Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
Encyclopedia
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is a British charity
which aims to promote safety
. It is particularly known for its vocal campaigns on issues of road safety, including Tufty the road crossing squirrel, the Cycling Proficiency Test and the Green Cross Code
, as well as on issues of occupational health and safety.
A campaign to change the pedestrian rule so that walkers face oncoming traffic was so successful that fatal accidents caused by pedestrians stepping into the path of vehicles fell by 70 per cent in 12 months. The Industrial "Safety First" Committee was established following this campaign. Nevertheless, the organisation estimates that 550,000 people have died on Britain's roads since Bridget Driscoll
's death in 1896.
The organisation later became known as the British Industrial "Safety First" Association aiming to tackle workplace safety on a national scale. In 1920, HRH the Duke of York became president of the London Safety First Council as it was now known. In 1941, with the agreement of the King, the Association changed its name to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents - the beginnings of the organisation as it is known today.
RoSPA's work concerns safety on the road, at work, in the home, at leisure, on and in the water as well as safety education for the young, with its mantra being 'prevention in proportion' and 'sensible safety'. The charity has always advocated that activities should be as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible - enabling people to take part in activities and manage their own risks.
RoSPA's income is derived largely from subscriptions, the sale of products and the provision of services - notably consultancy and training. The British Government also makes grants towards specific areas of RoSPA's activities.
RoSPA is governed by an executive committee and board of Trustees. The organisation employs approximately 120 staff, located in the head office in Birmingham and at regional offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. The Society's patron is Her Majesty the Queen
; Lord Jordan of Bournville became RoSPA's president in 2008.
was created by RoSPA in 1947 as a minimum recommended standard for cycling
on British roads. The National Cycling Proficiency Scheme was introduced by the Government in 1958, with statutory responsibility for road safety being given to local authorities in 1974, including the provision of child cyclist training but the scheme continued to be associated with RoSPA. The scheme was superseded by the National Standards for Cycle Training, branded Bikeability
in England.
In this vein, RoSPA has established the Child Safety Education Coalition (CSEC), an organisation that aims to allow children to experience risks and learn from them. It encourages children to take part in all activities they wish to, whilst providing them with enough information to manage their own safety.
The 'professional killjoy' label has been difficult to shake off - perhaps unfairly, as RoSPA's mantra is 'sensible safety', trying to strike a balance between encouraging people to live their lives to the full, whilst educating the public in mitigating risks and carrying out activities safely. It has always advocated that activities inside and outside the workplace should be as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
which aims to promote safety
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
. It is particularly known for its vocal campaigns on issues of road safety, including Tufty the road crossing squirrel, the Cycling Proficiency Test and the Green Cross Code
Green Cross Code
The Green Cross Code is a brand created by the UK National Road Safety Committee to raise awareness of pedestrian road safety in the UK...
, as well as on issues of occupational health and safety.
History and development
RoSPA came into being in 1917 in response to the 'alarming increase in road accidents' during the First World War blackouts. Accident data were collected, and there was a call to license all drivers. Three children's safety competitions were run, involving 57,000 pupils, and a railway safety committee was established.A campaign to change the pedestrian rule so that walkers face oncoming traffic was so successful that fatal accidents caused by pedestrians stepping into the path of vehicles fell by 70 per cent in 12 months. The Industrial "Safety First" Committee was established following this campaign. Nevertheless, the organisation estimates that 550,000 people have died on Britain's roads since Bridget Driscoll
Bridget Driscoll
Bridget Driscoll was the first pedestrian victim of an automobile accident in the United Kingdom. As she and her teenage daughter May crossed the grounds of the Crystal Palace in London, she was struck by an automobile belonging to the Anglo-French Motor Carriage Company that was being used to...
's death in 1896.
The organisation later became known as the British Industrial "Safety First" Association aiming to tackle workplace safety on a national scale. In 1920, HRH the Duke of York became president of the London Safety First Council as it was now known. In 1941, with the agreement of the King, the Association changed its name to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents - the beginnings of the organisation as it is known today.
RoSPA's work concerns safety on the road, at work, in the home, at leisure, on and in the water as well as safety education for the young, with its mantra being 'prevention in proportion' and 'sensible safety'. The charity has always advocated that activities should be as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible - enabling people to take part in activities and manage their own risks.
RoSPA's income is derived largely from subscriptions, the sale of products and the provision of services - notably consultancy and training. The British Government also makes grants towards specific areas of RoSPA's activities.
RoSPA is governed by an executive committee and board of Trustees. The organisation employs approximately 120 staff, located in the head office in Birmingham and at regional offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. The Society's patron is Her Majesty the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
; Lord Jordan of Bournville became RoSPA's president in 2008.
Cycling Proficiency
The Cycling Proficiency TestCycling Proficiency Test
The Cycling Proficiency Test was a test given by Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents which served as a minimum recommended standard for cycling on British roads. It has been superseded by the new National Standards for Cycle Training, branded Bikeability in England.The first Cycling...
was created by RoSPA in 1947 as a minimum recommended standard for cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
on British roads. The National Cycling Proficiency Scheme was introduced by the Government in 1958, with statutory responsibility for road safety being given to local authorities in 1974, including the provision of child cyclist training but the scheme continued to be associated with RoSPA. The scheme was superseded by the National Standards for Cycle Training, branded Bikeability
Bikeability
Bikeability is the national programme for cycle training in England and Wales, administered by Cycling England. It is based on the National Standard for Cycle Training, a UK Government standard run by the Department for Transport and approved by RoSPA, LARSOA, British Cycling, CTC, Sustrans and...
in England.
Criticism
RoSPA has been accused of being professional killjoys or busybodies, having an unduly risk-averse approach and taking a bureaucratic and inflexible approach to interpreting health and safety legislation. However, in response to this, the charity has started advocating allowing a degree of risk-taking in children's play.In this vein, RoSPA has established the Child Safety Education Coalition (CSEC), an organisation that aims to allow children to experience risks and learn from them. It encourages children to take part in all activities they wish to, whilst providing them with enough information to manage their own safety.
The 'professional killjoy' label has been difficult to shake off - perhaps unfairly, as RoSPA's mantra is 'sensible safety', trying to strike a balance between encouraging people to live their lives to the full, whilst educating the public in mitigating risks and carrying out activities safely. It has always advocated that activities inside and outside the workplace should be as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible.