Road Safety Foundation congratulates the work of this year’s Project EDWARD – Every Day Without A Road Death for its promotion of an evidence-led “Safe System” approach in tackling road risk – the long-term objective of which is a road traffic system free from death and serious injury.
Project EDWARD is an annual UK-wide road safety campaign backed by government, the emergency services, highways agencies, road safety organisations and British businesses. It started on 13 September and runs until 17 September.
This year’s campaign is managed by Driving for Better Business and RoadSafe, and showcases some of the best work being done around the country to promote:
» Safe Vehicles » Safe Road Use » Safe Speed
» Safe Roads & Roadsides » Post Crash Care
“The concept of the ‘safe system’ is about a combination of factors working together,” explains Dr Suzy Charman, Executive Director of the Road Safety Foundation. “It requires safety conscious road planning, design and engineering; vehicles with collision avoidance and injury mitigation technology; compliance and deterrent for dangerous behaviour: education & enforcement; managing speeds so that a human can survive in the event of a crash; and fast and efficient emergency medical help, diagnosis and care.
“As part of this approach, we would like to see the systematic upgrade of known higher-risk roads to reduce deaths and serious injuries. We estimate that for every £1 the Government spends on safer road infrastructure, £3.70 could be saved.”
Dr Charman also commented on the routes being used by the three Kia Soul drivers taking part in three separate road trips as part of Project EDWARD.
The black car taking part in the road trip will be using:
- The A2 from Sittingbourne to the junction with the M2
- The A57 in Lincoln (after the A46)
- The A60 in Nottingham (after the A6008)
- The A610
The white car will take:
- The A10
- The A23 in Brighton (after the A27)
And the grey car will use the A3057.
“Some of these roads are excellent candidates for upgrades. Measures typically include clearing or protecting roadside obstacles and putting in shoulder rumble strips to reduce severe run off road crashes, separating traffic travelling in opposite directions either through central hatching or crash barriers to reduce severe head on crashes, providing turning pockets or signalisation at junctions or introducing roundabouts that slow traffic and offer less severe impacts compared with T junctions, and finally providing facilities and managing speed for cyclists and pedestrians.”
Suzy Charman will share the Road Safety Foundation’s vision for safer road design at a VIP event hosted by Kent County Council as it launches its own ambitious Vision Zero for the county’s roads during Project EDWARD week.