Local governments in Britain will be able to bring down speed limits in urban areas and accident blackspots under road safety proposals announced by the government on Tuesday.The proposals, which include stiffer driving tests, are part of a 10-year strategy to cut the number of deaths on Britain’s roads by a third by 2020.

Under the Department for Transport (DfT) guidelines, local councils will be given powers to reduce speed limits to 20 mph (32.19 km/h) from 30 mph on roads close to schools and in residential areas.

They will also be able to review limits on single carriageways in the countryside.

That could see speed limits come down from the current 60 to 50 mph, but a DfT spokeswoman stressed any change would be at the sole discretion of the local council.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said there are now almost 17,000 fewer deaths or serious injuries a year than there were in the mid-1990s.

“But it is intolerable that eight people are still dying on our roads each day,” he added.

For younger people aged 14 to 17, a voluntary, pre-driver qualification in safe road use will count towards their car theory test. Theory and practical tests will also be improved.

The “Pass Plus” system of more advanced lessons that can be taken after passing the driving test will also be improved to encourage more drivers and insurers to take part.

In addition, van drivers will be given the chance to enhance their skills through a new qualification.

The proposals will be open for consultation until July 14 and can be found here.

(Original article here)

Bill Plant Fleetcraft Ltd, one of the UK’s leading Occupational Road Risk Management and Driver Training specialists, has changed its name and is now Corporate Driver Management.

Bill Plant CDM Ltd takes pride in its services, delivering measurable and tangible results, not only in the field of Occupational Road Risk Management and Consultancy but also driver training to a very high standard. The results include reduced accident rates and improved fuel economy as well as lower fleet operating costs. Working in partnership with local authorities, fleet operators, contract fleet hire companies; Bill Plant CDM Ltd has a proven record, of which it is justifiably proud.

You can can now find Bill Plant CDM Ltd at www.corporatedrivermanagement.co.uk.

Benefits of Corporate Driver Management

Case studies and research have shown that benefits from managing work-related road safety include:

• Reduced accidents and collisions
• fewer days lost due to injury
• reduced risk of work-related ill health
• reduced stress and improved morale
• less need for investigation and paperwork
• less lost time due to work rescheduling
• fewer vehicles off the road for repair
• reduced running costs through better driving standards
• fewer missed orders and business opportunities so reduced risk of losing the goodwill of customers
• less chance of key employees being banned from driving, e.g. as a result of points on their licences or ill health

Bill Plant Ltd is committed to our National on-going Schools and Colleges Road Safety to provide FREE awareness lectures to pupils and staff.

Our programme has running successfully now for quite a while and we are keen to expand it further. Sadly there are still too many families destroyed by victims of reckless driving and it is only by raising awareness to as many people as possible that we can play our part to prevent this.

Research tells us that Four out of five non-medical deaths of 10-19 year olds are in road crashes. On any average day, nine police officers have to visit nine families and break the news that a loved one has suffered a sudden, violent death from a vehicle related incident.

Our trained professionals will offer interactive and contemporary lectures on most dangers faced by young drivers to be (or already driving). Our lectures are fun but with a very serious message behind them.

Subjects covered include Drink and Drug Driving, Mobiles, Speeding, Police procedures and attitudes to driving/peer pressure. There will be video clips, Q & A session, Games and we are working with local authorities to provide materials that enable us to use real testimonies from actual offenders of road crime.See what it is like to drive drunk! And you may be breathalysed! The lectures last between 40m and 1hr, and in a full day we can deliver 4 or 5 to classes of up to 30. Our driving instructors will also be there to provide answers to any questions you may have. In addition (and subject to suitable availability) we may be able to provide a number of students a brief driving session in a car.

If your school like most is very busy and classroom space is an issue – then we can come to you with our Bill Plant Road Safety Exhibition Unit (see pictures). If you don’t require a lecture but you feel that you would benefit from our knowledge about any driving related issue, we would be only too happy to oblige.

