Information and resources for road safety.
Roads are essential to our everyday lives. We all use them in some way, by driving, riding, walking or travelling as a passenger, and we depend on them to obtain goods and services.
Unfortunately, this comes at a price, which includes people being killed and injured. However, road deaths and injuries are not inevitable. The last few decades have demonstrated that effective and comprehensive road safety strategies can reduce the number of people killed or injured on the road, despite increasing traffic levels. Great Britain now has one of the best road safety records in the world - but with around five people still dying on Britain's roads every day there is much more to be done.
Derbyshire County Council Road Safety Team provides support for all schools in Derbyshire to develop learning opportunities about road safety and for pupils to learn vital road safety skills.
Key topics covered are pedestrian safety, in car safety, people who help us, independent journeys, decision making (secondary), attitudes and behaviour (secondary).
Further information on this support can be found on the Services for Schools website.
THINK! campaign is run by the Department for Transport and has a wealth of resources for schools including age appropriate lesson plans and videos.
Useful resources regarding child casualties and a young drivers factsheet are available to download from GOV.UK.
Cycling guidance
Cycling in Great Britain is increasing because it is an excellent way to get about and provides a wide range of health and environmental benefits. Unfortunately, it also carries a certain amount of risk, and so we need to ensure that more cycling does not lead to more cycling casualties.
Cycling is an eco-friendly way to travel and a great way to keep fit – but there are risks involved.
The Department of Transport campaign Bikeability looks to encourage putting family time first: encouraging parents to grab their bikes and explore the best of England ‘Our Bikes Our Adventure’.
Cycling offers an unrivalled way to spend quality time together as a family, whilst also being both physically and mentally beneficial to all riders.
Children can start at any age and there is no pressure to start pedalling on their first go. You don’t need a bike or any cycling knowledge to get started. Plus there is lots of helpful information about bikes, knowing when a child is ready to ride and how household items can be used to play any of the games in their own home.
Let's Ride – British Cycling are hosting a number of free local cycling events. Their website has guidance available if you are looking for great cycle routes to ride solo or with friends. You can explore their collection of brilliant bike routes from across the UK – all of which are accredited by British Cycling.
Scooters
Lightweight, foldable scooters (often called micro, kick or push scooters) are propelled by the user pushing forward with one leg on the ground and the other on the scooter. They have become very popular among both children and adults, and are increasingly used for leisure, play and commuting. Sales of new scooters are rising and this is expected to increase. Unfortunately, as the use of scooters increases so does the number of people being injured while using them.
Further Information can be found on the RoSPA website
Motorcyclists
Although motorcyclists only account for one percent of total road traffic, they make up just under 20 percent of deaths on the road in Great Britain. They have a higher crash and injury rate than vehicle occupants. This is because they do not benefit from all the protective features, such as seat belts, airbags and other impact protection features that vehicles offer.
The RoSPA website has useful information for both cyclists and motorcyclists.
Bikes are easy for drivers to miss because they’re so much narrower than cars and riders are more vulnerable than drivers because they’ve not got the luxury of airbags, side impact bars and seatbelts
Follow The Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership's top tips to help you stay safe when riding a motorcycle.
Young drivers
The Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership offer information and advice for young drivers as well as a training programme.
The Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Initiative Dying2Drive brand and events are aimed at young drivers, their passengers and young learner drivers.
It encompasses a range of road safety initiatives including road traffic collision demonstrations, workshops that can be undertaken with young people at schools or youth groups, and literature and advertising offering guidance and signposting to government road safety initiatives.