Issue 1 - November 2008 

Campaign Launch

An unprecedented alliance with a simple message - Make Safe Road Design a National Transport Priority
 
The Campaign for Safe Road Design was launched in the House of Lords on 8th July 2008 at a high-powered event with an attendance from the British Who's Who in road safety.  Jim Fitzpatrick, The Minister for Road Safety, senior officials responsible for road safety, and the new Highways Agency CEO attended alongside top representatives from campaign partners senior Parliamentarians, and representatives from industry, local government and insurance. The event was hosted and introduced by Lord Dubs, Chairman of the Road Safety Foundation.
 
Chairman of the Campaign, John Dawson premiered the campaign video and introduced the essential analysis contained in a new report Getting Ahead: Returning Britain to European leadership in casualty reduction. As the government prepares its road safety strategy beyond 2010, this seminal report proposes how we can now turn attention to the safety features built into the road itself. It the new road safety policies of leading countries and details how GB can quickly prevent around one-third of total fatal and serious injuries with the introduction of a national Safe Road Infrastructure Programme.
 
Download the full report here.

Minister announces "The Department will work with the Campaign"

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick welcomed the work of the Campaign for Safe Road Design and pledged that the Government will work with the campaign's members as Britain's safety strategy beyond 2010 is developed. During the launch of the Campaign for Safe Road Design in the House of Lords on 8 July 2008, he reflected on the 'Vision Zero' approach of Sweden and the 'Sustainable Safety' approach of the Netherlands and highlighted the lessons that should be learnt.
 
Mr Fitzpatrick offered government support for the proposal by the Road Safety Foundation to implement EuroRAP Risk Mapping of the entire 'A' road network outside urban cores, recognised that this would provide a rich source of data in developing a strategy.

Campaign receives widespread support

In the build up to the launch, the national media mobilised to report on the findings of British progress to eliminate high-risk roads. Using the latest results as a backdrop for the call for a Safe Road Infrastructure Programme, the launch of the Campaign received widespread support and coverage. For example:

The Surveyor, welcomed the campaign in a leader: "With most deaths occurring on them, the focus on A-roads in rural locations is a must. It makes you wonder why rural road design hasn't been given the recognition it deserves as part of an overall strategy on road safety"

Fleet News reported on "the new lobby group…formed by some of the most influential motoring associations" and concentrated on the finding of the 2008 EuroRAP results showing that "30% of primary roads are unsafe, while a quarter of British motorways fall outside safest band"

Support for the Campaign from the RAC Foundation's Professor Stephen Glaister was quoted in the New Civil Engineer "there is an overwhelming business case" and Local Transport Today "the impressive first year rate of return for road safety schemes."

The local press across Britain hit home at grass roots level with blanket coverage.

BBC Newsnight Special

BBC Newsnight have prepared a special programme backing the Campaign. The programme includes footage of Britain's high risk roads, with commentary on the road safety engineering countermeasures that could be implemented to decrease the risks faced by road users. Interviews with road authorities and leading figures in road safety are also featured. A live panel discussion will also be held featuring the Minister for Road Safety, Jim Fitzpatrick, and the Campaign for Safe Road Design Chairman, John Dawson. The scheduled broadcast date will be published in due course.

What Partners are Doing

The key goal of the Campaign is to raise awareness, ahead of the next road safety strategy, of the huge contribution that safe road design can make in cutting casualties. Below is a snapshot of the initiatives undertaken by Campaign partners to raise awareness and promote the Campaign.

Campaign HQ

• The Campaign's YouTube channel achieved the accolade of being the UK's most watched non-profit for a week and sits in the UK top 100 of all time.
• People are being urged to join the Campaign on a special Facebook group.
• A Campaign's press notice welcomed the influential OECD report "Towards Zero" urging governments to be more ambitious in setting targets and to implement the Safe System Approach.
• A Newsnight special item is in the can.

Campaign Partners

• The Road Safety Foundation is Risk Mapping the entire 'A' road network outside urban cores helping DfT with its upcoming consultation document on the new strategy. Some 50%-60% of British road deaths are expected to be found on this targetable network.
• The AA's heavily trafficked website features the Campaign and provides links to the campaign video.
• The IAM Trust Magazine has carried a focus on the campaign.
• Immediate past IHT President Mike Slinn is working with the Campaign to develop a training initiative to support the call for a National Safe Road Infrastructure Programme.
• The IHT and CSS are holding a conference New Directions for Route Safety on 25th November, to be addressed by the Road Safety Minister, that will feature the campaign.
• The Minister will give a keynote address at the IAM Annual Lunch on 4th December in London where he is expected to refer to the Campaign and make reference to the plans for a consultation document for the new strategy planned for the new year.
• Campaign partners are appearing at conferences around Britain and taking opportunities to call for safe road design and a national initiative.