Project EDWARD’s week of action is now underway for 2022, bringing a wide-ranging line-up of events to showcase best practice in road safety.

This year’s campaign focuses on ‘Changing Minds, Changing Behaviour’

The campaign – which strives for Every Day Without A Road Death – runs from 17-21 October 2022 and promotes an evidence-led, ‘safe system’ approach – the long-term objective of which is a road traffic system free from death and serious injury. Its work is backed by government, the emergency services, highways agencies, road safety organisations and British businesses.

Here’s some of the highlights around the country this week.

Monday 17 – Safe system focus: safe vehicles

Brighton

The event is centred around Jubilee Library and includes a look at what ‘drug goggles’ do to impair vision, distort space and induce vertigo, and a spotlight on a new app designed to keep everyone safe on a night out. It also promotes a new video about distracted driving by Brighton City Council. 

From 10:00am, events include presentations from VIPs and guest speakers: Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne; Sussex Safer Roads; Dawn Whittaker East Sussex Fire Chief; GEM Motoring Assist; Keith Baldock, Brighton & Hove Council; Cheryl Evans, Senior Road Safety Officer West Berkshire.

From 11:30am, there are photo opportunities with the Project EDWARD car and the chance to join a walking tour in Brighton to highlight infrastructure changes to reduce risk to vulnerable road users.

Telford – Southwater Retail Park

This takes the form a multi-agency public engagement event at Southwater Retail Park. The event will be organised by Telford & Wrekin Council, West Mercia Police and Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service and will feature demonstration of police enforcement camera vans, road safety equipment, impairment goggles, and advice on vehicle care and safety checks.

Tuesday 18 – Safe system focus: safe road use

Rugby – Dobbies Garden Centre, 10:00-15:00 

Picking up the theme ‘Drive On’, the event focuses on older drivers, raising awareness of macular degeneration and the importance of eye tests every six months, supported by the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

The event includes vehicle maintenance safety check demonstrations, information on Highway Code changes, free driving reviews plus a range of other interactive activities.

Oxford – Radcliffe Square, Oxford County Council 10:00-14:00

Oxford City Council and Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber will be hosting a public engagement event in Radcliffe Square with local road safety stakeholders to promote their Vision Zero strategy and showcase their latest road safety initiatives and enforcement technology. On display will be various emergency services vehicles, demonstrations of speed enforcement and roadside drug testing equipment. Drivetech will also be with the Project EDWARD roadshow team.

Wednesday 19 – Safe system focus: safe speeds 

National Safe Speeds Day

For a 24-hour period starting at 07:00 on Wednesday 19 October police officers all over the UK will enhance existing work and focus efforts to encourage further compliance with speed limits, supported by National Roads Policing Operations and Intelligence and Investigation (NRPOII), the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissions (APPC).

Preston, Lancs

Public engagement event at the famous Preston Bus Station – one of the largest in the world – and hosted by the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership. The event will feature various road safety demonstrations and activities at the heart of Lancashire’s road safety strategy.

Thursday 20 – Safe system focus: safe roads and roadsides

Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire – Tesco

Bedfordshire County Council, working with the Fire & Rescue Service, will hold an event in the Tesco car park to raise awareness among shoppers of vehicle roadworthiness and tyre safety.

Friday 21 – Safe system focus: post-crash care and driving for work

While all days will feature topics that impact business drivers, Friday 21 will focus primarily on ‘driving and riding for work’ with significant input and content provided by Driving for Better Business in collaboration with a number of its partners. The event will explore the very latest challenges and developments in road safety and how they will affect our roads in the future.

Durham 

The Project EDWARD team will be at Roadchef A1M motorway service area during the day for an event with Durham County Council and their road safety partners. One of the cabs from the National Highways Operation Tramline project will be patrolling locally and joining the event.

These events will feature in a daily ‘highlights’ programme to be streamed on social media each evening at 7pm. These broadcasts will also feature some award-winning road safety campaigns from around the country and also focus on some of the key National Highways initiatives around road safety.

Full details of events, activity, resources, supporters and sponsors can be found on the Project EDWARD website www.projectedward.org  and via #ProjectEDWARD on social media.