e. In association with all the local authorities we have formed Road Safety Forums where Road Safety professionals have a close working partnership to provide a joint agency approach to specifically tackle local issues.
Our Road Safety Co-ordinator is responsible for providing strategic direction in relation to National and local policy whilst providing the necessary support to local Road Safety Officers for casualty reduction campaigns.
The dedicated Road Safety Officers (RSO) within each of the local council areas provide education, training and publicity resources in line with the Force Preventative Strategy. Through collaboration, they ensure individual at risk groups receive the necessary and appropriate inputs. Each RSO is based in a territorial division and form a key role within our local Safer Communities Departments. By co-locating these officers, we bring expertise and direction to local issues with positive links to partner organisations and make Road Safety an integral part of our efforts to make our communities safer.
RSO’s provide local direction on casualty reduction and are heavily involved in providing information, education resources and training directed at all road user groups.
Pre-School Age Group
Research shows that it is the parents and carers of young children who have most influence over their road user behavior. The Road Safety Unit aims to provide information and assistance to all groups concerned with the education and welfare of the preschool age child. The Children’s Traffic Club Scotland (CTCS), which is free to every three year old in Scotland, gives excellent information to parents and carers on dealing with Road Safety issues with their child. The club also provides support materials for use by Health Visitors, Nurseries and Childminders. Road Safety Officers support the CTCS by providing information and resources to all relevant groups, and can offer training to those working with young children and their parents. They have a number of road safety resource boxes which can be loaned to groups involved in relevant project work.
In Car Safety
Road Safety Officers can offer advice or information to parents and carers of young children on the correct fitting and checking of child seats/seatbelts in vehicles and the implications of seat belt law.
Primary School Age
Schools provide an ideal road safety learning environment for children, providing them with skills which they can take with them through to adulthood.
Our RSO’s have a wealth of materials for schools which range from resource boxes to information packs, leaflets and posters. A new Primary education resource, Street Sense, covering levels A to E in the curriculum has been provided to all Primary schools. In primary schools, Road Safety Officers provide guidance and advice for teachers, Active Schools Co-ordinators and parents to promote pedestrian and cycle skills training. They support the Junior Road Safety Officer scheme, in which children are encouraged to take ownership of local Road Safety issues.
Steps to Safety Charter for Primary Schools
Steps to Safety Charter is a resource for primary, nursery and special needs schools helps teachers to achieve their attainment targets for Health within 5-14 guidelines. Teachers and school management can use Steps to Safety as a simple tool to develop their forward plans and to incorporate Road Safety as an integral part of the school’s ethos. Steps to Safety allows schools to consolidate, reinforce and expand upon the Road Safety that they have been doing over the years as well as recognizing their achievements through the awards of Bronze, Silver and Gold standards. Step to Safety supports other local and national initiatives such as Pedestrian and Cycle Skills training Safer Routes to School, School Travel Plans and Eco-School Programmes.
Pedestrain Skills Training
Traffic Trails and Kerbcraft Pedstrian Skills Training courses are run for Primary 1 to Primary 3 pupils. Parents are encouraged to support these schemes. Parents are trained to take children out in small groups to develop basic road crossing skills and develop children’s awareness of traffic and safer places to cross.
Scottish Cycle Training Scheme (SCTS)
All primary schools are encouraged to support the SCTS. Training usually takes place in either primary six or seven years. Road Safety Officers have trained teaching staff, Active Schools Co-ordinators, support organisations/staff and volunteer parents to carry out the training. Where possible training is under taken on quiet local roads. Pupils receive basic roadcraft skills.
Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSO)
All primary schools are encouraged to take part in this scheme. Schools select a number of pupils from primary seven year to be JRSO’s. The aim is to encourage pupils to take ownership of road safety.
The Junior Road Safety Officers organise competitions, develop road safety displays in school and speak at assemblies.
Secondary School Age
The move from primary to secondary school will often mean a change in route, distance, or mode of transport for a child traveling to school and this in turn, results in a greater risk of them being involved in road crashes. RSO’s are keen to provide information and training to those who work with this vulnerable age group.
For the S3 to S6 age group, secondary schools now have the Road Safety Scotland training medium ‘Crash Magnets’ designed for use in their personal and social guidance classes, This training aid links directly to general road safety issues and their progress towards motorised transport. Our staff fully support the package and develop ‘young driver’ events around a theatre production ‘Friends Disunited’ which highlights the responsibility that comes with gaining a driving license.
Drivers Through the Ages
The Road Safety team consistently provides information and guidance to drivers of all ages. We specifically target ‘at risk’ groups through National Campaigns and events to highlight issues that may influence driver behavior.
We host numerous young driver events in conjunction with the other emergency services and partner agencies, by targeting drivers aged between 17 and 25 who are disproportionately represented in casualty statistics. Occupational Drivers and also a prioritised group, with our staff linking directly with Health and Safety Managers within companies to reach their employees and improve/influence driver training and working practices. We are directly involved in supporting National Road Safety Campaigns.
For further information, please contact your local Road Safety Officer:
Driver Groups
Nearly all road crashes involve the driver of a vehicle, whether they collide with another car, a pedestrian or cyclist. The Road Safety Unit runs a variety of driver training programmes which currently includes
Young Driver Training
Aimed at the 17-25 year old driver, this free two-night theory course looks at a variety of driving issues. This is then followed by a demonstration drive given by a Class One Police Driving Instructor.
The unit also run courses for organisations with young people in the 17-25 age group and specialist course for ‘boy racers’ and modified car enthusiasts (‘car cruisers’)
Fleetsure
Vehicles driven in the course of business are involved in approximately 30% of all fatal/serious injury crashes. Company employees who drive and the employing organisation are one of the primary target groups for road safety education.
The Force launched the Fleetsure programme in October 2003 as a means of encouraging local organisations to manage the safety of employees who drive, Fleetsure encourages the development of sustainable long term strategies to address work related road risk. The scheme provides a means of recognising good practice and commitment to work related road safety. Fleetsure provides a focus for all national and local road safety publicity campaigns that can range from use of mobile phones, fatigue, speeding and drink driving.
Driving for the Older Road User
The ‘55+ - Safety on the Move’ initiative aims to build on the skills of the more experienced motorist, and deals with road safety issues particular to this age group. The Road Safety Unit can offer information to be included in pre-retirement courses, and can also offer training or advice to interested clubs or social groups.
Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists are a road user group with a rising crash rate. Many of the crashes involve the 30+ age group often referred to as ‘Born Again Bikers’, due to the fact that they have come back to motorcycling after an absence of many years. Within Scotland we run Bikesafe Scotland where riders are invited to attend a theoretical session followed by an assessment carried out by a police motorcyclist.
General Driving
Road Safety Officers are often invited to attend a variety of events such as garage evenings or Women of Wheels events. Requests for attendance at such events are dealt with on their individual merit linked to our own Force goals.
Promotions, events and displays
The Road Safety Unit attends relevant events to promote specific road safety messages. We also support national road safety campaigns in events organised throughout the Force area.
Road Safety if for Everyone
Working in partnership with local government bodies, health and childcare professionals as well as charities and private companies, we aim to promote Road Safety to the widest audience.
Contact Details
For further information, please contact your local Road Safety Office.
