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ODDS & ENDS 16 August 2010 I came across these calculations the other day, it really is worth a read, as regards speed comparisons.It is in fact quite scary This is the equivalent of the impact speed reached by a child falling backwards off a fourth floor balcony (a drop of about 9.7m).
At any speed of 40mph or higher the distance will entirely be taken up with thinking time and you will be unable to slow down at all.
So if you drive at 40mph and a child steps out three car lengths in front of you, you will hit that child at 40mph.
Initial speed of travel: 20mph
Impact speed at three car lengths: 0mph
Equivalent fall from a building: 0 Height of fall: 0 metres Initial speed of travel: 25mph
Impact speed at three car lengths: 18mph
Equivalent fall from a building: First floor window Height of fall: 3.7 metres Initial speed of travel: 30mph
Impact speed at three car lengths: 27mph
Equivalent fall from a building: 3rd floor balcony Height of fall: 7.3 metres Initial speed of travel: 35mph
Impact speed at three car lengths: 33.5mph
Equivalent fall from a building: 4th floor balcony Height of fall: 9.7 metres Initial speed of travel: 38mph
Impact speed at three car lengths: 37mph That is why a 20 mph limit around schools is essential,that is why speeding in a 30 mph limit is dangerous, to every pedestrian pupil or in fact pensioner EU GOOD PRACTICE RECOMMENDS AS REGARDS STANDING SCHOOL PUPILS
Therefore the risk of injuries or even fatalities in the case of accidents is much higher (children catapulted to the front of vehicle). Overcrowded vehicles for school transport are daily practice, therefore an prohibition to carry standing children outside of urban agglomerations is necessary.
Objective Create awareness of the danger of standing in vehicles and establishment of conditions to assure that rules are accomplished (random control)
Good Practice Most countries legally prescribe the prohibition of standing in vehicles used for long distances (regional trips). In urban and short trips vehicles must use the total vehicle capacity and this can not be overcome.
In school buses, some progress is already visible in some countries, in particular in what concerns the abolition of the 3 children in two seats rule and the obligation to use seat belts (so no one stands):
- In Austria, every child has to have its own seat including a restraint system in all small buses and coaches; - In Portugal, the new regulation (in discussion) for school transport obliges to the existence of safety belts in all seats and prohibit the rule of 3 in 2 seats: - In Ireland and UK the rule of 3 in 2 will be abolished by 2006 and new vehicles will need to be fitted with seat belts for all passengers;
Obviously if there are seat belts they cannot stand , is this why there are delays in all buses having seat belts,possibly the need to have an extra bus.
AGAIN MONEY - SPENT IT ON ANYTHING EXCEPT SCHOOL TRANSPORT
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ACCIDENT CLAIMS
WE READ TIME & TIME AGAIN THAT A LOCAL AUTHORITY HAS REACHED ITS TARGET OF REDUCING ROAD CASUALTIES BY 2010
EVEN GOVERNMENTS CLAIM THIS.
YET WE READ THIS, SEE FURTHER DOWN
HOW ON EARTH IS THIS POSSIBLE, UNLESS THEY USE A FIGURE THAT FACTORS IN FUTURE ACCIDENTS & INJURIES?
ALL IT WOULD SURELY TAKE IS ONE ACCIDENT OR ONE DEATH TO DESTROY THIS CLAIM, IN FACT HOW CAN ANY LA MAKE THIS CLAIM BEFORE THE END OF 2O10, WHICH IS STILL A WAY OF
The latest LA to claim this is Fife through the Scottish Government website
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READ THIS THEN READ BELOW
WHO DO YOU BELIEVE? SOMEONE MUST BE TELLING LIES
Jim Fizpatrick MP, former Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Transport, 22nd April 2009
Overview
In 2010 the Government will unveil its new, ten-year road safety strategy.
