It’s Walk to School Week…

The purpose of the campaign is to motivate children to look at road safety awareness so they feel more confident about walking around safely on their own when they’re older.

16 May 2013

It’s Walk to Work Week…walking is sociable, fun and healthy. Take up the challenge, log your miles and share your walking stories.

16 May 2013

Steve Horton, KCC Road Safety Team Leader said.“Most drink driving crashes happen in the summer months and with opportunities to watch the football in a pub, at a party or organised event, the temptation for drivers to drink could be even greater this year. The simple message is if you are driving don’t drink alcohol, or if you do intend to drink then substitute the car for an alternative way home, like public transport.”

Sergeant Hannah Brown, from Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit said: ‘Drivers prosecuted for drink driving will get a disqualification, criminal record, up to £5,000 fine or a possible prison sentence. But the consequences of a serious collision could be far worse such as the death of a loved one.’

14 May 2013

Sergeant Hannah Brown continues, ‘Kent Police takes a zero tolerance approach to drink and drug driving and the summer is one of the busiest times of year for us. This is because people socialise more often, particularly around sporting events, and for longer during the warm, lighter evenings.

Drink driving the facts:

• The proportion of drink related road deaths for the UK is one in six.
• Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive safely – drinking and driving do not mix.
• Driving at the legal limit means you are between twice and 5 times more likely to crash.
• Alcohol slows reactions, leading to increased stopping distance, leads to poorer judgement of speed and distance, and reduces field of vision. Alcohol also tends to make you feel over-confident and more likely to take risks when driving, which increases the danger to all road users.
• Most drink-drive crashes happen between midnight Thursday and midnight Sunday.
• On average, over the last 5 years, there are 21 injury crashes caused by drink drivers in Kent, every June.
• If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash, than a driver who hasn’t been drinking, and 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.
• Causing death by dangerous driving when under the influence of drink or drugs can lead to up to 14 years’ imprisonment, together with an unlimited fine, disqualification from driving for at least 2 years and a mandatory extended driving test.
• Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink could lead to a 6 month prison sentence, together with a fine of up to £5,000 and disqualification from driving for at least 12 months (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years).
• After a drink drive conviction you could pay up to three times more for car insurance.
• For more information about the campaign please visit www.kentroadsafety.com

8 May 2013

Canterbury
High Street and The Parade  – 6th May Focus on Pedestrian engagement & cycle safety.
High Street and The Parade  – 11th May (10:00 – 14:00).
Canterbury College  – 7th & 9th May Focus on Pedestrian engagement .

Whitstable
B&Q, Reeves Way, Chestfield  – 6th & 10th May. 
Harbour area and Town car parks  – 8th & 12th May.

Herne Bay
Morrison Supermarket & Halfords – 7th, 10th & 12th May. 
Sea Front & High Street  – 8th, 6th & 11th May. Focus on Pedestrian engagement.

2 May 2013

The key messages fire and rescue services will be promoting are:

Let’s look out for each other (young children / pedestrians)

Don’t let Distraction lead to Destruction (young drivers and the impact on pedestrians)

 ACPO lead for roads policing, Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, said:

 ”As technology has advanced we have seen a change in the behaviour of some drivers who are allowing themselves to become distracted and putting themselves and others at risk. The police will take positive action where people drive and use mobile phones, or other technology, inappropriately. While a phone call may be important for a few minutes, killing or seriously injuring you or a member of the public has life changing consequences.

In 2011 there were 453 pedestrian deaths, which was nearly a quarter of all fatalities involving road accidents. The number of people seriously injured during the 2010/2011 period was nearly 5,500. While we are making progress in preventing the number of children being killed or seriously injured, with the 2011 figures 53 per cent lower than the average from 2005 to 2009, we cannot be complacent.”

Kent Trading Standards will be raising awareness of scams with Kent residents, using posters, postcards and a checklist supplied by Citizens Advice. Information will also be posted on the Kent County Council homepage www.kent.gov.uk/ and via Twitter on @kent_cc

30 April 2013

Citizens Advice and the Trading Standards Institute have teamed up with a campaign to highlight the problem of scams, tell people how to avoid being taken in and how they can fight back against the scammers.

