Promoting road safety in Bedford
So there was I, quietly minding my own business wandering along Bedford’s Harpur Street toward the heart of the town centre when… what’s this I see, outside of the Harpur Centre?
Some sort of major incident, accident, or something. Looks like emergency vehicles and loads of people in hiviz milling around.
Instant switch into photojourno mode. (Just as well I had my kit with me. But then, when am I ever without it?)
Nose twitching like a rabbit on heat, to be greeted by… nothing very much at all really. Just a coupla vehicles and a huge accident sign. Although there seems to be something missing. Notably, an… er… accident.
Damn! There go my chances of some newsworthy pics (so once more I’ll fail to get anything into the local freebies. Don’t know why I ever bother coming into town. Oh well).
However, photo-taking instincts now fully aroused, adopting my best nosey-parker busybody voice I approach one of the hiviz-attired characters and enquire “What’s going on ‘ere then?”
Seems they’re trying to raise awareness amongst Joe Public (well, Bedford’s Joe Public at least) of safety issues around roadworks… principally underlining how hazardous such activities are for the… er… roadworkers.
Quite right too. At least its not one of those stupid “sticking plaster” efforts that actually encourage unsafe behaviour.
In my motoring days (and towards the latter few years of them) I was regularly clocking up 50,000+ miles per year, and with that sort of travelling you get to see just how stupid some motorists (alas, I fear, the majority of them) can be at times.
So yeah, I can fully appreciate how dangerous it is for roadworkers, and indeed for the motorists themselves, around such sites.
Consequently, I’m fully in favour of this little promo. Well done guys!
And consequently also, I don’t mind repeating here the key messages they’re trying to get across (hmm… wonder if there’s a copyright issue to this? Oh, to hell with it):
* Keep within the speed limit – its there for your safety
* Get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching
* Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks
* Be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks
* Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front
* Observe all signs – they are there to help you
Seems to me though that, sadly, they’ve missed the most important one:
* Stop using your bloody mobile phone when driving!
Yeah, I know its illegal, but the amount of idiots I see continuing to do it really angers me. Totally irresponsible, thoughtless and utterly stupid. If it weren’t for the fear (lifelong coward, that’s me) of some irate law-breaker pulling over and kicking shit out of me I’d plonk myself by the side of the road and photograph all the offenders, including their car number plates of course.
Anyway, with that little rant out of the way and to continue with the tale, I ask this guy I’ve approached whether he minds if I take some pics (ever polite and courteous, that’s me. Ahem).
“See my colleague over there”… or words to that effect.
So I do, and we get to chatting, and yes… shoot whatever I want. And use the pics however I want, providing they get a credit.
Well, that’s the sticking point really, as I’m not too sure now who’s initiative this actually was. (This photojourno caper’s all well and good, but I do wish I could remember to get all the relevant info as well. Bloody senility!)
So, is it an initiative of the Highways Agency, or the local Council? Dunno. But the guys on the streets of Bedford today were from something called the Road Risk Advisory Team of Bedford Borough Council, and mighty friendly they were too.
All was not quite plain sailing though.
There am I, busy shooting away, when suddenly another person approaches me and introduces herself as a cop.
“Oops” thinks I, “I’m in it now”.
But apparently not. Seems they’re working in cahoots with the Council’s Team, and may be interested in the pics I’m taking.
Well, ok. Given that this is far removed from my more customary “taking pics of cops whilst they’re battering protesters” activities, I can run with that. I think.
Anyway, I still think this is one of the Council’s more worthwhile stunts so, um, I’m left floundering without anything to criticise.
Not gonna do very much for my reputation as a grumpy old man though.
The full set of pics can be found here on Flickr.
Oh, and a final thought… seems the Highways Agency have a website that provides live traffic info for the country’s motorways and major A-roads, with 24hr live traffic updates on 08700 660 115. Mighty useful if you ask me.
Update 02 December ’09: I’ve now discovered that this promo event was organised by the Bedfordshire (& Luton) Casualty Reduction Partnership.
The partnership’s made up of Bedford Borough Council, Luton Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, Bedfordshire Police, The Highways Agency, and Her Majesty’s Court Service.
It was done at the request of the Highways Agency and similar events have been or are going to be held at Toddington Services, Luton and other places in the area, as the HA are currently running a national campaign to highlight the vulnerability of road workers.
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