Road Safety Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Road Safety Foundation is a UK based charity which carries out and procures research into safe road design and road safety. The Foundation is responsible for the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP
) in the UK and Ireland.
while it was still a member owned institution. The charity became the Road Safety Foundation following the sale of The AA by Centrica
to CVC
and Primera.
and includes representation from the Freight Transport Association
, FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society and International Road Assessment Programme (IRAP
).
In addition to his role in the Foundation, Lord Dubs, previously a Labour Member of Parliament
and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Northern Ireland Office
, is an active member of the House of Lords
. In January 2008 Lord Dubs spoke of his interest in Road Safety and the Foundation in a debate on Road Safety.
.
In 2008 the Foundation released its latest results for Britain, naming the A537 Macclesfield to Buxton road as the most dangerous road in Britain. The results also featured in an edition of Police Camera Action!
.
In May 2008 the Foundation also released the latest Risk Rating results for Ireland, reporting that the Ireland network no longer featured any roads in the highest risk banding (Black-High Risk). In the Republic of Ireland the N53 was identified as a priority for action to improve road safety, while in Northern Ireland the A2 was prioritised. The 2008 Ireland report also publishes the results of the first Star Rating Assessment of Irelands roads which showed a clear split in terms of safety design between the historic non-designed single carriageway roads with poor safety provision and the newer motorways and dual carriageways which achieved a very high safety rating.
is a partnership between 13 UK major road safety stakeholders that is calling for the UK Government to invest in a safe road infrastructure which could cut deaths on British roads by 33%. The Road Safety Foundation is the lead partner in the campaign.
Following the success of the UK Campaign for Safe Road Design, having influenced the UK Department for Transport
to support the increase of EuroRAP risk rate mapping to the wider road network in the UK, EuroRAP has organised a European Campaign for Safe Road Design
along the lines of the UK campaign.
The European campaign features 28 partners across Europe and aims to influence the EC to use Safe Road Infrastructure Initiatives to cut casualties by 50,000 a year for the next decade, which is the equivalent of €50 billion over the decade or 0.5% of GDP. The Road Safety Foundation is the campaign's partner in the UK.
EuroRAP
European Road Assessment Programme is a non-profit road safety organisation which aims to reduce death and serious injury on Europe's roads...
) in the UK and Ireland.
History
The Foundation began in 1986 as the AA Foundation for Road Safety Research by the AAThe Automobile Association
The Automobile Association , a British motoring association founded in 1905 was demutualised in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans and motoring advice, and other services...
while it was still a member owned institution. The charity became the Road Safety Foundation following the sale of The AA by Centrica
Centrica
Centrica plc is a multinational utility company, based in the United Kingdom but also with interests in North America. Centrica is the largest supplier of gas to domestic customers in the UK, and one of the largest suppliers of electricity, operating under the trading names "Scottish Gas" in...
to CVC
CVC Capital Partners
CVC Capital Partners is one of the top five largest private equity firms globally with approximately US$46 billion in funds focused on management buyouts...
and Primera.
Aims
Today the Foundation's aims are:- the carrying out of research into all factors of the safe use of roads by all classes of user,
- the promotion of advice and knowledge on the safe use of roads to all users, and
- to develop ideas and programmes designed to improve road safety including projects to educate young children on the safe use of the road.
Governance
The Foundation is governed by a Council of Management led by Lord Alf DubsAlf Dubs
Alfred Dubs, Baron Dubs is a Czech-born British Labour Party politician and former Member of Parliament.- Youth and education :...
and includes representation from the Freight Transport Association
Freight Transport Association
The Freight Transport Association traces its roots back to 1889: its mission is to represent the views and interests of over 13,000 companies: from large multinationals and household names to small and medium businesses...
, FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society and International Road Assessment Programme (IRAP
IRAP
IRAP can refer to several things:*The International Road Assessment Program*The medical treatment using Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein*Insulin responsive aminopeptidase...
).
