My Role in The Safe System Project EDWARD

Words matter.
Today James Luckhurst is joined by Laura Laker who shares her 10 guidelines for reporting on RTCs, particularly focussing on why we use 'vehicle' rather than 'driver'.
Whether you're reporting on RTCs, or simply discussing them, our language makes a difference.
Find out more about Project EDWARD here.
Project EDWARD have replaced the annual week of action with a strategically-planned year-round programme of activity, guided by this year’s theme – Data-driven actions for safe mobility. The programme will involve members of the EDWARD team working with key partners to facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, podcast episodes and online activity… with the specific aim of sharing examples of evidence-led good practice that supports the Safe System.

In this thought-provoking episode, Harrison Keasey leads the discussion on the evolution of automotive technology and accessibility.
As autonomous vehicles become a reality, they promise convenience, safety, and efficiency. But how do these advancements impact individuals facing challenges?
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of transportation, this episode offers valuable perspectives. Tune in as we navigate the road ahead, guided by empathy, innovation, and a commitment to leaving no one behind.
Find out more about Project EDWARD here.
Project EDWARD have replaced the annual week of action with a strategically-planned year-round programme of activity, guided by this year’s theme – Data-driven actions for safe mobility. The programme will involve members of the EDWARD team working with key partners to facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, podcast episodes and online activity… with the specific aim of sharing examples of evidence-led good practice that supports the Safe System.

Olly Tayler spent 30 years working in Devon and Cornwall police, half of which were focussed on road policing. Olly has since put his time into The Honest Truth; an app designed to help driving instructors provide road safety interventions with their students.
This has resulted in over 6,500 interventions so far.
Find out more about Project EDWARD here.
Project EDWARD have replaced the annual week of action with a strategically-planned year-round programme of activity, guided by this year’s theme – Data-driven actions for safe mobility. The programme will involve members of the EDWARD team working with key partners to facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, podcast episodes and online activity… with the specific aim of sharing examples of evidence-led good practice that supports the Safe System.

In this edition, we need to talk about hands-free, as new research emphasises the dangers of hands-free phone use while driving.
Now, hands-free use by drivers is not against the law, but an extensive body of research has shown it's no safer than hand-held phone use and a project called ‘Are you a focused driver?’ has been encouraging police officers to avoid recommending hands-free to drivers as an alternative to hand-held.
It may make a driver legal, but it does nothing to reduce the distraction risk. Here to tell us more is the co-author of the project; Professor of applied cognitive psychology at the Open University, Gemma Briggs.
Find out more about Project EDWARD here.
Project EDWARD have replaced the annual week of action with a strategically-planned year-round programme of activity, guided by this year’s theme – Data-driven actions for safe mobility. The programme will involve members of the EDWARD team working with key partners to facilitate events, symposiums, webinars, discussions, podcast episodes and online activity… with the specific aim of sharing examples of evidence-led good practice that supports the Safe System.

Welcome to the Project EDWARD podcast – My role in the safe system – with James Luckhurst. 
The March 2024 episode introduces us to a surgeon, who explains how greater sharing of collision data - and medical information about crash victims - could lead to a better understanding of the causes and the costs – both human and financial – of death and injury on the country’s roads – and improve safety in the process.
Crash and casualty data is routinely collected by the police who attend incidents or are made aware of them. It is then published by the Department for Transport through a system called STATS19.
However, to get a more rounded picture of collisions and harm on the road network this should be better linked to other sources of data, particularly injury data collected in the national medical dataset, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), and that recorded by the ambulance service and other parties involved in the aftermath of road crashes.
That is one conclusion of a report entitled – Data Linkage in Road Safety – funded by the RAC Foundation and the FIA Road Safety Grant Programme and I’m pleased to welcome its author to tell us more…

A very warm welcome to the latest edition of the podcast series from Project EDWARD - my role in the Safe System - that will be running through 2024. This time we welcome a great friend of Project EDWARD, Terry Cook: a driving instructor who runs the Instructor Podcast and the Five Minute Theory Test.