The number of deaths on our roads has reached an all-time low. A total of 2,538 people were killed on roads in Britain last year- the lowest annual figures since records began in 1926. This represents a 14% drop on last year. Britain now has the equal safest roads of any major nation, and the figures also mean that the Government has reached its 2010 target of cutting road deaths and seriously injured on the roads- seven per cent fewer than in 2007.
HE STATES Britain now has the equal safest roads of any major nation.
YET BELOW
EDWARD LEIGH STATES “The death rate of child pedestrians in Great Britain is worse than that in many other countries
THEY CANT BOTH BE RIGHT- ALTHOUGH ONE SPEAKS OF PEOPLE & ONE SPEAKS ABOUT CHILD PEDESTRIANS
ONE SPEAKS ABOUT PEOPLE KILLED- THE OTHER CASUALTIES
IF IT WAS NOT SO SAD IT WOULD MAKE YOU WEEP
You work it out i cant?
If any Labour MP or MSP wishes to comment, or in fact the geNtlemen concerned
WE WILL PRINT IT - NO PROBLEM
read one here
http://www.insidegovernment.co.uk/other/roads_safety/
the other here House of Commons Committee Publishes Report on Road Safety Focusing on Pedestrians and Cyclists
The Public Accounts Committee report published today examines pedestrian and cyclist safety, the Department of Transport's strategy and activities, its work with other organisations and data on road casualties.Edward Leigh MP, Chairman of the Committee, said today
Committee chairman Edward Leigh said: ‘Some 230,000 casualties were reported to the police in 2008 against an estimated true figure of around 800,000.
WHAT IS A Estimated true figure, how can you have an estimated true figure, its either an estimate or it’s a true figure, cant be both,
In other words to form an opinion about, says it all!
“The death rate of child pedestrians in Great Britain is worse than that in many other countries. In recent years we have been behind such countries as France, the Netherlands, Japan, Austria, Australia and Belgium in terms of the number of child pedestrians killed as a proportion of the population.
REMEMBER ANY CHILD INJURED OR KILLED LEAVING A SCHOOL BUS IS A PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT
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You can read more about the intentions of LAs & Government policies here
CHECK OUT OUR UPDATED SURVEY UNDER SURVEY RESULTS THIS SHOULD TELL ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY, THOSE WHO CAN CHANGE THE WAY CHILDREN ARE TRANSPORTED TO SCHOOL
PARENTS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
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Once again we remind you to watch this video, pass this link to your friends who have school age children.
Drivers also take note
IF YOUR SCHOOL
REQUIRES A COPY OF THE SAFETY DVD
SIMPLY CONTACT US
WE WILL PASS YOUR NAME TO TALISMAN ENERGY WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS GREAT SAFETY TOOL
We congratulate them for the vision they have
To help save school children’s lives & injuries.
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If Ireland can do this so can every local authority in the UK
From September 2007 the practice of three children sharing a two person seat (known as '3 for 2') will end and from April 2009 no standing will be permitted on school services.
It will, however, still be possible to make use of the '3 for 2' and standing capacity, but only in exceptional circumstances
The problem is there are still areas in the UK where this practice goes on
YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT ADULTS TO SHARE A SEAT
NOR WOULD THEY
SO WHY IS IT OK FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN TO DO SO
IN SOME CASES TEENAGERS ARE AS BIG AS ADULTS
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School Bus Policy - Schools - Translink In September 2006, the Government announced an additional £37 million investment in school bus provision to make the journey to and from school safer and more comfortable for local pupils.
Look at what Northern Ireland has been doing since 2006
Then compare that to the UK, that has spent virtually nothing
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FROM THE USA
I THOUGHT IT WORTH WHILE TO LIST IT Every year school buses carry some 24 million students and collectively travel more than 4 billion miles. Considering how many kids the buses carry and the distance they cover, deaths on the road are extremely rare. School buses have a rate of 0.2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.
The rate of deaths in automobiles is eight times higher.