Every year more than three million people in theUKfall victim to scams losing hundreds and even thousands of pounds. It is estimated that nearly half of people in theUK(48 per cent) have been targeted by a scam and that £3.5 billion is lost to scams every year.

 If you have been targeted by a scam, or know someone who has then call Action Fraud. 0300 123 2040  www.actionfraud.police.uk

 For advice call Trading Standards via Citizen Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506.

Canterbury Community Safety Partnership is supporting the Community Speed Watch initiative, to increase awareness about the dangers of speeding in the Canterbury district.

Road Safety is a key priority for CSP and speeding is an important factor in the drive for road safety. In the continuing strive for a safer district and strong communities, the Community Speed Watch Programme is considered a good way to address the concerns raised by residents in the district.

25 April 2013

 Community Speed Watch enables community or residents groups and Parish Councils to take action and help educate drivers on identified roads of concern.

How does it work?
Speed Watch is a community scheme that can only operate in 30mph and 40mph limits. The scheme will be managed by Kent Police and the Canterbury Community Safety Unit at Canterbury City Council. Speed Watch equipment will be available on loan to local groups after they have received the necessary training from the Police.

Volunteers will then be able to use the equipment to monitor the speed of passing vehicles using portable speed indication devices, recording and reporting the speed and identifying details of vehicles travelling at or above the nationally-specified speed thresholds (35 and 46mph respectively) in that area. The registered keepers of vehicles seen repeatedly or excessively speeding in the previous 12 months will be sent a warning letter by Kent Police advising them of the speed and reminding them of why it is a community concern.

Speed Watch is not enforcement, it is a ‘safer district, strong communities’ education programme. 

If you are a Parish Council, a community or residents group with concerns about speeding in your area and would like to be involved in this Speed Watch initiative, or would like to know, more please contact the Canterbury Community Safety Unit.  Telephone: 01227 862 122. Email: csu@canterbury.gov.uk

Did you know?

• Around 1400 children aged 11 and under are killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads every year.  That’s almost 27 children a week.
• In the UK 1 in 8 driver licence holders are aged 25 or under, yet 1 in 3 drivers who die on the roads is under 25

24 April 2013

Pedestrians – Did you know?

• Around ¾ of children aged under 5 who were killed or seriously injured in 2010 were on foot at the time. The other ¼ were mostly travelling in cars.

What you can do

• Be safe, be seen! On dull days, wear bright or fluorescent colours.
• Find the safest place to cross.  Find a school crossing patrol, or use footbridges, subways or zebra, pelican, puffin or toucan crossings.
• Look both ways before crossing the road

Let’s look out for each other

• Remember the green cross code.  Wait just before the kerb, look and listen for traffic.  When it is safe, walk straight across the road – do not run.

 Young Drivers – Did you know?

• An 18 year old driver is more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash as a 48 year old
• 1 in 5 new drivers crash within six months of passing their test

What you can do

• Look out for pedestrians, especially in built up areas
• Never pick up your mobile phone whilst driving
• Always keep your eyes on the road – never turn to look at passengers
• Never drive under the influence of drink or drugs
• Young drivers warned: ‘Youwill end up in a wheelchair’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22275953

Issues raised on the day included: dogs out of control; rubbish; noisy neighbours, street drinking; spitting and drugs.

What happens next? These issues will be raised at the next Neighbourhood Tasking Group on 24^th April and actions plans will be put in place to address your concerns.

What the people said…

“Great to get the kids involved.”  Melaine Goldsmith

“These types of events are an excellent idea .”  Vicky Stiles

“Really good idea.” Amy Savage

“We all had a really good time.” Carol King

Thoughts…about where you live…how safe you feel…concerns about safety on the streets, the roads…the beach…what’s important to you?

Actions…information about crime prevention…domestic abuse…concerns about safety on the streets, the roads…the beach…what’s affecting you?

Words…speak them…hear them…write them, suggestions…feedback…why not join us in making bunting displaying your messages concerning safety in your community?

Interested but not from Herne Bay…tell us, and we will plan a Neighbourhood Day for your community.