RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : 2001

A garden will be officially opened today (Tues, July 17) in memory of an 11-year-old girl who was killed by a motorist using a mobile phone. The memorial to Rebekka Hudd is being opened on her birthday as her mother, Lynda, and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents renew their plea for a specific offence to ban the use of mobile phones while driving. Full Story»

The Chemical Industries Association has been honoured by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for its outstanding contribution to occupational health and safety. It is the first time in the 45-year history of RoSPA awards that a trade body has received such an accolade. Full Story»

The death of a 17 year-old in a quarry pool could be the start of a spate of heatwave drownings unless people heed safety warnings, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today. The circumstances of the incident in Worcestershire are still unclear, but the pool has claimed a life in the past - like many similar stretches of water around the country. Full Story»

Calls for European legislation to force the motor industry to design cars which are safer for pedestrians have been backed by RoSPA’s National Road Safety Committee. Manufacturers want a voluntary agreement on the introduction of safer fronts on vehicles so that they do less damage to vulnerable road users in accidents. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today welcomed news that deaths on Britain’s roads had fallen to a record low – but said there were still far too many selfish drivers who put people’s lives at risk. Figures from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions show road deaths in 2000 down by 14 to 3,409, serious injuries falling by two per cent to 38,155 and slight injuries almost static at 278,719. Full Story»

Mowing the lawn will mean a short cut to hospital for thousands of gardeners this summer. The lawnmower tops the RoSPA list of 10 most dangerous gardening tools – and is likely to lead to a bumper crop of accidents this Bank Holiday weekend. Full Story»

Malcolm Chisholm, Scottish Executive Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, will urge safety professionals at a conference tomorrow to work together in a bid to reduce the high number of accidents in Scotland’s homes. According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, nearly 1,000 people a day seek medical treatment in Scotland after suffering an accident in the home, and more than 20,000 are hospitalised each year. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is offering a new qualification for motorcyclists, which will be of particular benefit to professional riders and trainers. People passing the RoSPA advanced motorcycling test or diploma course for instructors will automatically qualify for a BTEC (Business Technology Education Council) award or certificate. Full Story»

Five people, who have made an outstanding contribution to health and safety in the workplace, are to be presented with Distinguished Service Awards by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. The presentations will made during two special ceremonies at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, on May 22-23, as part of the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards, sponsored by RMC. Full Story»

Britain’s boardrooms will be challenged to set themselves ambitious health and safety improvement targets at a national conference next week. Establishing occupational safety and health as key business objectives is the theme of the first day of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Congress at the NEC Birmingham, May 21-24. Full Story»