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BECKENHAM ACCIDENT PREVENTION COMMITTEE
The following report on the work of the Beckenham Accident
Prevention Committee has been submitted by Mr. J. Bretton, Local
Safety Organiser.
"National Road Safety Campaign 1963. 'Get fit for the Road'.
The present campaign with its theme 'Training for Road Safety'
will continue until the end of March 1963, when it will be replaced on
the 1st April, with the new campaign, the theme being 'Get Fit for
Road Safety
We are all road users and 1963 plans to cover the extension of
training for pedestrians, riders and drivers. The 'Tufty Club' has done
exceeding well in its first year, but we must press on a long way to
attain our target of ensuring that every child under five is a member.
The Child Safety Service will continue its valuable aids for the
teaching of school children.
There must be further extensions of the National Cycling Proficiency
Scheme, the R.A.C./A.C.U. scheme for learner motor cyclists
and the various driver training schemes.
In April the new Campaign, 'Get Fit for the Road' will be
launched. It is the natural successor of Road Training Year. The new
campaign will cover mental and physical fitness and the importance of a
standard of competence which will ensure fitness to drive. It will also
emphasise the necessity for vehicle fitness.
To meet the desires of many people concerned with Accident
Prevention for a campaign pin-pointing one hazard, the months of
July, August and September, will be devoted to a 'TURNING RIGHT'
campaign.
Many encouraging signs portend that 1963 will be a year of
progress for Accident Prevention. There is growing recognition that
RoSPA does not seek to wrap up man in cotton wool safe from all
harm, but aims to equip him with the necessary aptitude and skill to
live, work and play with maximum efficiency in this highly mechanised
age. Safety-consciousness daily becomes more fashionable, with the
result that the accent on training becomes more pronounced.
Cycling Proficiency
During the past year, approximately 810 children from various
schools within the Borough have been trained and tested for their
cycling certificates and badge.
This shows a most gratifying increase against a total of 615 for the
year 1961. This increase has only been attained with the excellent
co-operation afforded me from the Head Teachers and staff of the
many schools concerned, for which I am extremely grateful.
It is also pleasing to note from National statistics that the 1961
total of 134,746 child cyclists who have been trained, was passed on
the 21st November, 1962, when the figure at that time stood at 145,000
Although these figures are most encouraging, it is accepted that
this increase must continue until every child who rides a bicycle has
been trained incycling and road proficiency, and from statistics, this
figure is believed to be 310,000.
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