LTB 534/20 – RMG/CWU/”BRAKE” National Road Safety Week – “No Need To Speed” Campaign 16-22 Nov 2020

No. 534/2020

12 November 2020

Our Ref: V4/20

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

RMG/CWU/”BRAKE” National Road Safety Week – “No Need To Speed” Campaign 16-22 Nov 2020:

Introduction:

Royal Mail Group, the CWU and Unite/CMA will be supporting the 2020 “BRAKE” Road Safety Charity’s annual national Road Safety Campaign from 16-22 November which this year has the theme “No Need To Speed”. The 2020 campaign will be about raising the awareness of all drivers, of Royal Mail, Parcelforce, RMP&FS and RMSS fleet vehicles, of the critically important issue of ensuring that they stick to speed limits, travel at safe speeds and understand why this is so important.

The campaign will concentrate on key messages to drivers and managers with the emphasis on how important it is for drivers to ensure that they don’t drive at excessive speed at any time.

Background:

While it might sound like an elementary campaign title, first-hand evidence underlines the fact that there is still a need for basic education of a significant proportion of drivers. There may be a minority who choose to ignore road safety messages but there’s good reason to believe a far larger number would act on the advice, if they were made aware of it. When it comes to road safety, it’s simple: ‘speed matters.’

In a crash, 1mph can mean the difference between life and death, but it’s known that people still regularly break speed limits or travel too fast for the conditions of the road. With someone injured on a UK road every four minutes, and vehicle speed playing a part in every crash, it’s time to come together to say that there is “No Need to Speed.”

This Road Safety Week (16–22 November) we are sharing the what, the why, and the where of speed, because whether you’re walking to work, riding or driving on a country lane or motorway or driving at work, the speed of traffic matters to your safety.

Why is speed so important? The formula is simple: the higher the speed, the longer the stopping distance, the harder the crash and the greater the risk of death and injury. “No Need to Speed” is a reminder to everyone of how the speed they travel affects other people.

Every time we’re on the road we need to consider what speed is appropriate to keep ourselves and others safe. Everyone knows that roads have speed limits, but do we understand what appropriate speed is, what leads some people to travel too fast, and what are the solutions that can make sure people move at safe speeds?

Speed also matters for our health and wellbeing – slower traffic can help make places feel more welcoming for the people who live, work and play in them. This can mean more people choosing to walk and cycle to get around and more people interacting with each other on the street, creating fitter, healthier and happier communities. This “Road Safety Week”, the aim is for everyone to learn that there is “No Need to Speed” and to find out just why speed matters for safe and healthy journeys whether its social, domestic, pleasure or work purposes. We want to create a better road environment by encouraging drivers to drive at safe speeds on healthy streets.

To Obtain a ‘Free’ “BRAKE” Road Safety Charity Campaign Pack go to: http://roadsafetyweek.org.uk/our-theme

Some ‘Excess Speed” Facts:

Speed is one of the main factors in fatal road accidents.
Around 6,000 people are killed or seriously injured in road accidents every year where ‘exceeding the speed limit’ or ‘travelling too fast for the conditions’ was recorded as a contributory factor by the Police.
800,000 drivers received a speeding fine and penalty points last year.
Depending on the level of excessive speed above the limit, drivers can receive 3 to 6 penalty points and can be disqualified from driving and be fined up to £2,500.
In the last 7 months, 877 Royal Mail and Parcelforce drivers were prosecuted for speeding violations whilst at work.

The Top 3 Notices of Intended Prosecution received by Royal Mail Drivers on duty in the last 7 months are as follows:

Speeding 923
Not wearing seatbelt 67
DWDCA 30

CWU ASR Activity Guide & Checklist (Attached):

By following the daily activity guide and checklist, carrying out Safety Inspections at selected offices, and speaking to our drivers/members during w/c 16 November, ASRs can play a key role in helping to raise the profile of ‘excess speed’ during Road Safety Week for our members’ benefit by helping keep Royal Mail, Parcelforce, RMP&FS and RMSS drivers safe.

During the week, which is fully supported by the CWU/HQ Health, Safety & Environment Department, CWU ASRs will be fully involved and consulted in this Road Safety Week Campaign. CWU/ASR full support and participation is much appreciated by Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide, RMSS, RMP&FS and CWU HQ.

Benefits of the Campaign:

Improved compliance with RMG Policy and Road Traffic Law.
Increase awareness amongst drivers and managers.
Reduction in road traffic collisions.

ASRs Should Agree With Operational Managers, Which Units Will Be Visited And Jointly Supported During The Road Safety/No Need To Speed Campaign, And:

Assist the front-line manager in delivering the WTLL.
Carry out additional safety inspections and spot check activities to increase awareness.
Remind drivers to carry out their safety checks before they set out on their journeys during of Road Safety Week.

Engage CWU/Member Drivers:

Use the Road Safety Campaign materials (attached) to talk to drivers about the importance of not speeding and safe driving.
Check that drivers have received the WTLL briefing on ‘No Need To Speed’.
Check drivers have seen the poster and leaflets (attached).
Ask drivers – Do they follow Royal Mail policy on vehicle safety checks?
Remind drivers of the Fleet Customer Helpline number: 0345 266 0005.

Engage Front Line Managers And Ask them: