RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : 2002

People living in Northern Ireland are three times more likely to be killed by carbon monoxide poisoning than anywhere else in the United Kingdom, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. To raise public awareness, a roadshow organised by RoSPA and co-ordinated locally by Environmental Health Departments, will be making stops throughout the province in September in a bid to cut deaths and poisoning incidents. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today welcomed the Government's consultation on introducing a specific offence to prohibit the use of any hand-held phone or similar device by drivers. This is the culmination of a long campaign by RoSPA to persuade the Government to introduce specific legislation. RoSPA first raised concerns about the distraction caused by mobile phones and driving in the mid 1990s, and has continued to research, and raise public awareness. RoSPA's President introduced a Private Members bill in the House of Lords to ban drivers using mobile phones in 1999. Full Story»

RoSPA is seeking the views of novice drivers and their parents in an effort to cut the number of crashes involving young motorists. One in three newly-qualified drivers have an accident within the first year of passing their test and around 1,300 teenage drivers are killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads each year. Full Story»

A new spate of high-profile drownings has underlined the need for people with responsibility for water safety to share ideas so that tragedies can be prevented in future, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today. RoSPA is staging its second national water safety congress in Plymouth in September to bring together experts who can show the way forward. Full Story»

A new report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents underlines the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving and shows many bosses are ignoring the threat to their employees. It comes as fresh efforts will be made in the House of Commons on Friday (July 19) to ban drivers from using hand-held mobiles while on the move. Full Story»

As schools begin to break up for the summer, RoSPA today issued water safety warnings to people preparing to head off on holiday at home and abroad. Sunny weather sadly often brings drowning tragedies and there have been at least three in last few days. But by following simple tips, families can stay safe. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today backed the plea by a House of Lords committee to lower the drink-drive limit and called for extra efforts to beat the problem. Full Story»

People across Northern Ireland are at risk from a “silent killer” which may have entered their homes following recent torrential rain, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. RoSPA is advising all solid fuel users to get their chimneys swept because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The heavy rain may have loosened soot inside chimneys, causing it to slide down and block the chimney or throat plate area. If the fire is lit, deadly carbon monoxide gas could be produced, and with no escape route, these poisonous fumes could kill anyone who breathes them in. Full Story»

A conference is being arranged to show Scottish businesses why they are paying the penalty for not making good health and safety performance one of their key objectives. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says that in Scotland, as elsewhere in the UK, failure to prevent injuries and health damage at work is imposing unacceptable costs on workers, their families and the wider community. Full Story»

Charles Davis is the new man in charge of developing RoSPA’s links with the fleet business. He joins the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents at a crucial time for the fleet industry, as the issue of tackling work-related road accidents is now firmly on the political agenda. Full Story»