Brake warns traffic police cuts put public in peril, ICFM announce Peter Eldridge an Honorary Fellow and top tips on avoiding whiplash…
So with the first month of 2012 almost gone we’re tootling along nicely, but not neglecting to make a stop here and there to pick up a refreshing fleet related news story.
Here’s a smorgasbord made from the last seven days just for you.
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Road charity Brake are warning that dramatic and widespread cuts to traffic police threaten to leave law abiding drivers and pedestrians open to the repercussions of illegal behaviour, like driving drunk, drugged, on a mobile phone or driving an un-roadworthy vehicle by those who will believe less police means less chance of getting caught.
“It is crucial the government acts now to put a stop to these dramatic cuts in life-saving roads policing, by making this a national policing priority. This is crucial in safeguarding the public and preventing needless casualties that lead to terrible suffering, and it also makes economic sense. Road crashes constitute a huge social and economic burden, because of the awful implications for those bereaved and injured, and the strain on health and emergency services. Investing in roads policing, and stepping up critical checks like breath-testing, helps stop crashes before they happen, meaning less families suffering and reduced costs to the taxpayer,” says Julie Townsend, Brake’s deputy chief executive.
Brake’s research has shown that the number of police overall have been cut by 1.8% over the past five years, but when this is compared to the reduction of traffic police in England, which been slashed by 11.6% and a staggering 37% in Wales the picture for our roads becomes perilous.
"I am not surprised at the findings announced in this report. Policing the roads should be a priority for government and Chief Constables: this is nothing less than the public expect. As police forces try to deal with a staggering 20% budget cut, their resources and capabilities are being stretched to a point where delivery of service is difficult to sustain. We all know the consequences of drivers who fail to heed the rules of the road or drive with complete disregard for others. The cost of cutting back far outweighs the benefits of investing in protecting a key front line service," adds Alan Jones, Chairman of the Roads Policing Group, Police Federation England & Wales.
Despite battling with budget cuts and a reduced workforce Brake praised the efforts of the police over the recent festive period as they continue to battle drunk and drugged drivers and arrested 7,100, up by 16% from the previous year.
Using knowledge of routes favoured by drink and drug drivers enabled the police to improve on 2010’s figures. The number of Field Impairment Tests for drug driving increased by a third, with almost half of these resulting in arrest. Information from the public was also used, so although arrest figures were up, the need for breath testing was reduced by 8%.
However, Brake is urging the government not to lose this advantage and improve the chances of catching drink and drug drivers by:
- Introducing roadside drug testing devices and creating a new offence making it illegal to drive with illegal drugs in your body, removing the need to prove impairment;
- Giving police powers for random breath-testing, to enable far more tests to be carried out through targeted, high profile campaigns;
- Making roads policing a national policing priority, to send a clear directive that this vital frontline policing should be given great investment and priority.
“As a charity that supports families devastated by road death and injury, we see the appalling suffering that results from drink and drug driving. Brake commends the police for their continuing hard work protecting the public from those who flout drink and drug driving laws, but we need to see action by the government to stamp out these needless tragedies. Brake is calling for roadside drug testing devices and a new offence of driving with illegal drugs in your system. We also need greater priority given to roads policing by government, to ensure drivers are made clear that they can’t and won’t get away with taking these abhorrent and selfish risks. Our message to drivers is clear – no amount of alcohol or illegal drugs is safe to drive on – not a drop, not a drag,” says Ellen Booth, Brake senior campaigns officer.
“Driving under the influence of any substance, whether it is alcohol or drugs, is unacceptable. Alcohol and drugs can affect your ability to judge speed and distances, reduce concentration and delay reaction speed. Worst of all it can kill, and that’s a life sentence no-one would want to live with.
“There is no safe limit on drinking alcohol. The only way to ensure that you are driving safely, is to not drink alcohol at all. Even just the one drink can significantly impair your judgement and for that reason I recommend drivers don’t drink alcohol and drive,” concludes ACPO lead for Roads Policing DCC Suzette Davenport.
