Road Safety Week 2006
Updated February 2007
Press release for speed awareness event in Kingston
The London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) joins forces with the Road Safety team at the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London's emergency services and other road safety groups in a bid to reduce speed. A day of crash reconstructions and road safety exhibitions will be held in Kingston on 4 November 2006. In the reconstructions, casualties will be cut free and treated from the crashed car and motor bike by dedicated officers from Kingston's Fire Service, London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police to demonstrate how they deal with the aftermath of serious road crashes.
The road safety team at Kingston develop initiatives to improve road safety and the reduction of road casualties. These include traffic calming measures, 20mph zones near schools and walking buses. Over the last three years to December 2005, there were 234 speed-related accidents recorded in the Borough. These resulted in 24 people being killed or seriously injured and 210 people sustaining slight injuries.
The LSCP also deploys mobile safety camera vans that conduct speed checks in Kingston. These clearly marked and highly visible vans are fitted with cameras that can detect speeding motorists 1 km away in all weather conditions.
James Parker, Road Safety Officer at Kingston Borough said:
“We have been tackling speeding problems in the borough for some time and this realistic initiative will remind drivers of the consequences of driving too fast. This event is to reinforce the message that drivers can reduce the risk of being involved in collisions and causing injury to other road users, by simply slowing down.”
Tom Duckham, LSCP Project Manager added:
“The consequences of excessive speed can be tragic and events like the crash reconstruction day are important to bring home the dangers to drivers. By demonstrating what happens following a crash I hope we can help to cut the needless loss of life on the capital’s roads.”
Debra the Zebra gets involved in Road Safety Week
Children at a Surbiton school celebrated National Road Safety Week last week, with a visit from their favourite zebra, Debra.
Debra the Zebra, the borough’s road safety mascot delighted children at Surbiton Children’s Nursery when she helped to teach the children valuable road safety rules.
Debra wore her ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’ sash and handed out reflective stickers to encourage the children to think about this important message.
In return the children sang Debra the Zebra one of her favourite songs, which she danced along to very energetically!
Deputy Head teacher, Fiona Dearman, said: “The children love to see Debra the Zebra and have since talked about her visit with great enthusiasm and have practiced their new skills both in the outdoor play area and on local visits out into the town”.