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BECKSNHM ACCIDENT PREVENTION COMMITTEE
The following report on the work of the Beckenhan Accident Prevention
Committee has been submitted by Mr0 J. Bretton, Local Safety Officer.
National Road Safety Campaign 1965 - "Road Safety Depends on You"
The present campaign with its thene "Think Ahead" will continue until
the end of March, 1965, when it will be replaced on the 1st April with the
new campaign, the theme being "Road Safety Depends on You".
This campaign plans to cover the training of all road users, whether
pedestrians, riders or drivers, with the emphasis on responsibility,
physical fitness, competence of drivers, drink and the necessity of
vehicle fitness.
During the campaign, and to meet the desire of many people concerned
with Road Safety, certain periods will be devoted to a pin-point event,
covering keep the distance, drink and vehicle maintenance, together with
others.
It is hoped by the furtherance of these schemes and ideas, that 1965
will be a year of progress for accident prevention. Safety consciousness
daily becomes fashionable, with the result that the accent on training
becomes more pronounced.
The "Tufty Clubs" which started in December 1961 have caught on like
wildfire. Many hundreds of clubs have started throughout the country,
and the training given to these toddlers within these clubs, should be a
wonderful contribution in the fields of personal safety.
The Child Safety Service will continue its valuable aids for the
teaching of school children.
There must be further extensions of the National Childrens Cycling
Scheme, the R.A.C./A.C.U. scheme for learner motor-cyclists and the various
driver training schemes which are being formed in many areas.
Experience has shown that the schemes shown above have been most
instrumental in the reduction of road, accidents, and in particular, those
affecting child cyclists.
Cycling Proficiency
Cycling by young people, particularly those of school age, plays a
tremendously important part in their development, as proficient road users
for the future. Many of the casualties on the highway are caused by
ignorance of road laws, incorrect or slip-shod signalling, lack of
understanding of the machine being driven, or just plain thoughtlessness.
Expert roadmanship calls for a variety of skills that can be learned under
the National Cycling Proficiency Scheme.
From April 1964 to April 1965, approximately 789 children from various
schools within the Borough have been trained, and tested for their certificate
and badge; this shows a slight increase from those of the previous year.
These figures were only attained through the excellent co-operation
afforded the Local Safety Officer by the Head Teachers and their staff,
and the parents of these children, who allowed them to attend for training
during the school holiday periods.
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