29/03/2017
The 2016 road safety statistics released by the European Commission show a drop of 2% in the number of fatalities recorded across the EU last year. 25,500 people lost their lives on EU roads in 2016, 600 fewer than in 2015 and 6,000 fewer than in 2010. A further 135,000 people were seriously injured on the road according to Commission's estimates.
Following two years of stagnation, 2016 marks the return of a positive downwards trend and over the last six years, road fatalities have been cut by 19%. While this pace is encouraging, it may nevertheless be insufficient if the EU is to meet its target of halving road fatalities between 2010 and 2020. This calls for further efforts from all actors and particularly from the national and local authorities, which deliver most of the day-to-day actions, such as enforcement and awareness-raising.
Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said ''Today's statistics are an improvement and something positive to build on. But it's not the figures that worry me the most – it's the lives lost, and the families left behind. Just today we will lose another 70 lives on EU roads and five-times as many will sustain serious injuries! I'm inviting all stakeholders to step up their efforts so we can meet the objective of halving the number of road deaths between 2010 and 2020".
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28/03/2017
An operation aimed at reducing the risk of motorcycle-related deaths and serious injuries on the roads of North Wales was launched on 27 March.
Darwen is an all Wales campaign which runs from early Spring through until the autumn and is aimed at motorcycle safety and reducing casualties on the roads.
Over the coming months, officers from Roads Policing Units will engage with riders at popular meeting spots for enthusiasts as well as certain routes as part of the operation. Go Safe vans will also be deployed as part of the operation.
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27/03/2017
The coming of spring and the changing of the clocks means lighter evenings, more time spent outside and a brighter drive home.
But family safety charity RoSPA is campaigning to increase the number of evening daylight hours even further, in order to save lives and improve quality of life.
RoSPA wants to see Britain move to Single/Double Summer Time (SDST) which would mean the country would now be an extra hour ahead (GMT+2), although the real benefits of the move would be when the clocks go back in the autumn.
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22/03/2017
Job opportunities and road safety will be boosted by more than £30m worth of grants to local transport schemes in Wales, the Economy Secretary has said.
Ken Skates said the cash would also promote walking and cycling and tackle congestion.
The money will help fund more than 100 local projects across Wales.
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22/03/2017
If you're not buying new, it won’t affect you
The way vehicle tax is calculated will change for cars, and some motor homes, that are first registered with DVLA from 1 April 2017.
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22/03/2017
Community Speed Watch schemes continue to grow across Wales. The schemes, which are staffed by volunteers and supported by Neighbourhood Policing Teams are progressing well across the country.
The idea of the schemes is to empower the community to support the Police and GoSafe with dealing with speeding vehicles on Welsh roads.
There are currently in excess of 200 sites across Wales.
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22/03/2017
Pupils from Cwmtawe Community School have been taking part in a number of Safe Cycling Workshops throughout March.
Taken on a series of on road sessions around Pontadawe by the Road Safety Cyclecraft Coordinator Robin Jones, local Councillor Linet Purcell and local PCSO’s, the pupils had the opportunity to brush up on their cycling skills. The sessions gave advice aimed at keeping them safe when cycling around the village and on short journeys.
Meanwhile, Cylch Meithrin Waunceirch enjoyed an afternoon visit from Chloe of the Neath Port Talbot Road Safety Team.
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21/03/2017
A competition offering Welsh innovators the opportunity to bid for funding to help them come up with new solutions to some of the trickiest challenges facing the public sector in Wales has received global recognition, Skills and Science Minister, Julie James is pleased to announce.
Backed by over £3m Welsh Government funding and run in collaboration with Innovate UK, the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) has gained interest from other UK devolved nations as well as attracting attention from Ireland, Sweden and Australia.
Launched in Wales in 2013, the SBRI offers businesses - many of which are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) - the opportunity to bid for research and development (R&D) funding to develop technology-driven solutions for specific challenges facing the public sector.
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21/03/2017
Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) are looking for employers with young, male drivers who undertake regular driving in light goods vehicles or cars during work, with significant mileage on motorways and major roads.
TRL will work with employers to recruit individual staff to participate in the pilot and aim to recruit 8-16 staff per employer, 80-160 drivers in total.
The selected drivers will undertake the following activities over an 8 week period before the end of April:
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17/03/2017
A Honda Accord smashed into the side of a Ford van and fire fighters set to rescuing the occupant of the car last week.
That was the scenario at a demonstration at Monmouth Fire Station on Saturday, 11th March as members of the public had the chance to view up close the emergency services in action.
To make the scene more realistic, one of the paramedics from next door was hauled out from his tea break and asked to be involved as if he was treating a real collision victim.
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