Road Safety

WOW Top Ten Challenge | Autumn Term 2024

Living Streets have published the results of their Autumn 2024 WOW Top Ten Challenge and we are pleased to announce that Yew Tree Primary School was ranked 3rd on the National Top Ten Leaderboard.

Well done to everyone who took part!

This challenge enables schools to compete against each other nationally by travelling actively to school with the aim of topping the WOW Top Ten Leaderboard. This initiative also promotes a healthier walking environment for all the family whilst helping to reduce congestion and pollution.

Please visit Living Streets to find out more about their campaigns.

Calling All Key Stage One Staff in Sandwell Schools | Winter 2024

Digital Road Safety is still available completely free of charge for all Sandwell schools. Research shows that children learn road safety best by being immersed in the environment.

Following recognised pedestrian training techniques, children view the roadside from the unique viewpoint of the pedestrian and by looking right and left they are in a tangible situation.

Visit Digital Road Safety and get started!

Coming soon! 

A new app-based version with new content for KS1 and Year 6. Why not contact us if you would like to be one of the first to get involved.

Help us to pilot this new exciting resource. For more information email Road_Safety@sandwell.gov.uk

Advice and News from Our Partners

Have a Safe T.R.I.P. This Winter | Winter 2024

National Highways wants everyone to have a safe T.R.I.P. this winter.

They remind us of the need to check our vehicles, stay weather-aware and prioritise driver wellbeing so that we can have safer and more enjoyable journeys.

Before setting off:

• check road conditions and identify potential disruptions
• have alternative travel routes in mind to reduce stress if weather worsens
• check the weather forecast before travelling
• if heavy downpours, strong winds, snow or ice are expected, consider delaying your journey until it clears
• Pack a winter travel kit including de-icer, an ice scraper, warm clothing, boots, food, water, a torch, and a snow shovel

So, remember T.R.I.P.:

Top-up: Fuel, oil and screen-wash

Rest: Plan regular stops every two hours to avoid driver fatigue

Inspect: Check tyre pressure and tread

Prepare: Have a plan for severe weather conditions

Please visit National Highways to find out more about their campaign.

'Is Pushing Your Speed Worth It?' | Winter 2024

The latest 'THINK!' campaign from The Department for Transport encourages young drivers to rethink their speed and highlights the risks of not driving to the correct conditions for the road. 

‘THINK!’ remind us that speed related factors account for over half of all fatal road traffic collisions. Unfortunately, young drivers (aged between 17 – 24) are over-represented in these statistics and research shows that certain drivers fail to acknowledge the potential consequences of exceeding the speed limit or not reducing their speed to reflect the conditions they face on the road.

Even familiar roads can throw up the unexpected. When you’re going a little too fast, you have less time to react.

Is Pushing Your Speed Worth It? THINK!

Please visit THINK! to find out more about their campaign.

West Midlands Police – Operation Snap | Winter 2024

West Midlands Police want to make sure our roads are as safe as possible for all users and they need your help with Operation Snap.

If you see anyone committing driving offences on our roads and you can capture it on your dashcam, CCTV or a mobile phone by a passenger, you can now send it to West Midlands Police.

Offences might include:

• dangerous driving
• using a mobile phone while driving
• not wearing a seatbelt
• failing to stop at a red traffic light
• using a trailer in lane three of a motorway
• crossing solid white lines
• other offences where a driver is clearly not in proper control of a vehicle

Footage sent to Operation Snap is reviewed by specially trained staff and if an offence is identified, the driver can be prosecuted or told to take a driver improvement course.

However, make sure that your footage meets the below criteria:

• Your report must be submitted within 10 days of the alleged offence to allow them time to investigate. By law, they can only serve a notice of intended prosecution to a registered keeper or owner of a motor vehicle within 14 days of an alleged offence.
• The footage should include the whole incident, and, wherever possible, one minute prior to and after the offence. The footage should not be any longer than 10 minutes in duration.
• If you are reporting an incident that involves a collision, please do not use this service. Instead, please call West Midlands Police on 101, select option 1 and provide details within 24 hours of the collision taking place

Please provide the following information:

• Date and time of incident
• Location of incident
• Registration of vehicle
• Make and colour of vehicle
• Footage of the offence taking place
• Details of what happened and how you were involved

You will also need to complete a statement and upload this with your footage.

If you would like an update on your submission, please provide an email address when completing the online form. Submit your footage.