Project EDWARD – A Bulletin

On the 21st of September, the whole of the continent will be pledging to have a “European Day Without A Road Death” (EDWARD), in both a bid to save lives and raise awareness of the modern dangerous of road travel.

Will you pledge the same thing?

TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, is urging motorists and road users to sign up online and to encourage the people you know to do the same thing. SSRP and partners will be deploying and promoting casualty reduction before and during the campaign, but in the meantime you can help by spreading the word to all road users you know.

The pledge asks people to agree to the following:

• “I promise that I will:
• Remind my family, friends and colleagues to take extra care on the roads.
• Put my lights on for safety.
• Drive as safely as I can and follow the rules when behind the wheel or riding a motorbike or bicycle.
• Be extra vigilant and attentive to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, children, older people and horse riders.
• Drive at speeds that are both legal and safe.
• Pay particular attention when driving near schools, and where there are lots of children.
• Never drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs/medicines that could impair safety.
• Look as far ahead as possible and not tailgate other drivers
• Always wear my seat belt and ensure that everyone with me wears theirs.
• Not use my mobile phone while driving.
• Ensuring I am not distracted by anything inside or outside the car, or inside my head.
• Set a good example to my passengers by driving calmly and safely.”

(taken from the TISPOL website)

Of course these sort of skills don’t need to be assigned just to one day. But awareness is the first step to behavioural change, and from there we can begin to reduce casualties on European roads, and throughout the world.

To sign the pledge, and for more information, please visit the TISPOL website here.