Road Safety

What is Road Safety?

Road Safety, and the aim of GoSafe, is to help make people safer on Welsh roads by reducing casualties and saving lives. The “Fatal 5” are the biggest contributory factors in road traffic collisions resulting in deaths and serious injuries, these are:

Speeding
Not wearing seatbelts
Drink/ drug driving
Use of mobile phones whilst driving
Careless/ reckless driving

Problem parking, and more recently the use of ‘E scooters’, have become issues for communities. Knowing and applying the rules contained in The Highway Code can help significantly reduce road casualties.

The three fire and rescue services in Wales have a key role within promoting road safety, alongside the four police forces and other community safety partners.

Community Speed Watch is a locally driven initiative where active members of the community join together with the support of the Police to monitor speeds of vehicles using speed detection devices.

Safer at 20mph: Let’s look out for each other

Across Wales, most roads with 30mph default speed limits are changing to 20mph from 17 September 2023. This will make Wales one of the world’s first countries to have a default 20mph limit where people live, to keep our communities safer and improve quality of life. The Welsh Government has launched an interactive map which will be updated regularly as highway authorities go through the consultation process.

What is GoSafe?

The strategic aim of GoSafe is to make people safer on Welsh roads by reducing casualties and saving lives. The partnership is responsible for red light and speed camera enforcement but reducing casualties is not just about enforcing the law. The Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership is encouraging motorists to drive legally and safely through education and by offering permanent engineering solutions to roads.

The Highway Code Recent Updates

The Highway Code is updated on a regular basis. The following changes have been made in 2022.

The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving; and causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs, has increased to 14 years imprisonment. The obligatory disqualification period for both offences has increased to a minimum of five years.
A new offence has been created for causing serious injury by dangerous driving which carries a maximum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and an obligatory driving disqualification.
Introducing a new hierarchy of road users. The hierarchy places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy. It does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly (pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders).
Crossing the road at junctions. Pedestrians should be given priority, which means that other road users should give way.
Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces, apply to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
Positioning in the road when cycling.
Overtaking when driving or cycling.
Cycling at junctions, cyclists should give way to pedestrians.
People cycling, riding horses and driving horse-drawn vehicles on roundabouts can all remain in the left hand lane. The Code has been updated to clarify that people driving or riding a motorcycle should give priority to people cycling on roundabouts.
Parking, charging and leaving vehicles. The Code recommends a new technique when leaving vehicles, which is sometimes called the ‘Dutch Reach’. Where people driving or passengers in a vehicle are able to do so, they should open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using their left hand to open a door on their right-hand side. The Code includes guidance about using electric vehicle charging points.

GoSafe – Speed Awareness Course

Biker down online course – Information on what to do if you are first on the scene at a road traffic collision, as well as the science of being seen. Run by MAWWFRS in conjunction with local authorities.