Overview
There are still far too many people dying as a result of collisions on UK roads. Therefore, this forum will look at the practical ways in which roads can be made safer and explore how local councils, emergency services and voluntary organisations can work in partnership to better inform the public about road safety campaigns.
Policy Background
Since last year, the maintenance backlog for local roads in England and Wales has increased by 14% to £11.14bn from £9.79bn last year, according to the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey. This, combined with a response to a recent study by Direct Line, which found that 71% of respondents felt that roads had become more dangerous in the past half-decade, demonstrates the increasing concerns amongst local road users for road safety.
In 2019 the Department for Transport published its 2-year road safety action plan ‘A Lifetime of Road Safety’, outlining its integrated approach to a culture of road safety focusing on four priority road user groups. Overall, there have been significant improvements in road safety in the UK in the past 30 years, with 39% fewer fatalities in 2017 compared with 2007. However, there are still important and significant improvements to make with specific road users that cause concern including: young drivers, motorcyclists, and older car users.
Important improvements also need to be made in road infrastructure and maintenance. In August 2020, The Road Safety Trust announced £300k of funding in response to the impact of Covid-19 to account for changing road use and emergency safety issues. In March 2020, in the Budget, the Government announced an extra £2.5bn for the Potholes Fund as well as £27bn for the second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) to be spent between 2020 and 2025.
In 2017/18 more than 2.2million speeding offences were detected in England and Wales, this is up by 32% from 2011/12. Deaths and collisions on UK roads are still not decreasing, with drink driving deaths as high in 2018 as they were in 2010. Local authorities, emergency services and charities need to work in partnership with central government to effectively improve safety on UK roads. Working together they can deliver educational road safety campaigns, launch new innovative technology, improve infrastructure, and support the needs of changing road use to ensure the long-term safety of UK roads.
Watch this video to find out more about the online event experience.
Key Features of an Online IG Event
Key Speakers
Agenda
- Day 1: 24th February
- Day 2: 25th February
- Match making networking and live delegate meet ups
- Replay functions so you never miss a session
- Live chat, questioning and polling tools
- Real time resources and presentations
- A next generation conference engagement platform
Before proceedings get underway, this short explainer session will explore how you can get the most out of our new next generation Conference platform.
Our IG Central and Local Government Team will run through how to make virtual connections, creating networking meet ups, accessing content on demand and how to use our new Q&A, chat functions and virtual polling tools.
- Outlining what more needs to be done by all relevant parties to meet the goals outlined in the 2019 ‘A Lifetime of Road’ action plan
- Embedding a culture of road safety in all road users through educational programmes to ensure they are safe on the roads throughout their lifetime
- Highlighting how government funding, announced in the March 2020 Budget, for the Potholes Fund and second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) is going to be spent between 2020-2025 to create safer roads
- Exploring the impact of Covid-19 on road safety and the THINK! ‘Restart Activity’ campaign which has raised awareness of high-risk young male drivers returning to busier roads and how they can stay safe behind the wheel
- Sharing the success and impact of other THINK! Road Safety campaigns including ‘Pint Block’ and ‘Party Car’ and how they have raised awareness of key road safety issues for young male drivers
This interactive session will provide you with the opportunity to directly ask the department any pressing issues you have with current and future government policy and funding initiatives related to improving road safety across the country.
This session will explore what can be learned from the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) who have worked in partnership with over 40 countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America to engage and deliver effective, front-line road safety interventions.
The GRSP on the day will showcase some of their most impactful, evidence-based interventions from across the globe including the Botnar Child Road Safety Challenge for example that managed to tackle relevant child road safety challenges and improve outcomes and overall safety.
Your opportunity to make the most of the virtual platform, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections and tour our real-time resources and content.
Don’t forget if you’ve missed a session, you can use our replay functions, so you can watch all the content on demand at a time that suits you.
- Exploring Bristol’s ten-year road safety plan (2015 to 2024) and how its safe system approach seeks to ensure that life and health should not be compromised to meet the demands of mobility
- Working in partnership with the West of England Road Safety Partnership (WoERSP) to devise and deliver evidence-based interventions that improve road safety awareness and compliance
- Outlining the elements of the safe systems approach that include: safer road use, safer roads, safer vehicles, and safer speeds
- Sharing the progress Bristol has made towards the targets set out in its ten-year plan including a 30% reduction in killed and seriously injured casualties by 2020
- Outlining how the Hertfordshire Road Safety Partnership saves lives through the delivery of road safety campaigns across the county
- Exploring Strategic Road Safety Partnership Hertfordshire’ latest awareness campaigns and providing top tips around issues such as seatbelt use, young driver safety and mobile phone use
- Understanding how the different organisations within the partnership effectively work together to improve road safety
- Sharing how the Hertfordshire Road Safety Fund uses criminal assets and the proceeds of crime to pay for initiatives to help victims and communities, including road safety measures such as education to influence sustainable behaviour change in road users
Panel members will be asked to share their key tips on this subject before our chair for the day opens it up into a panel discussion focusing on solutions which local authorities can implement together with partners in their communities in order to improve road safety, specifically focusing on the 4 types of road users outlined in the Government’s 2019 Road Safety Statement.
