30/11/2018
“Someday you will realise the damage that you have caused but by then it’s too late. Everybody has a choice” – that is the message being driven by Police across Wales as they launch their annual Winter Anti Drink and Drug Driving Campaign.
Led by North Wales Police the month-long operation against driving under the influence begins on Saturday, 1st December and officers across the country will be using intelligence-led tactics and local knowledge of hotspots to detect people who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol over the festive period.
The campaign features officers from the North Wales Police Roads Policing Unit giving their own accounts of dealing with the aftermath of a collision involving an impaired driver.
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26/11/2018
Gwent Police recently joined forces with a wide range of partner agencies in Caerphilly for the latest staging of Operation Utah, an intervention which focusses on criminals using the roads and on defective vehicles.
During the operation, which is aided by the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, 56 vehicles were ushered into the Gallagher Retail Park by police officers and were checked for a variety of issues by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Representatives from Caerphilly Council Taxi Licensing and Scrap Metal Licensing also assisted with the operation, checking for tachograph offences and inadequate record keeping.
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22/11/2018
TyreSafe, the UK’s tyre safety charity, has launched a new awareness campaign aimed at all those parent chauffeurs taking their children to swimming, music lessons, drama, dance, football, karate and the innumerable other activities they enjoy. By the time their child is 20, they are likely to have spent over 3,000 hours driving them around - that’s 125 days non-stop motoring.
Parents can clock up over 30 miles a week driving their children to different clubs and hobbies or 1,500 miles a year, almost the same as driving from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back. And it’s not just them clocking up the miles, it’s their tyres too.
While it’s the driver’s responsibility to check them and keep them in good condition, worryingly a recent TyreSafe survey revealed that more than one in four parents may be driving with illegal or poorly maintained tyres.
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21/11/2018
Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Road Safety Team is out and about in local communities undertaking a busy programme of activities to promote Road Safety Week 2018.
During the week road users are being encouraged to be to be ‘Bike Smart’, helping to increase safety for cyclists and motorcyclists.
The week started at the Asda store in Aberdare, where the Road Safety Team were joined by staff from GoSafe - The Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership and the Council’s Parking Enforcement team to deliver important road safety messages and to answer questions from the public.
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16/11/2018
With colder days ahead, Powys County Council's Road Safety Unit has issued the following tips to help drivers prepare their vehicles for winter driving.
- Have your vehicle serviced and check the anti-freeze
- Check your lights, brakes and the battery are in good working order
- Check the condition of your tyres; including the tread and pressures
- Make sure your windscreen and windows are clear and regularly top-up your screen washer levels
- Make sure your wipers are in good working order
- Make sure you carry a spade, torch and a mobile phone. Keep a bottle of water and high-energy food in case of a breakdown. Carry extra clothing, including warm coat, gloves and hat
- Drive slowly, with smooth, gentle application of accelerator, steering and, particularly, brakes
- Beware of black ice. If the vehicle starts to skid, gently lift off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid
Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Road Safety, said: “In order to minimise collision risk, drivers need to adapt their driving to the different conditions. Our tips will help drivers cope better with the various seasonal weather hazards.
“Short-term weather forecasts are now very accurate so listen to local and national weather broadcasts. Tell someone your destination, what time you expect to arrive and avoid making your journey unless it is absolutely necessary.
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15/11/2018
Anglesey Trading Standards recently joined forces with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and North Wales Police as part of an initiative to tackle road safety.
A total of 45 vehicles were stopped on the Gaerwen Industrial Estate and multiple checks carried out by the agencies in attendance. Checks were carried out on the roadworthiness of the vehicles and their MOT status, vehicle tax, driving licences and insurance in addition to verifying trade association membership, checking paperwork and providing guidance packs to 19 traders on legal requirements.
A number of infringements were identified on the day by the various agencies. These resulted in one immediate prohibition, one delayed prohibition on a vehicle with multiple defects, along with fines for expired MOTs, no driver CPC and excessive window tint.
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13/11/2018
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is currently conducting research to evaluate the use of the Helping Learner Drivers website, www.helpingldrivers.com to identify any ways in which it can be improved.
The website provides advice to novice drivers, motorcycle riders and their families on learning to drive or ride. The information covers the whole process, from private practice and professional driving lessons until after the practical test.
Young drivers and their families are being asked to take a look at the website and complete the evaluation survey which can be found here.
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12/11/2018
Owners of untaxed vehicles and persistent traffic and parking offenders in Cardiff face having their wheels clamped or having their vehicle removed by the Council.
Using existing devolved powers and DVLA permission the Council's traffic enforcement officers could soon be able to clamp and remove vehicles that are causing a nuisance across the city. Cardiff Council's Cabinet will decide on Thursday, November 15th, whether to adopt the new powers.
Problems which could then be targeted in any clampdown include:
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08/11/2018
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Fleet Management Team runs a rigorous range of in-house CPC and HGV driver assessments for its own staff, neighbouring local authorities, private organisations and individuals.
The council operates a wide range of vehicles across its services, including grass-cutting, refuse collection, minibuses, home-to-school and community transport operations, winter gritting, street lighting and many others.
Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, pictured with Carl Dallimore (CCBC Driver Trainer) said, “The council’s investment in regular in-house CPC and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency accredited HGV training not only demonstrates a real commitment to the future of its staff and to its residents, but ensures that our drivers perform in accordance with strict industry guidelines.”
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06/11/2018
Members of Barry Bike Club at Tŷ Iolo, Barry, were awarded for their hard work at the club’s final session of the year.
The club was first introduced at Tŷ Iolo play area, through the Vale of Glamorgan's Communities First programme, to help reduce health inequities through the promotion of physical activity.
Following a revamp to the club in April this year, the sessions have attracted more than 89 children to the Tŷ Iolo play area, with participants learning to cycle safely in an off-road environment, how to balance through scooting, and how to safely start, stop and negotiate turns.
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