Event Details

Key Speakers

Robert Gifford, Executive Director, The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS)

Overview

Tragically, there were 32,955 road deaths between 2000 and 2010, with approximately three million injured causing suffering, life changing outcomes and economic loss to those affected. According to Government figures road collisions are a leading cause of death for young adults aged 15-24, accounting for over a quarter of deaths in the 15-19 age group.

Despite the above statistics, road fatality rates in Britain have been declining for the last 30 years and according to data compiled from the International Road Traffic Accident Database (IRTAD) and the EU Community database on Accidents on the Road in Europe (CARE) the UK has the fourth safest roads in the world, behind Malta, Sweden and the Netherlands.

This is a testament to the good work of service providers, the police, local authorities, road safety professionals and the majority of road users. However, with still over 2000 road fatalities each year the Government published its Strategic Framework for Road Safety in May 2011, to ensure that Britain remains a world leader on road safety and to reduce fatalities further, especially amongst high risk groups.

Road deaths and injuries are also a drain on the economy, with the economic costs estimated at £16bn a year and the insurance payouts for motoring claims now over £12bn a year. With the Strategic Framework for Road Safety published in May last year, this is a opportune time to consider the progress being made on providing better road safety education for drivers, improving enforcement against dangerous and deliberate offenders and, at the local level, increasing the general awareness of road safety for all road users.

This special symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for local authority and road safety practitioners and policymakers to assess current strengths and weaknesses in the present road safety framework and explore the next steps in how service providers, local authorities, the police, road safety professionals, the voluntary sector and road users can build upon a road safety record that is the envy of the world.

The symposium will:

• Assess the effectiveness of existing enforcement measures available to the police, local authorities and courts
• Discuss ways of improving road safety for high risk groups, in particular cyclists and children from deprived areas
• Explore the role of local communities in tackling road safety problems
• Examine the current educational strategy for drivers, motorcycle riders, cyclists, children and all other road users
• Share best practice on how best to encourage and promote improvements in technology e.g. collision avoidance

Programme

Who Should Attend?

• Local Authorities
• Police Services/Officers
• Driver Trainers
• Road Safety Managers
• Road Safety and Accident Prevention Officers
• Road Safety Partnerships
• Road Transport Lawyers
• Health Authorities
• Health Promotion Professionals
• Occupational Health and Safety Professionals
• Highway Engineers
• Highway Maintenance Leads
• Schools and School Transport Providers
• Education Professionals
• Teaching Organisations
• Third Sector (Charities/Voluntary Organisations/Social Enterprises)
• Trade Associations/Unions
• Special Interest Groups
• Motoring Organisations
• Fire and Rescue Services
• Civil Enforcement Officers
• Local Authority Traffic Managers
• Community Safety Managers
• Vehicle Recovery Operators
• Local Authority Parking and Traffic Management Teams
• Parking Management Contractors
• Town Centre Managers
• Public Service Transport Operators
• Traffic Commissioners
• Deputy Traffic Commissioners
• Goods Vehicle Operators
• Transport Managers
• Emergency Service Professionals
• Traffic Signs and Signalling Providers
• Transport, Access and Safety Leads
• Operational Service Planning Managers
• Transport Planning and Review Officers
• Highway Network Managers
• Traffic and Design Managers

“ Road deaths and injuries are a tragedy for all those affected. And as well as the terrible human cost, they impose a heavy economic burden. The casualty reductions we have seen in recent years are very good news, but we cannot afford to be complacent.
This Government believes in localism. We believe that, wherever possible, local authorities should have the freedom to make their own decisions on road safety so they develop solutions that best suit their communities…today, Britain has a road safety record that is the envy of the world, but I believe our roads can be safer still. I hope that service providers, local authorities, the police, road safety professionals, the voluntary sector - and, of course, road users themselves - will work with us to ensure we rise to that challenge. ”
— Secretary of State for Transport, May 2011