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BECKENHAM ACCIDENT PREVENTION COMMITTEE
The Accident Prevention Committee for the Borough of Beckenham,
meets bi-monthly, to consider the way in which National and
Local Campaigns can best be approached and supported, to discuss
the road accident statistics (Personal Injury) as supplied by the Police
Authorities, and to decide on what local remedies can be adopted.
This Committee is supported most effectively by the Junior
Accident Prevention Committee, who meet monthly. This Committee
has a membership at present of 47, many of these being pupils of
various senior schools within the Borough.
Many of these schools have their own Accident Sub-Committee,
with the result that at every meeting of the Juniors, various aspects of
Accident Prevention and suggestions are brought forward for full
discussion. In this way it is realised that the whole area of the Borough
is thoroughly and effectively covered.
The theme for the 1961 Campaign was " Personal Responsibility"
whilst the present theme is " Learn to Live, Training for Road Safety ".
This present campaign is devoted chiefly to the following age
groups.
(1) Extension of Child Service at Schools.
(2) Formation of the Under-Fives, Toddlers or Tufty Clubs.
(3) Doubling of the number from 30,000 to 60,000 of child
cyclists trained and tested in the Cycling Proficiency Scheme.
(4) To interest the Youth in Road Safety, by the setting up of
more Junior Accident Prevention Committees.
(5) Setting up of further R.A.C./A.C.U. training centres to cater
for the learner motor cyclist and scooterist.
Cycling Proficiency Scheme
During 1961 a total of 615 school children were trained and tested
in this scheme, of which 570 passed their test at the first attempt, thanks
to the excellent training given at various schools by teachers and senior
students, etc., whilst many of the failures have since been re-tested and
have now qualified.
It is gratifying to note from the National Statistics, that 44 per cent
more children were trained in 1961, than in the previous year, and that
the casualty figures for these youngsters has been greatly reduced.
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