Road safety

On average, cars, vans and lorries travel 9.6 million miles in Hampshire each year, so ensuring the roads are well managed and maintained and that everyone is using them as safely as possible, is essential.

The County Council invests significantly in road maintenance, with Operation Resilience now moving into its second year, having completed 91 miles of road resurfacing last year. Tackling congestion and promoting safety on the roads are also top priorities for us.

The recent review of A and B road speed limits in Hampshire will reduce the speed limits at 49 priority locations over the next two years, providing a consistent, clear message throughout Hampshire on appropriate speeds and behaviour for everyone who uses the roads. Our schemes to manage the traffic at particular points, such as crossings and traffic calming measures, will continue to be determined by sound technical evidence.

When it comes to using the road safely, a focus on education campaigns which highlight potential dangers to certain groups of people, such as children, motorcyclists or older people, have proved  successful in contributing to the reduction of casualties on the roads. Other successful campaigns include 20 is Plenty and the Village 30 initiative, designed to reduce traffic speeds around schools. Evidence suggests that more is needed to reach secondary school aged children. This month the County Council will launch StreetSense – with messages aimed at young people to help them become more aware of the traffic around them when they might be easily distracted talking with friends, texting on their mobile phones, or listening to music on their MP3 players.

Reaching young people through programmes in secondary schools, Facebook and outdoor advertising, StreetSense encourages young people to:

• make the right choices and decisions when on a journey;
• identify the consequences to themselves and others if distracted when crossing the road;
• know that they are responsible for their own safety.

Good Egg Safety

Nearly eight out of ten parents surveyed (78%) fear their son or daughter will be involved in a car crash according to new research by Good Egg Safety. With an average of one in five drivers actually involved in a crash in their first six months of driving, free copies of the Good Egg New Driver guide are being made available to concerned parents throughout the UK in a bid to reduce casualties.

More details can be found online:

• Parents of New Drivers

• Order your free copy directly from Hampshire Road Safety

• Call 0845 603 5633