RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : Road Safety

New research for The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents indicates that using a mobile phone while driving greatly increases the risk of having an accident. The study, carried out by the Psychology Department at Aston University, shows that the danger exists whether the phone is hand-held or hands-free, and whether the car is manual or automatic transmission. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today renewed its call for a ban on mobile phones while driving after Lincoln Crown Court heard that a driver in a death crash was using a mobile phone. RoSPA says it is the sixth case in Great Britain in which a mobile phone has been implicated in a road death. Full Story»

Despite improvements in Christmas drink-drive figures, further action is still needed to make it clear drinking and driving will not be tolerated, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today. "Campaigns by Government and police have led to reductions in positive breath tests over the holiday period, but thousands of motorists are still acting irresponsibly," Dave Rogers, RoSPA Road Safety Adviser, said. Full Story»

Tufty the road safety RoSPA squirrel, who was a favourite for millions of children in the sixties and seventies, is to be immortalised in a limited edition range of ceramic figures. Full Story»

Five years after the M40 minibus disaster which killed 12 pupils and a teacher, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today that still not enough is being done to protect children on school transport. The victims from Hagley RC High School died in the collision with a lorry on the hard shoulder of the M40 on November 18, 1993. Full Story»

Smart card driving licences could be a vital weapon in the fight to stop similar tragedies to the one for which a teenage motorist was sentenced in Birmingham today, according to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. RoSPA would welcome tighter controls on the types of cars novice drivers are allowed to drive. Full Story»

Visitors to the British International Motor Show (Oct 21-Nov 1) will be able to prove to themselves the dangers of using a hands-free mobile phone while driving. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is offering a drive on a simulator to show how reaction times are slowed when using a mobile phone and how concentration is affected in the minutes after a call has ended. Full Story»

Dave Rogers, RoSPA Road Safety Adviser, commenting on court case following death of elderly Wolverhampton sisters : "This is a classic case of a driver who falls into the category most likely to have a road accident - a young male in the two years after passing his test. It highlights many road safety issues which cause RoSPA grave concern. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today supported proposals for lighter evenings, following Lord Archer’s suggestions for England. John Howard, RoSPA Director of Safety Policy, said: "We believe lighter evenings would be a positive move in terms of road safety. It is not our position to present the other arguments for or against. Full Story»

A major initiative to reduce the number of accidents between lorries and cyclists has been launched by a working group established by the National Cycling Forum. More than 100,000 leaflets are being distributed through road safety officers, cycling groups, safety organisations and heavy goods vehicle associations to promote better care on the road between cyclists and lorries. Full Story»

New checks on seatbelts, which come into force on August 1, were welcomed by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today as a vital step in the battle to reduce deaths and injuries on Britain’s roads. Last year all 50 MOT testing stations chosen at random by the Society for a national seatbelt survey passed a damaged car belt - and most failed to spot other seatbelt faults. Full Story»