- Sharing strategies for raising awareness of road safety issues and how to effectively change attitudes to make roads safer for local communities
- Discussing how partners within communities, such as local authorities, charities and emergency services can best work together to develop effective, integrated, and comprehensive road safety programmes
- Outlining innovative strategies proven to tackle key road safety issues including young drivers, motorcyclists, mobile phone use and older drivers
*Programme subject to change
Throughout the Conference you will be able to make use of:
- Match making networking and live delegate meet ups
- Replay functions so you never miss a session
- Live chat, questioning and polling tools
- Real time resources and presentations
- A next generation conference engagement platform
- Outlining how the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) works in partnership with other organisations to improve road safety, reduce collisions, deaths, and injuries on roads
- Exploring the NFCC’s road safety initiatives and how its working in partnerships with other organisations to support campaigns including Staywise and Tyre Safety Month
- Highlighting how the aims of the NFCC’s Road Safety Group, including its focus on road safety issues for certain road users, align with the government’s 2019 Road Safety Statement and the steps its taking to target these road users
- Sharing how the NFCC’s Road Safety Group has led the response to road safety issues in the context of covid-19
Panel members will be asked to share their insights into innovative technology before our chair for the day opens it up into a panel discussion focusing on the use of technology for improving road safety through the use of virtual reality, smart technology and autonomous vehicles.
- Discussing how to effectively implement smart technology to improve road safety through innovative traffic management and collision avoidance systems
- Using technology to improve safety measures for cyclists, through initiatives such Split Cycle Offset Optimising Techniques (SCOOT)
- Exploring the use of autonomous vehicles on UK roads and the potential they have to improve road safety
- Sharing how virtual reality technology can be used effectively in road safety campaigns
Your opportunity to make the most of the virtual platform, meet up with fellow delegates, make connections and tour our real-time resources and content.
Don’t forget if you’ve missed a session, you can use our replay functions, so you can watch all the content on demand at a time that suits you.
Using our virtual discussion rooms, and facilitated by our expert speakers, discuss with fellow delegates the long-term impact of Covid-19 on road users and how authorities will have to adapt to support these changes.
Breakout Room A: Managing Risk for Changing Habits of Road Users During Covid-19
Facilitated by Simon Turner, Chairman, The Association for Road Risk Management
Discuss:
- Ongoing changing habits of road users in response to covid-19
- Uptake in number of cyclists and pedestrians and the impact this has on road safety management
- Managing restrictions in capacity on public transport
Breakout Room B: Examining the Impact of Covid-19 on Road Safety
Facilitated by Elizabeth Box, Head of Research, RAC Foundation
Discuss:
- The impact of Covid-19 on road use and travel behaviours
- Impacts of Covid-19 on road safety trends
- Potential long term effects of Covid-19 on road safety improvements
- Exploring the ways in which Covid-19 has impacted road safety through the increase of low traffic neighbourhoods
- Sharing the success of low traffic neighbourhoods in areas such as Waltham Forest where the number of collisions and casualties has decreased, with none in the first year
- Showcasing the positive impact, the campaign has had on improving air quality, with a 7% reduction in emissions between 8am-9am
- Responding to an increase in road use by cyclists and pedestrians during Covd-19 by creating more inclusive roads and helping to get people more active whilst reducing car usage at the same time
Following the final session, delegates will still have access to the event platform, to continue conversations with peers and for accessing resources.
*Programme Subject to Change
Audience
This Conference is specifically designed to be a multi-sector event including local authorities, Police, Fire and Rescue Services and Road Safety Charities. Focusing on the importance of cross-sector collaboration in effectively improving road safety. Typical job titles attending this event include:
- Heads of Road Safety
- Health and Safety Managers
- Road Safety Officers, Coordinators and Team Leaders
- Inspectors and Chief Inspectors
- Casualty Reduction Managers
- Project and Partnerships Managers
- Station Managers
- Heads of Community Engagements
