Can 21st September be a day without a road death?
Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike are all guilty of thoughtless or risky 
behaviour which endangers their own lives and those of others, according to the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL).
This month, Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) is, in partnership with TISPOL, working on Project EDWARD: a European Day Without A Road Death, by encouraging all of Buckinghamshire’s road users to simply think twice before engaging in risky behaviour which could endanger lives.
TISPOL’s target is that no one should die on the roads of Europe on Wednesday 21 September. The aim of Project EDWARD is to remind all road users of the main risks they may be overlooking when taking to the roads, by asking people to sign a pledge to change their behaviour for the better; not just on September 21st, but every day.
Signing the pledge, at tispol.org/edward, only takes a couple of minutes and over 87,000 people have signed up so far. Upon pledging, users get a certificate which can be printed off and displayed in workplaces, schools, libraries, or at home to help spread the word of this road safety movement.
County Councillor Mark Shaw, Cabinet Member for Transportation, has signed the pledge and welcomes the efforts to improve safety culture on the county’s roads: “Making Buckinghamshire’s roads as safe as possible is our number one priority. The work we do on the roads goes a long way to enhancing safety, but driver behaviour plays a significant part and we can only influence that so far.
“Many people don’t think twice about certain things; from checking their phone in the car, to parking in a cycle lane ‘just for a minute’, to dashing through traffic either on foot or on a bike to make a quick short cut. These behaviours, unfortunately, contribute to the daily tally of road deaths in Europe, and with Project EDWARD we just want to encourage people to take a moment, and really think about the hazards they might face, or cause.”
The ‘Fatal Four’
The four driver behaviours which contribute to a high number of the more serious collisions on Buckinghamshire’s roads are drink and drug driving, speeding, mobile phone distractions, and failure to wear a seatbelt. Thames Valley Police – who fully support TISPOL’s Project EDWARD – have been keen to highlight that these ‘fatal four’ are the factors they look for when conducting their regular roadside checks.
How you can be involved in Project EDWARD
Whether you’re a road user or pedestrian there are a few things you can take the time to ask yourself whenever you take to Buckinghamshire’s roads:
- What risks am I facing, or might I face, on this journey?
- What risk might I pose to others?
- How might I eliminate those risks?
Visit www.tispol.org/edward to find out more, and make your pledge.