To discuss a potential visit or make an inquiry, please ring Martin Smith on 01765 609140 or email msmith@billplant.co.uk for further details.

Driving conditions in Britain during the winter months can be both difficult and hazardous. Yet with a little care, consideration and prior planning, it is possible to minimise the risk and maximise the safety aspects for you, your passengers and other road users. Bill Plant Driving School has come up with some tips to make sure you drive safely this winter:

Prepare your Vehicle

Before winter sets in:

• Have your vehicle serviced.
• Check your lights and brakes are in good working order.
• Check the condition of your tyres; particularly the tread and pressures.
• Check your anti-freeze levels and have it topped up where necessary.
• Make sure your battery is fully charged and in good condition.
• Make sure your lights are clean and your windscreen and windows are clear.
• Make sure your wipers are in good order and work well.
• Top-up your screen washer levels.

Before Setting off on a Journey

Before you leave on a journey during bad weather conditions:

• Ask yourself … Is the journey really essential?
• Before you venture out, check the weather forecast and make sure you know and understand the weather hazards that you might face on the journey.
• Listen to travel information bulletins and road conditions from the local and national radio networks.
• Make sure you have enough fuel in the tank … a full tank if possible.
• Let someone at your proposed destination know your estimated time of arrival.
• Don’t venture out in snow and ice without warming up your car to it’s normal running temperature.

Take the Right Equipment With You

For your own safety and comfort consider whether you should take the following with you:

• Spare fuel
• Shovel
• Hazard warning triangle
• Spare wheel (inflated to the correct pressure and with good tread).
• High visibilty jacket.
• Jump leads.
• Emergency tyre weld (for ‘low speed’ repair).
• Wellington boots (or similar).
• Torch/flashlight.
• Car blanket.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Mobile phone for emergency calls (Don’t use it when you’re driving though).
• Flask with a warm drink.
• Sunglasses/shades (for that low-in-the-sky sun).

On Your Journey

When you’ve commenced your journey:

• If you get stuck, try not to abandon your vehicle, stay with it until help arrives.
• If you are forced to leave your vehicle wear a high visibilty jacket or tabard.
• Use dipped headlights in rain, fog, sleet, snow or where visibility is poor.
• Travel at a sensible speed that will enable you to stop within your field of vision. Reduce your speed compared to ‘normal’ driving conditions.
• Keep a safe stopping distance behind the vehicle in front.
• Stop for a break every couple of hours and take refreshments (but don’t drink alcohol!).
• Avoid drowsiness, keep your car well ventilated.
• Avoid braking harshly … similarly, don’t accelerate hard or steer violently.
• Watch out for other road users and give them plenty of room and consideration.

When the traffic lights are set to green as you approach them, do you really know what it means? You may think it means all clear to go and this is only half right because in truth it means you can go if it is safe to do so. How long has it been green? The longer that it has of course the more likely it is to change to amber and that means stop and not I think I can get through!

When the lights are at green, or in your favour, look both ways as you approach the junction, to satisfy yourself that you can get across safely, some joker might be taking a chance the other way. As always keep your eye on your rear view mirror as someone may be following you too closely, allowing you to slow carefully if the light changes to amber. All traffic lights are set according to the speed zones in which they are placed. If you are doing the correct speed limit, you will have adequate time to stop if the lights change to amber.

If you planning on travelling overseas to the United States, Europe, or Canada, you need to be prepared to drive on the opposite side of the road than what you are used to.  With careful planning and a lot of concentration, you can easily navigate the roads of another country without problems. 

If you land in a foreign country and hire a rental car, you are immediately faced with the reality of driving on the opposite side of the road.  When visiting the United States and Canada, you will be driving a vehicle on the right-hand side of the road with the driver’s seat, steering wheel, and pedals on the left-hand side of the car.  This will seem strange at first, but with patience, you will get used to it.  Regardless of what the car you drive looks like or which side the steering wheel is on, always check out the fluids and tire pressure before you off on a trip.  Vehicles overseas have the same dipsticks for checking oil, compartment for distributing gas, and so on.

