RoSPA in the Fifties
1950 National Children's Safety Week was held and considered to be the most effective campaign in the history of accident prevention. Among those providing support through recorded messages and records were Kenneth Horne and Wilfred Pickles. Child road fatalities fell to the lowest total for 25 years. Extra effort was put into road safety as petrol rationing ended and a rapid increase in accidents was anticipated.
1951 Road Courtesy was the theme of the annual road safety campaign. A series of road safety materials was published featuring "Archie Andrews". Mobile exhibitions and a daylight cine van were visited by 320,000 people around the country. A large safety exhibition was held in Leeds and visited by HRH The Princess Royal.
1952 RoSPA called for warnings about fireguards to be printed on babies' ration books. 140 Junior Accident Prevention Councils were operating. The Teddy Club was launched to promote road safety to children under six. Membership of the Cycling Safety League reached 56,400. A new leaflet 'Compressed Air can Be Dangerous' sold 75,000 copies in a month
1953 RoSPA joined the Coronation Year Safety Crusade taking the theme 'Let courtesy reign on the Queen's Highway.' The Society experimented with three horror posters including one showing a legless boy. The Lookout Club for eight to 12 year olds was launched and quickly attracted 20,000 members. The Teddy Club attracted 60,000 toddlers. The TV Women's Hour featured six programmes on home safety. The Industrial Safety Officers Section of the Society became an independent body called the Institution of Industrial Safety Officers.
1954 The RoSPA Home Safety Group for nurses, midwives and health visitors numbered more than 1,000 members. An industrial statistical panel was set up to improve the keeping of accident records and compilation of statistics.
1955 American cowboy film star Roy Rogers provided a holiday at his California ranch to the winners of a national quiz called the Roy Rogers Road Safety Round-up. Tadcaster Grammar School provided the winning team. Everyone who passed the driving test was sent a copy of the Society's booklet "Turn to better Driving." The Better Driving Circle was formed for new drivers. The number of people who had passed the Cycling Proficiency Test topped 100,000.
1956 RoSPA occupational awards scheme launched. The All-Party Parliamentary Home Safety Group was formed. A home safety exhibition was staged at the House of Commons. Membership of the Better Driving Circle reached 12,000. A record 31,000 visitors toured the RoSPA House exhibition. A National Agricultural Safety Committee was established.
1957 RoSPA supported the introduction of regulations about the safety standards of motorcycle helmets. Drivers were asked to curb their speed when petrol rationing ended. The National Association of Road Safety Officers was formed during one of the RoSPA training courses for road safety organisers. Home safety celebrated 25 years of activities and urged further development of local home safety committees. New committees were established in 24 places bringing the total to 108.
1958 RoSPA undertook the secretariat for the Second World Congress on the Prevention of Occupational Accidents which was held in Brussels. The Government asked RoSPA to expand its cycle training into the National Child Cycling Proficiency Scheme. Eleven staff were appointed to work on cycling throughout the regions. The Women's Road Safety Campaign Committee was established. The first major home safety publicity campaign - 'Guard that Fire' was undertaken by the Government after pressure from RoSPA and its friends in the Parliamentary Home Safety Group. RoSPA took part in meetings to standardise personal protection equipment throughout the European Free Trade Area.
1959 More than 100,000 children took the Cycling Proficiency test during the year. Road safety was included in a Ministry of Education handbook for primary school teachers. Area Home Safety Groups were set up. A home safety organiser was appointed in Scotland. RoSPA became the UK organising body for the International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre in Geneva.
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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