You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Uncategorized' category.
With Advent here once again, one Police force in particular has taken note that the festive season, whilst bringing cheer, shopping sprees, mince pies and family time, also triggers foolish driving behaviour as people become consumed by the Christmas rush and all the fun to be had.
Leicestershire Police have launched their festive campaign to tackle drink and drug driving to remind motorists that the clock striking midnight does not mean that alcohol consumed the evening before has left your system, and that many people remain over the legal limit well into the next day.
The campaign’s slogan: ”Think about the mourning after” hopes to get drivers thinking about the consequences of getting behind the wheel the morning after drinking.
In Leicestershire, checks are to be carried out on drivers involved in a collision or who police believe may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Inspector Viv Brenchley said: “Drivers should always be aware that alcohol takes effect quickly but wears off slowly – so even if you don’t drive until the next morning after a night out, your driving can still be impaired.”
The RAC Foundation urges drivers to plan their journeys this Christmas in a way which means they are not ‘having to’ drive the morning after drinking and instead keep to the rule that if you need to drive the next day don’t drink.
Fiona Coyne, Research Assistant for the RAC Foundation says: ” Many people find themselves under pressure to visit family and friends spread all across the country in a matter of days over Christmas. If you know that you have to drive to see your in-laws the next day, stay on the soft drinks the evening before and if you must indulge, do so on the chocolates and mince pies instead. Sharing driving responsibility with a partner or friend, or if feasible walking or using public transport, are the only road safe options for ensuring your Christmas is one to remember with a smile and not regret.”
Source: BBC News Monday 1st Dec 2008 Festive drink- drive blitz starts
TfL have announced plans to allow motorcycles into London’s bus lanes – but only the red route bus lanes, and only “for a trial period,” starting on 5 January 2009.
Red routes are just 5 per cent of London’s roads – but it’s a big step forward. Also, individual London boroughs remain free to choose to open all or none of their bus lanes to bikes.
The RAC Foundation has been a consistent supporter of the campaign to allow motorcycles into bus lanes. The “powered two wheeler” is an ideal means of transport for urban commutes too long to do comfortably by pedal cycle, but inexperienced riders can find filtering through busy streets rather daunting. Allowing the rider to share bus lanes will keep them safer – and it’s not just riders that benefit: the results of the previous TfL trials showed that pedestrians and pedal cyclists were also safer on trial routes.
This move by the Mayor of London will make it easier to commute on 2 wheels, which will help cut congestion and keep the city moving.
Rodney Kumar has joined the Royal Automobile Club Foundation as Media Relations Manager for a six month period, effective from March 3rd 2008.
Rodney’s career started as a local newspaper ‘hack’, followed by five years in the Communications department of British Airways. His love of all things transport took him to Hyundai UK as Press Officer, followed by a communications role within Ford of Europe.
He said: “I am very excited to be joining the foundation at this time, and working with the team on a range of topical issues affecting road users.
“It will be a busy and stimulating time, as the amount of media interest in the country’s transport future has never been greater.”
Contact details:
Direct tel: 020 7747 3487
Mobile: 07515 984856
E-mail: rodney.kumar@racfoundation.co.uk
A new report commissioned by NatCen has uncovered the feelings of the British public about the link between driving and the environment.
Beliefs….
8 in 10 people agreed with the statement that current levels of car use are having a serious effect on climate change, and 6 in 10 said they believed individual action can make a difference.
Reality…
Almost half of drivers said that they would be willing to reduce their car use for short journeys and had the capacity to follow this through, whilst 1 in 4 people said that they wouldn’t even consider the notion of leaving their car in the driveway. Middle groups also arose with 12% of drivers being in two minds about changing their ways but admitting that were able to do so. On the other hand, 18% said that they were willing to cut down on their car use but felt that they were unable to do so.
The RAC Foundation supports the use of sustainable travel and stresses that the relationship between cars and environmental damage is more complex than restraining use. Lower carbon cars, greener fuels, eco-driving and car sharing can all do their bit to reduce emissions if giving up the car completely is not an option.
Instead of driving to the shops or to work wouldn’t it make sense to have all amenities on your door step so that there would be no need to hop in your car?
This is the simple yet smart conclusion of a new report- Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change* which looks at past studies which assess the role of urban development in both contributing to and combatting climate change.
The key conclusion formed having analysed the various ways in which climate change can be tackled, or rather slowed down, is that ‘places’ should be built where people can easily get to without having to drive, thereby reducing vehicle emissions.
The RAC Foundation welcomes ideas to tackle climate change but would remind planners and developers that it is not feasible to expect people not to use their cars at all and that sufficient road networks are also required.
Source: CommuterPageBlog
* research sponsored by: Urban Land Institute, National Center for Smart Growth, Smart Growth America and the Center for Clean Air Policy
Instead of peering over the garden fence to check out our neighbours’ new flash lawn mower or garden furniture instead- we are comparing the number of eco devices like water butts, compost bins and solar lighting, and finding ourselves being impressed by people who opt for smaller cars.
A survey commissioned by Norwich Union* has revealed that people have become so concerned about being frowned upon by friends due to the now social unacceptance of high carbon and high waste lifestyles, that 9 in 10 lie about how they live.**
Astonishingly, more than half of those surveyed even went so far as to say that unethical living has surpassed drink driving on the social unacceptance scale.**
However, sadly, the survey also revealed that despite yearning to live more ethically, one fifth did not know how they would go about it, whilst 50% were too confused or admitted that the changeover would be too time- consuming.**
This perceived diffuculty about being more green need not prevail, because as Paul Stokes of Norwich Union points out-
…behaving more ethically doesn’t mean you have to overhaul your life or invest huge amounts of time and money.
The same message applies to breaking all bad habits- it doen’t need to be that hard. For example, in the Devon town of Modbury, a local photographer- Rebecca Hosking, persuaded every trader to stop handing out plastic bags and sell environmentally friendly alternatives.***
It is encouraging that there is now a greater will to act on these important issues, but much more help and guidance is required to allow people to make more eco-friendly options.
Source: *The Times 24th August 2007
** Be Good Guilt- survey commissioned by Norwich Union
***The Times 28th 28th April 2007
Recent research into the happiness of Europeans has revealed that the high demand for manufactured goods and travel, and all that entails the burning of fossil fuels does not in fact provide us with a better sense of “life satisfaction” or well- being, but quite the opposite.
The New Economics Foundation together with Friends of the Earth, have published a report about the European Happy Planet Index which calculates the carbon efficiency with which European nations produce long and satisfactory lives for their people.
For the UK, the results sadly were pretty grim, coming in at 21st place out of 30 nations overall and 15th in both the life satisfaction table and the life expectancy table.
The solution? The report suggests that we should introduce policies which reduce demand, since meeting the high demand of some European citizens is not providing the desired results- happiness. In addition, the countries that didn’t fare well were recommended to look at adopting the policies and practices of more successful countries such as Iceland (which scored highest on the index and is well- known for its wide use of renewable energy resources) in order to bring a smile to both their citizens and their environment.
Source: www.neweconomics.org
