Transport for Bucks sharing support for vulnerable road users
Webinars are being held this week to help people who may need support on the road
Project EDWARD week is 13-17 September. Project EDWARD stands for ‘Every Day Without A Road Death’ and is an annual, UK-wide road safety campaign backed by the government, emergency services, highways agencies and road safety organisations.
To support Project EDWARD, Transport for Buckinghamshire’s road safety initiative – Travel Safe Bucks – will be focusing on vulnerable road users, with a particular focus on older drivers, throughout September.
On average, five people a day are killed on roads around Great Britain, with an additional 150,000 being injured each year too. Unfortunately, 20% of all deaths on our roads are older people. This figure is only set to rise, with older licence holders increasing each year.
We know that older motorists have a wealth of experience, confidence and tolerance. However, sight, hearing, reaction time and judgement of speed and distance may worsen with age.
Travel Safe Bucks will be speaking at the Older Drivers Forum 2021 to raise awareness of the risks that may increase for older drivers, and to promote our Mature Drivers Assessments, what people will get out of the assessment, why they’re important and how to book one.
The Older Drivers Forum will also cover much more than that, with six free webinars being held from 13-17 September.
Steve Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“It’s great to see that Travel Safe Bucks are supporting this important initiative and will be delivering a presentation about our Mature Driver Assessments. Buckinghamshire is a rural county and we realise that not everyone has easy access to public transport.
"We also know that if an older driver loses their licence, it can lead to loneliness and social isolation, so being able to get around independently is crucial. We aim to support drivers to keep driving as long as they can safely do so.”
Rob Heard, chair and founder of the Older Drivers Forum, commented:
“We are excited and proud to support Project EDWARD's quest to make the roads safer for all. We can all become complacent about our driving and often pick up bad habits, which if not addressed can increase our risk of an incident on the roads.
"This week of webinars will help give advice on a number of subjects, from confidence building appraisals, safe driving tips, electric vehicles and more.”
If you or somebody you know could benefit from attending one of these free webinars, then register for your place.
To find out more about our Mature Drivers Assessments, visit the council webpage here.