RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : 2003

Christmas trees, lights, trimmings and turkeys will be among the things turning seasonal merrymaking into misery and mayhem for thousands of families over the holiday period. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents predicts that around 80,000 people will go to hospital over the Christmas and New Year break as a result of an accident at home. But with a little more care most of those accidents need never happen and celebrations have no need to turn sour. Full Story»

As the party season approaches its peak, RoSPA is urging motorists to begin planning now to cope with the twin Christmas threats of drink and fatigue which thousands will face in the next three weeks. The temptations to drink and drive and or to get behind the wheel when over-tired are again expected to turn the festive season into a time of misery for many families. Full Story»

RoSPA is to give bosses free courses on the dangers of drinking and driving in an effort to keep employees and other road-users safe. Representatives from the first 30 businesses or organisations to apply will be offered an early Christmas present of a free place on courses to be held next year. Full Story»

RoSPA is urging the Health and Safety Executive to get tough on businesses with poor health and safety records, while leaving high performers to get on with the job without intervention. The Society believes this will strengthen the HSE’s hand and lead to safer workplaces for thousands of employees. Full Story»

The families of two people killed in mobile phone road accidents today joined RoSPA in urging drivers not to try to get around the new law banning the use of hand-held phones while at the wheel. Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said many motorists seemed more interested in trying to find ways to continue using a phone, rather than accepting that any form of phone conversation while driving made people four times more likely to crash.. Full Story»

New good practice guidelines have been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for schemes which provide opportunities for children, adolescents and the elderly to learn about safety and accident prevention in an interactive mock setting. They have been produced because there has been no common guidance for the 200 current schemes on important issues such as the ideal group size or how long activities should last. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has launched a new website specifically designed for fleet managers. The Driver and Fleet Solutions site - www.rospa.com/drivertraining - is RoSPA’s direct route to safer, cost-effective fleet management. Full Story»

Success stories that have helped to combat the UK’s biggest accident problem will be shared at RoSPA’s national home safety congress next week. The conference, Reducing Home Accidents – What Works?, will be held at the Imperial Hotel, Torquay, on Monday and Tuesday (November 10 and 11). It is sponsored by Lloyds Pharmacy. Full Story»

Cowboy traders, irresponsible shopkeepers and foolish parents could cause fireworks to be banned from sale to the public and ruin Bonfire Night fun for thousands of people, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. Dealers in rogue fireworks, those who sell to people under-18 or give them to children reinforce the argument for a clampdown on firework sales, the Society said as the UK prepared for the biggest bonfire weekend of the year. Full Story»

Employers are being warned by RoSPA not to fall foul of the new offence banning the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. Details of the law, which comes in on December 1, were published today by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Full Story»