible explanation for this may be that these roads are designed more safely. This can give a safer feeling, which means that people drive faster.

Inexpensive measures

Dangerous roads where there are many casualties, and where people drive too fast, can be made safer with enforcement. On dangerous roads that are not driven too fast, "relatively cheap" infrastructural measures can thus improve them a lot. What exactly, that must be viewed per route.

VIA, which develops traffic engineering software, conducted the research. The company used their new software tool Cross. The tool combines the accident score with explanatory variables such as speed and road layout.

Helping to respond to the future and reducing risks is what you can do with Cross. This approach is in line with the new Strategic Road Safety Plan 2030. It also focuses on that proactive and the risk-based approach.It also shows why the approach to road safety (the three E's) comes first with Engineering, followed by Education and lastly Enforcement.If you look at where accidents can occur, you can already take action now, is the idea.

Scotland: new campaign reminds tourists to drive on the left

Police Scotland and Road Safety Scotland have joined members of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), along with local MSP, Kate Forbes at Urquhart Castle, Inverness, to launch a campaign to remind motorists to ‘Drive on the Left’ when visiting Scotland.

Latest figures record ‘inexperience of driving on the left’ as a contributory factor in 65 collisions and, following a number of serious collisions last year, the campaign is designed to coincide with the peak tourist season in Scotland, encouraging visitors to enjoy Scottish roads safely.

Road Safety Scotland produces a ‘Driving in Scotland’ tourist information leaflet addressing the issues faced by those not used to driving on the left or the concept of single-track roads. Fifty thousand were distributed in the last year.

Michael McDonnell, Director of Road Safety Scotland said: “We want all visitors to Scotland to return safely from their travels and the new campaign aims to raise awareness and remind people to drive on the left at all times, which is particularly important after they’ve taken a break or when the roads are quieter.

“With the tourist season upon us our new ‘Driving in Scotland’ information leaflet also offers practical advice about looking both ways at junctions, driving on single-track roads and provides tips for planning your journey in advance, taking regular rest stops to avoid fatigue.”

More information >>

UK: too many dangerous drivers are escaping justice, researchers warn

Researchers from the University of Leicester led by Professor Sally Kyd have  issued a warning that too many prosecutions for dangerous driving fail to materialise, due to lack of funding and regional inconsistencies in Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) demands on police.

Publishing a report at the end of a research project funded by the Road Safety Trust, the team looked at the examination and enforcement of the offences of careless driving, dangerous driving and using a mobile phone whilst driving. 

Watch a short video about the project below...

Professor Sally Kyd and her colleague Dr Steven Cammiss have recorded a 30-minute podcast in which they discuss the findings of their research and offer recommendations for lawmakers and police officers:

Ireland: new strategy needed for sustained casualty reduction, says RSA chief

A key target in the Irish Government’s Road Safety Strategy to reduce annual road deaths to 124 or less by 2020 is unlikely to be met, the Road Safety Authority has said. 

Speaking at the authority’s annual conference in Dublin last week, chief executive Moyagh Murdock said three out of the past four years had seen a record low in the number of people killed on the State’s roads. Last year’s figure of 146 was the lowest since record-keeping began.

But, she said, to reach the 2020 target a further 15 per cent reduction in fatalities was required, and Ms Murdock said; “I think we have to accept that the target may be missed."

The number of people killed on the roads this year stood at 72 on Thursday 13 June, an increase of six on the same period last year.

Finally, did you try our alcohol quiz in the last bulletin?

Here are the answers:

Q1: How is alcohol absorbed into your system?
A Through the kidneys (25% chose this)
B Alcohol can't be absorbed (19% chose this)
C Through the lungs (4% chose this)
D Through the stomach and intestines (52% chose this)

Q2: Which of the following will help your body eliminate alcohol more quickly?
A Strong coffee (6% chose this)
B Heavy meal (9% chose this)
C Shower  (No one chose this)
D Nothing (85% chose this)

Q3: Which organ(s) in your body is/are responsible for expelling alcohol from your system?
A Kidneys (31% chose this)
B Liver (62% chose this)
C Lungs (3% chose this)
D Pancreas and gall bladder (4% chose this)

Q4 Where does your body store alcohol?
A Spleen (5% chose this)
B Appendix (No one chose this)
C It cannot store alcohol (92% chose this)
D Brain (3% chose this)

Q5 Which of the following can determine how alcohol affects you?
A Weight, age, gender and metabolism (14% chosen this)
B What you have just eaten (No one chose this)
C How tired you are (1% chose this)
D All of the above (85 chose this)

25 people achieved 5 out of 5, so well done!