Make sure you pay attention to the many different road signs in the country you are in.  The pictures on the traffic signs are usually all you need to understand the message the country is trying to convey.  Traffic lights are different in each country, with amber meaning to go with caution, in most places.  One of the biggest differences between driving in the United Kingdom and the United States is the way pedestrian crossing systems work.  In the UK, when approaching a crossing you are expected to slow down and stop if there are pedestrians in the walkway.  The pedestrian crossings in the United States are not like this, so you need to be aware of people crossing the road at traffic lights.

Motorists are still being hit by rises in petrol prices even though oil is up to 25 per cent cheaper than in it was mid-July. Motorist throughout Britain are asking the question, “when oil increases in price, why do fuel prices react with amazing speed, but when the oil price falls, reaction to this is at a snails pace? Yet the AA reported that the average price at the pumps has actually risen by 0.5p a litre – to 112.72p – since the end of last week.

The motoring organisation said an 18 per cent drop in the wholesale price of petrol has not been fully passed on and that this reduction in price should represent a reduction of 8.5p per litre at the pump. Fuel prices hit a peak in July and they have been dropping from their peak on the 17th of that month at 119.7 for petro; and 133.25 for diesel, although not at the rate that they increased.

All drivers should be reminded that new careless driving laws are now in force and conviction under these can in certain cases mean a lengthy jail sentence. An example is of a driver who was in a conversation on his mobile ‘phone with his mother for a staggering 23 minutes, was inevitably in collision with other vehicles resulting in a death and serious injuries to others. As a result of his misdemeanors he received a prison sentence of four and a half years.

Talking, or using text messaging on your mobile telephone is not the only offence for which you could be imprisoned, others are drinking and eating, applying make-up or anything else which takes your concentrations away from the road will now be considered by courts. The example given highlights just how important it is for drivers to concentrate on the road ahead at all times.

When you drive it is your responsibility to make sure your car is in the best shape possible.  Accidents usually happen due to human error, but sometimes they are caused by a malfunction in your vehicle.  It is imperative that you maintain your vehicle so that you can avoid any equipment malfunctions that could inadvertently cause an accident.  Vehicle manufacturers are obliged to make sure the automobiles they make meet at least the minimum standards set out by the law.  This is one of the reasons why they are constantly making improvements to their product to make them easy and safe to drive, including safety measures such as airbags and safety belts.

Brake systems are highly advanced dual circuit systems.  This keeps a complete brake failure from happening, but faulty brakes could keep a vehicle from slowing down or stopping properly.  Most vehicles are made with disc brakes and many have systems that keep them from the locking during an emergency.  Regardless of the type of transmission your car has, it should always hold the road.  Front wheel and rear wheel drive vehicles both handle differently on varied terrain, as does 4-wheel drive.  Know how your vehicle is supposed to handle before getting behind the wheel.

The inside of the vehicle is just as important.  Always make sure your seat is set so that you can easily reach the controls, see the road ahead, and are comfortable while driving.  Always use your safety restraints and make sure that any child that is traveling with you is also properly restrained, in a child safety seat if applicable, and away from air bags.  If your air bags do deploy due to an accident, make sure you have it replaced by a licensed technician.

It seems never to have stopped raining for the last month and this has brought the usual crop of troubles suffered by some of the motoring public, how to deal with a flash flood. The first thing we would suggest is not to drive your vehicle unless it is absolutely necessary. Always avoid deep water and where possible find an alternative route. 

Driving through deep water may be necessary so always choose the highest section of the road and don’t set off if a vehicle is travelling in the opposite direction. Try to be sensible and leave time and space for each other, so you don’t swamp someone else. Drive slowly through the water and always use the lowest gear possible keeping your revs high and your speed low. Under no circumstances take your foot off the accelerator, as this could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe and when you are out of the water hazard, dry the brakes do not wait until you might need them! Remember, close your windows and please in rain condition use your headlight when it is necessary to use your wipers.