Do you agree with Brake, in that cuts in the traffic police force are putting the public at risk? Or do you feel the latest figures show the police are not just coping, but excelling on previous figures and therefore these cuts have not proved detrimental? What are your views? We’d love to hear them.
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The IAM have responded to the statement from the ACPO regarding the 7,100 arrests made over the 2011 festive period, where young drivers continue to have a higher rate of offending at 5.7% compared to over 25s at 4%.
“That young drivers continue to be the worst offenders is worrying. Our research shows that half of young drivers don’t know how much they can drink and still be under the limit, so the message is not getting through to them.
“This suggests that lack of education and confusion over safe limits in today’s drinking culture of huge glasses and ever changing alcoholic mixes may be a key factor in drink driving, especially for this age group,” says Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and research.
The IAM states that the high percentage of young drivers arrested highlights the important role that the police, government, parents and society as a whole have to play to educate the newest generation of drivers.
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The Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM) has announced that Peter Eldrige, director and current treasurer, has been made an honorary fellow of the institute.
The surprise presentation was made at the recent annual member’s conference by ICFM chairman Roddy Graham who said: "Peter has been an ICFM member since 1993 and a Council Member since 1997. Since joining the Council he has been an absolute rock in every respect, always keeping the needs of the ICFM firmly in his sights. In fact, he probably epitomises the saying "eats, sleeps and breathes" the ICFM and, with his wife Lynn running the administration office, he rarely gets away from it!"
Peter’s career in the fleet motor industry spans 49 years, beginning with Fiat Auto UK in 1963 and most recently his appointment with Inchcape Fleet Solutions in 2011. A member of the ICFM since 1993, Peter joined the Steering Committee in 1996, and was invited to become a full Council Member in 1997. He was appointed as a director and company secretary of the Institute in April 1999 and became treasurer in 2009.
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With weather warnings for a cold snap on the way Kwik-Fit fleet has launched its annual winter tyre programme figures for September-December 2011, which have revealed a leap of 243% increase in sales compared to those months in 2010 and tyre ‘hotel’ bookings up a staggering 1,391%.
“Many fleet operators have acknowledged that winter tyres have a vital part to play in ensuring vehicles remain on the road in all conditions. Once snow has fallen the opportunity has been missed so fleet managers want to ensure their vehicles are well prepared to cope with winter driving conditions without putting drivers and their organisation’s ability to operate at risk," says Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director Peter Lambert.
The ‘hotel’ facility offered by Kwik-Fit Fleet, which sees it remove, pack, label and store each company car and van’s summer tyres at its National Distribution Centre, with them being returned to each customer’s centre of choice for fitment and the winter tyres being removed and stored until needed again, has seen an unprecedented rise in its use by fleet customers.
Peter concluded: “Fleet decision-makers can’t control the elements, but they can control the performance of their vehicle fleet to minimise downtime.”
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And finally…
The IAM are offering motoring tips Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger this week on how to avoid whiplash. He says: “The rise in whiplash compensation claims is driving up car insurance premiums. Whiplash is most commonly caused by a rear end shunt – you can reduce the risk of being in one simply by taking these steps.”
- Keep a good distance in front of you so that you can slow down gently when you need to;
- Except in an emergency, always look in the mirror before braking. Knowing what the car behind is doing is the best way to avoid getting hit from behind;
- Make sure you have a properly adjusted head restraint. The top of the head restraint should be level with the top of your head for maximum safety;
- Anticipate the traffic ahead and drive to avoid stopping as often – slowing down earlier gives the driver behind more time to react;
- Try and signal early for junctions to give time for the traffic behind you to react;
- Keep your foot lightly on the footbrake as traffic approaches from behind to show brake lights as a warning, until you are sure it is stopping;
- Don’t forget to visit IAM’s website, drivingadvice.org.uk, with all your traffic update and weather forecast needs. You can also find tips on how to drive safely in all the weather conditions you can expect in a typically unpredictable British winter.
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So that’s it for another week. Don’t forget to share your views on the stories featured this week by using the comments box below. More importantly, don’t forget to drive safely so we can share another seven days of fleet related news with you next week. Until then…
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