Travel Safe Bucks

From Monday 4 June 2018, learner drivers will be able to take driving lessons on motorways in England, Scotland and Wales, as long as they are accompanied by an approved driving instructor in a dual control car. Currently drivers can only have motorway lessons after they have passed their driving test. From 4th June, learner drivers on the motorway will need to be: •           Accompanied by an Approved Driving Instructor •           Driving a car fitted with dual controls The aim of the new law is to help to make sure new drivers know how to use motorways safely. Any motorways lessons will be voluntary. It will be up to the driving instructor to decide when the learner driver is competent enough for them. For more information and details of the change in law, see the government website .

Excessive or inappropriate speed remains a contributory factor in a significant number of fatal and serious road collisions, despite deterrents such as safety cameras, penalties and widespread educational campaigns. Thames Valley Police, Bucks Fire and Rescue, and the county council’s Travel Safe Bucks team are joining up to promote ‘Speed Week’, an annual event by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL) from 16th – 22nd April. During the week there will be a combination of increased education campaigns and enforcement across the county. As well as the additional enforcement and the online campaigns, there will be a pop up event at Tesco Buckingham on Wednesday 18th, where police and road safety officers will be talking to drivers about the dangers and consequences of speeding. Be a Healthy Driver Travel Safe Bucks, the county council road safety initiative to educate and train all road users on safe behaviours, has produced their own speed awareness campaign, Healthy...

'Be a Better Biker' Assessment days are back for 2018 Bookings are now being taken for the most extensive Be a Better Biker (BaBB) season in Buckinghamshire yet. Running between April and September, the assessment days are hosted by Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists (TVAM) and are open to all bikers with a full motorcycle licence. BaBB aims to progress good bikers into great bikers, offering a workshop on the principles of advanced riding followed by an on-road assessment. Local biker Franco Amarro regained his confidence after a crash with TVAM. More on Franco's experience,  here .                              The workshops, which run from 10am – 4pm and cost £20 per rider, will all take place at Marlow Fire Station on: Saturday 28 th April Sunday 13 th May Saturday 23 rd June Sunday 22 nd July                       ...

Thames Valley Police (TVP) are carrying out a week of activity targeting drivers using hand-held mobile phones, with the aim of drawing attention to the risks posed by being distracted. The enforcement is running from Monday 22nd January until Sunday 28th January 2018 on roads across Buckinghamshire. Travel Safe Bucks will be at Asda in Cressex on Friday 26th January to mark the week of action, and educate road users on the risks they face when they use their phone at the wheel.  In March 2017 the law changed to introduce harsher penalties, meaning drivers now receive six points on their driving licence and a £200 fine if caught using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. These penalties will have a significant impact on young new drivers as they risk having their licence revoked on first offence. Sergeant Rob Heard , from the Roads Policing Joint Operations Unit for Hampshire and Thames Valley Police, said: “We are still seeing too many people deciding to take that risk ...

Travel Safe Bucks is today launching a new road safety campaign which asks motorists ‘are you a Healthy Driver’? The campaign is being launched to coincide with Brake’s annual Road Safety Week and will be marked with a Healthy Driver event at Chesham Library next Monday, 27 th November. The Healthy Driver campaign, which has online and offline elements, draws likenesses between speeding and other behaviours that are bad for your health, such as smoking, too much sugar, and binge drinking .   In the last 10 years (up to December 2016) 2,466 people have been injured on Buckinghamshire roads as a result of collisions where the driver was either exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for the conditions. County Councillor Mark Shaw, Cabinet Member for Transportation will be holding a Healthy Driver event at Chesham library on Monday, 27 th November. Mark explained his personal connection to the new campaign: “Road safety is very important to me, personally –...

Transport for Buckinghamshire, in partnership with the Fire Service and GEM Motoring Assist, is once again running Winter Driving Workshops ahead of the cold weather.  The workshops will be held in locations across the county, which this year includes Buckingham and Gerrards Cross Fire Stations due to demand for sessions in the north and south of the county in previous years. Workshop times and dates: Tuesday 21st November 2017 Buckingham Fire Station Thursday 23rd November 2017 Kwik Fit, High Wycombe Tuesday 28th November 2017 STS Tyre Pros, Aylesbury Thursday 30th November 2017 STS Tyre Pros, Chesham Tuesday 12th December 2017 Gerrards Cross Fire Station The workshop, which will be from 7 – 8.30pm, includes advice for driving on winter roads, what to do if you break down, preparing your car for winter, and some practical guidance such as checking tyres, and changing a wheel. All attendees will also see a demonstration of basic vehicle checks from experienced gara...

As October draws to a close, it’s time to start thinking about the winter months; warm coats, hearty stews, Christmas shopping, and – of course – checking your tyres... October is annual Tyre Safety month, and we’ve gathered all the info you need to know from Tyresafe.org to ensure you know what to look for ahead of the next few months of potentially adverse weather. Q: Why should I check my tyres? A: On average, 1,075 road casualties every year are from defective tyre related incidents.   Tyres should be inspected at least once a month and before any long journey. Checks should include checking the air pressure, overall condition and tread depth. And don’t forget to check the spare or the compressor and sealant if no spare was fitted! Properly cared for tyres also help to reduce car running costs and prolong tyre life.  Q: What should I do when checking my tyres? A: Tread depths should be checked to ensure they meet the legal minimum regulations. Pre...