RoSPA in the Early Years
1917 There was a call to licence all drivers and restrict the age of drivers. Accident data was collected. Three children's safety competitions were run involving 57,000 pupils. A railway safety committee was established. A safe driving competition was also established for professional drivers employed by firms in the Greater London area. A campaign to change the pedestrian rule so that walkers faced 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.
1918 A conference at Mansion House under the auspices of the London "Safety First" Council led to the establishment of the British Industrial "Safety First" Association to tackle workplace safety on a national scale. Statistics for 1913 showed that 3,748 death and 476,920 disablement claims had been paid, an increase of 25 per cent on the preceding year. Absorbing demobilised men back into the workforce was proving difficult. 611 people were killed in accidents on the streets of London, a decrease of eight per cent on the previous year.
1919 Cinema films promoting work safety were made. Five Government departments sat on the BISFA Council. The safety education of drivers and children was made a priority. Meritorious Service Awards were made to various brave men, three of whom stopped runaway horses, one man dying in the attempt. A railway strike led to a 10 per cent increase in road accidents.
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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