New helmet safety ratings unveiled ahead of bank holiday weekend

New safety ratings for motorcycle helmets were published today by Road Safety Minister, Paul Clark.

An additional 25 motorcycle helmets have been rated by SHARP - the Department for Transport's Safety Helmet Assessment and Ratings Programme - taking the number of ratings published to 150.

In addition to the new SHARP ratings the Department's THINK! campaign is reminding riders to take extra care on winding rural roads when they are out this bank holiday weekend. THINK! has developed new publicity material this summer for distribution by road safety officers and retailers with helpful reminders of how riders can stay safe on rural roads and what they can do to improve their skills.

Road Safety Minister Paul Clark said:

"If all riders wore the safest helmets available 50 lives could be saved each year. I am therefore delighted to publish these new SHARP ratings ahead of the August Bank Holiday when many riders will be taking their bikes out for one of the last weekends of the summer.

"By providing comprehensive and independent safety information through SHARP and the THINK! Motorcycle Academy as well as reminding drivers to look out for bikes, I hope that we can help to make the roads safer for motorcyclists and see a reduction in the number of needless tragedies which happen each year."

The 'Bends Require Skill' leaflet formulated by THINK! and supported by British Super Bike rider John Reynolds reminds riders how to stay safe on rural roads.

200,000 leaflets have been distributed to retailers, cafes and local authorities and a second print run of 500,000 is planned.

Helmets sold in the UK must meet minimum legal safety standards but the SHARP scheme uses a wider range of tests to provide riders with more information on how much protection a helmet can provide in a crash. The objective advice, which includes important guidance on how to select a good fitting helmet, helps riders to choose the safest helmet suitable for them.

The SHARP tests - which award ratings of between one and five stars - showed that the safety performance of helmets can vary by as much as 70%. With helmets across a wide price range scoring highly, all riders should be able to find a high performing helmet in a size and style that fits them and at a price they want to pay.

For more information about the SHARP programme, visit the SHARP website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/sharp.

For more information about how to develop riding skills please visit the THINK! Motorcycle Academy website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/tma

(DFT) Making it easier to tackle inconsiderate and dangerous parking

English local authorities will be able to tackle inconsiderate and dangerous parking more easily, Transport Minister Paul Clark confirmed today.

From June, councils which carry out parking enforcement will be able to issue Penalty Charge Notices to motorists who park at dropped kerbs or double-park, without the need for these prohibitions to be indicated with specific traffic signs or road markings. This follows consultation which showed strong support for the move.

Authorities in London have successfully used this tool for a number of years to help wheelchair users and those with prams manoeuvre on and off pavements - as well as stopping inconsiderate motorists from blocking residents' driveways. It has also helped deter motorists from blocking the road when parking.

Transport Minister Paul Clark said:

"Dropped kerbs are there to help wheelchair users and those with powered mobility vehicles or prams get around easily and safely. They also allow residents to access their garages and driveways.

"The Highway Code is clear that drivers should not stop or park in such places and we believe placing of traffic signs or road markings to indicate these restrictions should not be necessary - as is the case in London. The same rules will apply to double parking - a dangerous activity that causes an unnecessary obstruction of the road, putting all road users at risk.

"While we believe signs and markings are not necessary in these circumstances, we expect local authorities who want to use these powers to do so in a fair and transparent manner and publicise their plans to do so. All other restrictions will continue to require clear signs and markings."

Chair of the Joint Committee on Mobility for Disabled People Joe Hennessy said:

"Inconsiderate parking at dropped kerbs is a substantial barrier to the mobility of disabled people particularly at crossing points. The committee wholeheartedly support these new regulations."

Those who park across entranceways to private properties should only be penalised if the owner of the property requests that the council takes action.

Today's move will improve national consistency by bringing the rest of England in line with authorities in London where dropped kerb and double parking restrictions do not have to be indicated with signs or markings. It will also help reduce street clutter by limiting the number of signs at the roadside.

(DFT) Over 200,000 children to benefit from £10m of cycle training

Over 200,000 more school children in England will have the opportunity to have Bikeability training this year thanks to £10m of government funding, earmarked today by Transport Minister Paul Clark as part of the official launch of Bikeability for 2009.

This funding is part of a record £140m package which aims to give up to half a million children the chance to take part in Bikeability - the National Cycle Training Standard - by 2012.

Whilst visiting cycling schemes in the North West Paul Clark said;
"Having the skills to cycle to school and make other local journeys has never been more important, especially as it helps children and young people reach the 60 minutes of activity recommended by the Government's 'Change4Life' campaign.

"That's why I'm so pleased that by this time next year 350,000 children will have done their Bikeability training, which puts us ahead of our target to deliver 500,000 additional training places by 2012.

"I will be doing my own Bikeability training next week and, like the children I've met today, I look forward to hopefully receiving my Bikeability badge."

With 41% of all trips in England being less than two miles, a distance which can be cycled in less than 15 minutes, cycling has a major role to play in promoting sustainable travel and improving health and fitness.

Bikeability allows children to learn essential road safety skills and gain greater awareness of the dangers on the road - giving parents the reassurance to allow them to undertake short journeys, especially cycling to school.

This funding supports the continued development of Bikeability training which is promoted in England by Cycling England. £5.4m will go to local authorities to provide Bikeability cycle training; £4m will go to the Youth Sport Trust to deliver cycle training in schools through the School Sports Partnerships; and £500,000 will be given as bursary grants to help fund 1,600 new Bikeability trainers.

Philip Darnton Chairman of Cycling England said;
"We are determined to make 2009 the year of Bikeability and this funding is a tremendous start. Learning to ride a bike is a life skill and with the engagement of local authorities and the School Sport Partnerships around the country, we are working to give all young people the opportunity to get Bikeability training within the next 3 years"

Bikeability is supported by the 18 cycling demonstration areas programme which promotes cycling and spreads best practice for other areas to learn from as well as a further 70 local highway authorities outside of London and Transport for London. Department for Transport is also working to improve travel links to schools, connecting 500 schools via traffic calmed or traffic-free routes to the wider national cycle network by 2011.

(DFT) Best feet forward as London pupils say goodbye to the school run

Primary school children across London are swapping their parents' cars for the pavement in return for a share of £1.8m of Government money. 94 schools in the capital have been awarded up to £1,000 to encourage pupils to walk to school, helping them to keep fit and reducing the number of journeys made by car.

'Walking buses' are convoys of pupils accompanied by staff or volunteers which follow a set route to school, and are amongst a range of measures introduced by local heads in recent years to curb the number of cars on the school run. Now those schools whose schemes have seen a sufficient drop in the number of car journeys to and from the school gates are set to benefit from an extension to their funding.

Transport Minister, Paul Clark, said:

"We have always been clear that we want as many children to walk or cycle to school as possible. Not only will this help tackle the issues of childhood obesity and carbon emissions, it is also an excellent way for young children to learn more about road safety. I am delighted that these 94 schools in London are doing such great work."

Schools which have managed to save an average of five return car trips a day will be receiving a grant of £1,000 to continue their work, while those running smaller schemes will each receive £500. Typically, grants are spent on organising and promoting the schemes, in addition to providing equipment such as high-visibility clothing.