Relaxed attitude to road safety putting lives of both parents and children at risk

1 in 10 parents know a child who has been knocked over by traffic, new research released today shows. However many parents and children are still putting themselves at risk, with one in three parents and nearly one in ten children admitting they cross the road while talking on phones, texting or listening to an iPod/MP3 player.

Car insurance specialist, Admiral, questioned parents and children to find out about their road safety habits and worryingly found less than half of parents (42%) follow the Green Cross Code when crossing the road and almost one in five children (18%) say they don’t. This is despite the research also showing most parents feel today's roads are busier (85%), with people driving faster (70%) and being less considerate to pedestrians (61%) compared to when they were children. Despite not always following it, parents also think following the Green Cross Code is more important than ever before (45%).

Commenting on the survey's findings, Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said:- “Parents and carers have an important role to play in helping their children learn about road safety from an early age. Simply walking to school or to the shops together provides fantastic opportunities to start talking about road safety and to put into practice actions like choosing safe places to cross and not being distracted by music, a mobile phone or friends while crossing the road. And, of course, it’s important that the adults themselves set a good example!”

But children don’t make it easy for their parents, as almost a fifth (18%) argue with their parents because their parents worry about them crossing the road by themselves.  So for a 21st Century update on the Green Cross Code and to stress its importance, Admiral has put together a video with presenter Angellica Bell, highlighting what dangers exist for children on our roads today and how to avert them. It also features Kevin Clinton from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. To see the video visit:- admiral.com/GreenCrossCode 

What lessons should parents be teaching to their children, and indeed, following themselves?

The best steps to take before crossing the road are:-

Find a safe spot, ideally at a designated crossing.

STOP – just before you get to the kerb, do not get too close to the traffic. Make sure that all mobile phones and gadgets are put away and that earphones have been removed.

LOOK – all around for traffic. Traffic could come from any direction.

LISTEN – because you can sometimes hear traffic before you see it. Nothing you’re doing at that time is more important than crossing the road safely.

Admiral Managing Director, Sue Longthorn, added:- “It's not just cars that our children need to be aware of, they also need to know to behave and concentrate on their surroundings at all times when crossing the road because not doing this could prove to be fatal. Shockingly, 81 children were killed on Britain’s roads in 2009, of whom 37 were pedestrians. An additional 7,946 child pedestrians were injured on the roads as well. As parents have pointed out, roads are busier than ever before, and with modern day distractions such as mobile phones taking children’s attention, we felt it was especially important to draw attention to just how important the Green Cross Code is today.”

13 arrested in North West police raids

THIRTEEN people were arrested this Thursday, 3 February 2011, when police carried out a series of co-ordinated raids across Lancashire, Merseyside, Cumbria and North Wales as part of an investigation into organised crime gangs and illegal drugs supply. Over 120 officers from Lancashire Constabulary and other North West police forces working on TITAN – a regional unit set up to help tackle serious organised crime, executed the warrants. Warrants were executed at a total of 17 addresses across the region, 11 in Lancashire, three in Merseyside, two in Cumbria and one in North Wales. The operation began at around 6am when officers, including operational support units and the dog section with drug detection dogs, swooped on the target addresses. Temp Supt Richard Robertshaw from Lancashire Constabulary said:- "We are committed to tackling drug-related crime and we are continuing to take a firm stand against those suspected to be involved in the supply of drugs. Crime is low and with the assistance of local communities and our colleagues in neighbouring forces it is our firm intention to keep it that way. Information from the public has greatly assisted this operation and is vital if the police are to continue to take action against suspected criminals. Our work does not end here – we will continue to target those responsible for crime and disorder. No criminal is untouchable – with the right information we will take robust action.” All those arrested, ten men and three women, are currently in custody where they will be questioned about suspected drug supply offences. The types of drugs involved are believed to include cocaine and cannabis. Anyone with information about drug dealing in their community can contact their local police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.

University playwright wins award ¿Down Under¿

AN award-winning playwright from Edge Hill University has scooped another accolade from ‘down under’ for one of his productions.

Carl Caulfield, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, has won Best New Play at the 32nd Annual CONDA Awards (City of Newcastle Drama Awards) in Australia for his brilliantly innovative Shakespeare’s Fools.

The play explores the evolution of the ‘Fool’ through the actors who helped create the original characters. Richard Tarlton, Will Kemp (who famously jigged all the way from London to Norwich circa 1600) and Robert Armin were the 16th century’s equivalent of our contemporary stand-up comics, as well as prima donnas with party pieces.

Carl beat off stiff competition to win the CONDA award, which recognises achievement in both professional and non-professional theatre.

Carl, who has spent his life in the theatre as an actor, director and playwright, with many prizes under his belt for his imaginative work, said:- “I’m delighted to have won this award and I’m pleased that my play has been officially recognised in such a competitive, creative industry. I'm hoping to explore the possibility of a UK production next year as Oberon Books in London are interested in publishing script...”

Carl himself spent more than 20 years in Australia where he taught drama and was a co-director, with his wife Felicity Biggins, of Stray Dogs Theatre Company before returning to the UK last year.

He has a long line of awards under his belt for his unique work and, more recently, had one of his productions shown in New York. Being Sellers, a 60 minute monologue about Peter Sellers to mark the 30th anniversary of the actor’s death, received such rave reviews in the industry that is was shown in New York during the festive season.

Valentine’s warning for young people

THE city’s sexual health bosses are urging young people across the region to practice safer sex this Valentine’s Day, or risk an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection.

Staff at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust are issuing the plea as Contraceptive Awareness Week kicks off on 14 February 2011. Their numerous initiatives across the city – including a ‘text for Chlamydia tests’ campaign, a fast-track 15 minute screening test, and the appointment of a Chlamydia Screening Outreach Co-ordinator, have helped raise awareness of how easy it is to access a sexual health check. But the team are keen to remind people of the importance of practicing safer sex by using condoms.

As well as increased risk of unintended pregnancy, unprotected sex increases the risk of catching sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea.

Around 10% of 15 to 24 year olds who are tested in Liverpool are infected with Chlamydia which, if left untreated, can lead to severe complications including infertility.

Tim Blackstone, Training and Development Co-ordinator from So To Speak, which provides a young person’s sexual health outreach service for 13 to 20 year olds in Liverpool, said:- “Obviously we want people to practice safer sex every day of the year. But with Valentine’s Day promoting feelings of love and romance, sex is often high on the agenda for a lot of people. People rarely look forward to discussing contraception – after all, it can be an awkward conversation to have. But you shouldn’t be afraid of broaching this with your partner – it makes sense. If the choice is between having that discussion or putting yourself at risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection, it’s a no-brainer. It’s good to talk. So, be prepared, carry condoms, and if you decide to have sex, use them. If you think you might have put yourself at risk at any time, then it makes sense to get tested.”

To find your nearest testing centre go to:- loveisinfectious.co.uk  or call:- 0151 227 1471 (9.00am to 4.00pm).