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General Fire Safety Guidance

Road Safety Guidance

Mobile Phones and Driving
On 1 December 2003, a new law came into effect that makes it a specific offence to hold and use a mobile phone whilst driving. This is in addition to the current laws governing safe driving. The penalty is a Ł30 fixed penalty or up to Ł1,000 on conviction in court (Ł2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles, buses or coaches). Drivers still risk prosecution (for failure to have proper control) if they use hands-free phones when driving. The only defence for a person charged with this offence would be where the driver has made a genuine emergency call to 999 when it would have been unsafe to stop driving to make the call.

Drivers who use mobile phones (whether hand-held or hands-free);
· are less aware of what’s happening around them
· fail to see road signs
· fail to maintain proper lane position and steady speed
· more likely to ‘tailgate’ the vehicle in front
· react more slowly and take longer to brake
· more likely to enter unsafe gaps in traffic
· feel more stressed and frustrated

Using any type of phone while driving is a distraction;
· let it ring and return the call when safely parked.
· better to switch to voicemail before starting.
· plan journeys so they include rest stops when messages can be checked and calls returned

Visit the Department for Transport Mobile Phones and Driving FAQ's for more information.

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Wearing a Seat Belt Saves Lives
Seat belt wearing in the front seat saves over 2,200 lives every year. In a crash at 30mph, if you are unrestrained, you will hit the front seat, and anyone in it, with a force of between 30 and 60 times your own body weight. Such an impact could result in death or serious injury to both yourself and front seat occupants. Any award for damages following an accident may be reduced if you were not wearing a seat belt.

For more information please contact:

Road Safety Division
Department for Transport
Zone 2/11, Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR
Tel: 020 7944 2046
Fax: 020 7944 2029
email: road.safety@dft.gsi.gov.uk

This text is taken from a leaflet (Product Code T/INF/251). Copies can be obtained by telephoning 0870 122 6236, or textphone 0870 120 7405, or emailing dft@twoten.press.net

Further Information:
To find out more about the fitting and wearing of seat belts and road safety in general, please contact your Road Safety Officer through your local council, or in Scotland, your Road Safety Training Officer through your local Authority or Police Force.

Driving When Tired
1 in 5 Road Accidents on motorways are caused by the driver falling asleep at the wheel.

On long journeys take regular comfort breaks
Try and avoid driving through the night
If you are tired before a long journey - Don't Drive!
If you begin to feel drowsy when driving - Open the window, turn your heater down, turn the radio on and take the next junction and pull over in a safe place (e.g. lay-by or motorway cafe)

Visit the www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk for more information on road safety.

Driving Requires All Your Attention All of the Time

The Green Cross Code:
Think First
Find the safest place to cross, and then stop
Stop
Stand on the pavement near the kerb
Use Your Eyes and Ears
Look all around for traffic and listen
Wait Until It's Safe To Cross
If traffic is coming, let it pass
Look and Listen
When it is safe, walk straight across the road
Arrive Safely
Keep looking and listening for traffic as you cross

Drive Safe, Cycle Safe
The Department for Transport provides some good information which aims to make motorists and cyclists more aware of one another. It is well worth both drivers and cyclists reading through to gain an understanding of each other's needs. Take a look a look at the Drive Safe, Cycle Safe factsheet

Visit the www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk for more information on road safety.

Emergency Vehicles
You could encounter an emergency vehicle at any time while on the road. It's important that you know what to do as delaying emergency vehicles could cost lives. If an emergency vehicle approaches using flashing blue lights, headlights and/or sirens, follow these tips to help it to get through safely:

Look and listen;
Signal your intentions by using your indicators or hand signals;
Pull in safely and be aware of pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles around you;
Pull in as far as you can;
Leave a gap large enough for the emergency vehicle to get through;
Stay alert - more vehicles may be coming; and
Stay calm.

If you're a pedestrian, keep off the road.

By following this advice drivers should be able to provide a clear passage for emergency vehicles without endangering themselves or other road users.

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