05/04/2019
Carmarthenshire County Council road safety officers will be out talking to motorcyclists as part of an initiative to reduce the number of casualties involved in motorcycle collisions.
In Wales there were 595 motorcyclist casualties in 2017, 9.6% of all casualties. This was a 10.1% fall compared with 2016 and is the lowest recorded figure since comparable records began.
Of the 595 casualties 252 were killed or seriously injured, and 343 were slightly injured. In 2017 fatalities increased by 4.5% while the number of serious and slight injuries fell by 1.3% and 15.9% respectively.
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02/04/2019
The importance of wearing a seatbelt has been ingrained into the routine of most drivers and passengers for years, but as the Area Support Unit (ASU) East of Gwent Police found, there are still some who take the risk of travelling without belting up.
For two weeks in March, ASU East took part in a period of dedicated action to stop those who use the roads around Gwent dangerously, including failing to wear a seatbelt.
As part of the operation, ASU East utilised a specially adapted HGV giving them a better perspective to view and detect those driving without the necessary precautions.
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01/04/2019
Transport Deputy Minister Lee Waters has called on local authorities to be radical and ambitious in their work to improve active travel across Wales, pledging to support those councils who need help in improving their future active travel plans.
Speaking at a workshop in Cardiff, he said, “Getting people out of cars for short journeys and travelling in a way which improves their health is an ambitious agenda. But it will produce multiple benefits, from cleaner air, less congested roads, improved mental health and busier local shops. As seen in other countries, the effect can be transformative. And if we want to transform transport choices and reap the benefits, we must think big and show ambition.
"Our Active Travel Act places a number duties on the local authority to promote active travel, securing new routes and facilities - and the whole local authority, not just the transport department.
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28/03/2019
‘High speed, high risk’ is the campaign message from Dyfed-Powys Police aimed at reducing the number of motorcycle-related deaths and serious injuries on the region’s roads.
In 2018, 67 motorcyclists were killed or seriously injured on roads in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, with the figures for Dyfed-Powys showing that men were eight times more likely to be included than women.
Dyfed-Powys Police has warned that there will be an increased focus on roads throughout spring and summer, urging motorcyclists to ride safely and reminding drivers to be vigilant to all powered two-wheelers.
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21/03/2019
Gwent Police will once again be running a series of 1-day BikeSafe and 2-day 'Bridging the Gap' workshops between April and October which are specifically designed for motorcyclists looking for post-test training and have proved to be of benefit to riders of all levels and experience.
The workshops are a mix of theory and practical sessions and will include on-road observed rides, information videos and biker-related first aid.
The cost of a 1-day BikeSafe workshop is just £35 with the 2-day 'Bridging the Gap' workshop costing £60.
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19/03/2019
Creative Media students at Pembrokeshire College have devised short original films depicting the five main causes of road traffic collisions and injuries in Wales. The films highlight the dangers of drink and drugs, speed, carelessness, seatbelt non-compliance and the use of mobile phones – the Fatal 5.
Their creative work was entered into a competition run by the College in conjunction with the Road Safety Team at Pembrokeshire County Council.
The winning film was produced by Simon Latham, with Pierre Dizon and Megan Stanley commended as runners-up.
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11/03/2019
Since the introduction of seatbelt laws in the UK, tens of thousands of lives have been save by the simple act of belting up. Nevertheless, every day a small minority of people are risking travelling in a vehicle without using this vital safety device.
Police officers enforce seatbelt laws throughout the year and during the current all-Wales enforcement campaign efforts will be stepped-up to remind drivers and their passengers that non-compliance is not acceptable.
Drivers are also legally responsible for ensuring that passengers under the age of 14 are using the correct child restraint for their height and age, or the adult seatbelt if they are over 135cms tall or over 12 years old.
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27/02/2019
The UK government will consult on options to ban older tyres from use on buses, coaches, heavy goods vehicles and minibuses to help keep road users safe.
The Department for Transport announced that it will consult on legislation to make it illegal for these vehicles to run with a tyre aged 10 years or over. This follows a research project, launched by the government last year, to look at whether the age of a tyre has a direct impact on its safety.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Keeping people safe on our roads is our priority, and we have been working hard to understand the link between tyre age and road safety. Emerging evidence and leading expert testimony shows us that we need to ban tyres over the age of 10 years from larger vehicles based upon the ‘precautionary principle’ – a move that will make our roads safer for everyone."
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25/02/2019
Matt Penny, Road Safety Officer at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, recently visited Bodringallt Primary School with the council's parking enforcement vehicle and two civil enforcement officers from the parking services team.
Also in attendance were colleagues from the South Wales Police Rhondda community policing team as well as Junior Road Safety Officers from Bodringallt Primary and YGG Bodringallt. The children took the rare opportunity to check out the equipment in the vehicle and were able to ask the enforcement officers some questions about how everything is operated. They will use the information they gathered to present an assembly to the rest of their school in the near future.
The parking enforcement vehicle targets problematic parking outside schools on zig-zag markings, pedestrian crossings and bus stops. The vehicle can issue fines automatically using the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera which is then followed up by a “notice to owner” letter.
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20/02/2019
If you’re planning to drive abroad over the coming weeks and months, the driving documents you’ll need may change. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued the following advice which you can find below.
International Driving Permits
Before the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019, holders of UK licences can drive in all EU countries and the European Economic Area (EEA) without the need for any additional documentation.
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