During June we will be highlighting awareness of Safe Behaviours, one of the five pillars of Road Safety outlined within the LCR Road Safety Strategy.
You will see content across our social media channels, highlighting the importance of Safe Behaviours.
We will be working to encourage all road users to Be Road Safe and reflect on behaviours when using the road. While some behaviours are enforceable by police most are only advisable and therefore optional. Taking the approach that road safety is everyone’s responsibility we should all take steps to make our roads safer by demonstrating safe behaviours, from using pedestrian crossings to wearing high vis jackets we all have a part to play.
We will be providing guidance around what resources and techniques are best to stay safe on the roads.
Throughout June the focus will be Safe Behaviours, we will however be working towards other campaigns and projects such as the NPCC Seatbelt Operation and Child Safety Week.
Safe Behaviours looks to tackle high risk behaviours, irrespective of mode, that can be attributable to road danger, starting with those that contribute to most collisions. Dangerous behaviour can include of a variety of differing “high-harm” offences including mobile phone usage, drink and drug driving, speeding, careless driving and driving an uninsured vehicle.
The MRSP produce an annual calendar of campaigns and events designed to educate road users via social media or roadshows and reinforced with appropriate enforcement. The results of this enforcement are shared with the wider public to create an understanding of the nature and breadth of the behaviours tackled and the repercussions of taking part in such.
Safe Behaviour covers several groups of road user, for example, distraction via a mobile phone could include cyclists, motorcyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
The aspiration for us is to tackle these behaviours, particularly those which contribute to significant collision numbers. Safe Behaviour challenges both conscious and unconscious actions which serve as significant contributory factors in KSIs, and which suppress potential use of active forms of travel such as intimidating driving. It also recognises the impact of distracted pedestrians and other road users not paying attention to their surroundings.
We aim to influence road user behaviour through education, training, communications, engineering and enforcement. There are existing programmes of work across the LCR local authorities which challenge and inform road user behaviour to create a safer road space for all users. Schemes include school based education programmes, Driving Safer for Longer (aimed at senior road users), Engage (young drivers) and Mind Your Business (driving for work).
Through challenging knowledge gaps and targeted initiatives, with projects developed and delivered across the Partnership, all residents in the LCR can benefit from the shared resources and initiatives. We believe that well-designed networks for active travel promote a shared respect, ownership and place of safety on our networks. This creates a mutual understanding and appreciation of our roads and creates new social norms. Enforcement is key in areas where risky behaviour is identified whether it be through targeted activity (scheduled drink/drug driving operations) or reactive intelligence led activities (areas identified as high speeds/ anti-social behaviour). The presence of enforcement activity acts as visible reassurance for residents and high-profile deterrence.