In addition to his role in the Foundation, Lord Dubs, previously a Labour Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
, is an active member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In January 2008 Lord Dubs spoke of his interest in Road Safety and the Foundation in a debate on Road Safety.
Research legacy
The Foundation has a legacy of research going back to its inception in the mid-1980s. Research covers a wide range of road safety related subjects including the causes of accidents in young pedestrians, risk and safety in the older driver and a review of tyres and road surfaces. Since 2003 the work of the Foundation has focused on EuroRAP in the UK and in 2008 the Campaign for Safe Road DesignCampaign for Safe Road Design
The Campaign for Safe Road Design is a partnership between 13 UK major road safety stakeholders that is calling for the UK Government to invest in a safe road infrastructure which in their view could cut deaths on British roads by 33%.-Aims:...
.
EuroRAP in the UK
The Foundation is the Active Member and licence holder for the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP)in Britain and Ireland. The Foundation regularly issues the list of safest and most dangerous roads in Britain and Ireland.In 2008 the Foundation released its latest results for Britain, naming the A537 Macclesfield to Buxton road as the most dangerous road in Britain. The results also featured in an edition of Police Camera Action!
Police Camera Action!
Police, Camera, Action! is a police video programme made by Optomen Television for ITV and broadcast on the ITV Network and ITV4. The program was originally commissioned through Carlton Television....
.
In May 2008 the Foundation also released the latest Risk Rating results for Ireland, reporting that the Ireland network no longer featured any roads in the highest risk banding (Black-High Risk). In the Republic of Ireland the N53 was identified as a priority for action to improve road safety, while in Northern Ireland the A2 was prioritised. The 2008 Ireland report also publishes the results of the first Star Rating Assessment of Irelands roads which showed a clear split in terms of safety design between the historic non-designed single carriageway roads with poor safety provision and the newer motorways and dual carriageways which achieved a very high safety rating.
Campaigning for Safe Road Design
The Campaign for Safe Road DesignCampaign for Safe Road Design
The Campaign for Safe Road Design is a partnership between 13 UK major road safety stakeholders that is calling for the UK Government to invest in a safe road infrastructure which in their view could cut deaths on British roads by 33%.-Aims:...
is a partnership between 13 UK major road safety stakeholders that is calling for the UK Government to invest in a safe road infrastructure which could cut deaths on British roads by 33%. The Road Safety Foundation is the lead partner in the campaign.
Following the success of the UK Campaign for Safe Road Design, having influenced the UK Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
to support the increase of EuroRAP risk rate mapping to the wider road network in the UK, EuroRAP has organised a European Campaign for Safe Road Design
European Campaign for Safe Road Design
The European Campaign for Safe Road Design aims to influence the European Union to make safe road design a European transport priority and save unnecessary deaths on Europe's roads...
along the lines of the UK campaign.
The European campaign features 28 partners across Europe and aims to influence the EC to use Safe Road Infrastructure Initiatives to cut casualties by 50,000 a year for the next decade, which is the equivalent of €50 billion over the decade or 0.5% of GDP. The Road Safety Foundation is the campaign's partner in the UK.
See also
- Road Safety
- EuroRAPEuroRAPEuropean Road Assessment Programme is a non-profit road safety organisation which aims to reduce death and serious injury on Europe's roads...
- Campaign for Safe Road DesignCampaign for Safe Road DesignThe Campaign for Safe Road Design is a partnership between 13 UK major road safety stakeholders that is calling for the UK Government to invest in a safe road infrastructure which in their view could cut deaths on British roads by 33%.-Aims:...
- Alf DubsAlf DubsAlfred Dubs, Baron Dubs is a Czech-born British Labour Party politician and former Member of Parliament.- Youth and education :...
- European Campaign for Safe Road DesignEuropean Campaign for Safe Road DesignThe European Campaign for Safe Road Design aims to influence the European Union to make safe road design a European transport priority and save unnecessary deaths on Europe's roads...