That's how safety officials like to put it, because it's a statistically accurate way of comparing risks.
Here's another way to look at it: Over a span of 11 years, from 1994-2004, a total of 71 passengers on school buses died in crashes.
In the year 2004 alone, traffic accidents killed 31,693 people traveling in cars and light trucks.
No matter how impressive statistics involving millions of kids and billions of miles are, they tend to pale when we hear the name of a single child who has come to harm, especially when that harm could have been prevented.
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School Bus Signs and Hazard Warning Lights
In terms of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended by the Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 1994, designated buses and coaches that are used for journeys to and from school are required to display distinctive retro-reflective yellow school bus signs fitted to the front and rear of the bus.
These signs must be plainly visible to road users ahead of, and behind, the bus. Vehicles displaying school bus signs are also permitted to use hazard warning lights when the vehicle is stationary and children are boarding or alighting.
The purpose of the school bus sign and hazard warning lights is to make other road users aware that when the vehicle is stationary children are likely to be getting on or off the bus and may be crossing the road.
Other road users should, therefore, be very cautious when passing a school bus in those circumstances.
There is no statutory requirement to remove the school bus signs when the vehicles are not being used to transport children, or to use hazard warning lights when the vehicle is stationary and children are boarding or alighting.
However, Scottish Ministers invite education authorities to stipulate in their contracts that the signs should only be displayed when children are being transported and that hazard warning lights should be used when children are getting on or off vehicles.
If this is the purpose of the school bus sign [ as in hazard lights ]
ie to make other road users aware that children are likely to be getting on or off the bus
Surely common sense dictates that not to remove the sign ,leaves children in danger , as it dilutes its awareness.
School Transport Guidance Circular
This circular provides updated guidance to local authorities about the provision of school transport and replaces Circular No 17/1996. The topics covered in this circular are divided into 3 sections :
SECTION 3 - SCHOOL TRANSPORT CONTRACTS COUNCILS HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO YOUR CHILD
IN LAW
It is for education authorities themselves to negotiate the terms of contracts for school transport.
However, the Safe School Travel Pack referred to in paragraph 6 recommends that education authorities' Condition of Contract or Good Practice Codes, applicable to school transport provided by hired contractors, should place a number of responsibilities on the contractor.
These include the need to ensure that :
Disclosure Scotland
Many children travel to school either on designated school buses or by taxi. Scottish Ministers expect authorities, when negotiating school transport contracts, to require that all drivers and escorts are fully scrutinised by Disclosure Scotland. Relevant checks should be undertaken by the bus company and the authority as necessary.
If an authority subsequently has concerns about the suitability of an individual driver or escort in such circumstances the authority should take this up directly with the bus company or other appropriate authorities
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ASK YOU COUNCIL
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However we would ask all operators & in fact drivers ,if you have not yourselves seen the DVD, www.1second1life.co.uk. I would recommend you do so.
You will see the reason the sign must come down, so people are aware it is a coach/bus carrying school children. That way a driver has no excuse not to slow down, it cant be made an excuse for some else's carelessness or lack of attention.
We also say to all the youngsters on school transport, when you leave it, if you are crossing the road.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE & TO PAY ATTENTION,
ensure its safe to cross.
In our families instances it would of made little difference, it might in your case!!
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HOWEVER AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, THIS DOES NOT COVER SERVICE BUSES THAT ARE ALSO USED AS A SCHOOL BUS
ALTHOUGH SOME COUNCILS MAY INSIST
IF IN DOUBT ASK THE
THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT UNIT IN YOUR COUNCIL..........................
This is a link to North Sound Radio in Aberdeen, they have started an online petition
We, the undersigned, resident in the North sound transmission area and following recent local road accidents involving school children, call for the North-East MPs and MSPs to action a quick and effective change in the law to improve road safety concerning school bus routes
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WORLD VISITS TO OUR SITE CONTINUE TO GROW ,
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