Press release
13 September 2009

The NSPCC issued the following statement on Sunday, 13 September 2009 in response to media articles which did not adequately explain the Society’s views on the new Vetting and Barring Scheme being introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“The NSPCC supports the introduction of new vetting and barring procedures and we recognise the government’s commitment to enhancing the safety of our children.

All parents want their children to be safe when in the care of another body such as a school or a voluntary group. The new scheme introduced by the government can provide useful checks that no-one working or volunteering with the group is an offender.

It is reported that 11 million people volunteer and work with children and we need to be sure that the introduction of this scheme will not lead to the withering of this wonderful resource.

However, child sex offenders and other abusers are cunning, manipulative and often deceptively charming. They throw out a smokescreen of lies and deceit to cover up their abuse and they can target child-facing organisations to gain easier access to children.

The current system of criminal record checks is inadequate and can only ever catch those who have already offended. Such checks only provide information at a single point in time and many who abuse have no prior criminal record. Improvement is essential.

We encourage all those who volunteer or work with children to recognise that such checks are necessary and that they are not intended to cast suspicion over the many who give up their time to help children but to weed out the few seeking to abuse them.

The NSPCC has always been clear that this new scheme must be introduced carefully, in a way that does not inadvertently penalise children, weaken community relationships, or provide parents with a false sense of security. The government must now provide clearer and more detailed information about the scheme and how it will work in practice.”

Tags: Charities, Child Safety, criminal record checks, England, Government, Northern Ireland, NSPCC, Press release, Safety, sex offenders, Vetting and Barring Scheme, Wales

Giving some serious thought about motorbike safety will help keep you safe. And just in case that sounds a bit glib, remember that roughly 600 motorcyclists are killed every year and some 6,000 are seriously injured.

So, here follows ten tips to help keep yourself away from casualty.

Firstly, and this cannot be stressed enough, ride defensively. Okay, that doesn’t mean carrying a heat seeking missile system on the handlebars, it means thinking for the other guy, especially the car driver who looks, but doesn’t see you. Most motorbike accidents are caused by careless car drivers. Just because a car driver should do something, don’t expect him to do it. Think idiot, think safe.

Secondly, brush up on technique. Once you’ve passed your test, it doesn’t mean you know everything. Life is all about learning. Good riders evolve, they don’t suddenly appear. Learning how motorbikes work, their stress points, their tolerances and their potential, is a sensible strategy. Learn how to control the bike in all conditions, at all speeds – make sure, like professional riders, you know every inch and every habit of your bike.

Tip three, and this comes from the defensive riding idea, ride intelligently. Think about the road position opening up in front of you. You see a country road, trees on both sides, it’s a quiet Sunday afternoon, good weather and you can open her up a bit, but there’s a wide bend to the left coming up. Do a quick brain scan. Think what might lie ahead. It’s good visibility, but what lurks around that bend, keep an eye open for oil, fuel spills and White Van Man screaming towards you around the corner, overtaking the slow-moving tractor.

Tip four attitude. Riding a motorbike can be one of lifes best experiences. It’s a challenge, it’s freedom, a statement about you. But one fingered gestures, pulling aggressive wheelies and kicking parts of the car who’s just cut you up, will lead to trouble. As said when talking about defensive riding – the other guy is a plonker and that’s his problem. Look down on them, pity them and ride away.

Tip five, don’t forget the bike, your trusty steed. Right, simple mindset: check your bike regularly for problems. Discipline yourself before each ride to take a quick look at the tyres and then a quick test of the brakes when you’ve started the engine. Then, on a rest day, do a quick check of the other vital bits, including: oil, coolants, brake fluid, chain, nuts and bolts, and lights.

Tip six, clothing. Get the most expensive and best fitting helmet you can afford and make sure you wear appropriate and visible clothing. The Darth Vader look might seem a neat idea, but when no-one can see you on a winter’s evening, it’s not so clever.

Tip seven, weather. Seasons differ, conditions differ, but for many motorists and bike riders, this comes as a surprise. Be aware of the weather and how that should affect your riding style.

Tip eight, road signs. There’s no excuse not to brush up occasionally on your highway code. New signs do appear; old ones get updated and the less familiar ones might give you a shock one day.

Tip nine, fellow riders. Respect. These guys love what you do, riding a bike. If you see a fellow biker in trouble, help out if you can. And be courteous when riding as a group. Don’t cause the old boy in the Morris Minor a cardiac when you and the boys overtake at speed.

And finally, tip ten, courses. This country is blessed with people and organisations who offer advice and courses on how to be a better rider, and stay alive. They exist, so use them.

Motorbike safety – give it some serious thought.

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Tags: Bennetts Bike Insurance, Insurance, Motor Bike, Safety

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Drink driving takes away countless lives and separates families from loved ones. In fact, nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit. In addition, according to the UK department of transport, there were approximately 100,000 drivers convicted of drink driving the UK last year.

Even though the government has spent tremendous time and effort to promote safer driving, there still remain myths about drink driving that many people still continue to believe.

The effects of driving while under the influence can lead to disastrous consequences. Alcohol consumption often results in slower reactions, increased stopping distance, poorer judgement of speed and distance, and a reduced field of vision. Alcohol can also make the driver over-confident and more likely to take risks.

According to the Department of Transport, if you drive at twice the current legal alcohol limit (the current limit is 0.8 mg/ml), you will be at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a car accident. The department also asserts that 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads each year in drink driving related crashes.

Drink-Driving: The Consequences

If you decide to drink drive while motoring in the UK, you should be prepared for the consequences associated with such a dangerous activity. It is also important to know that drink driving charges don’t just occur in the event of an accident. Police have the right to pull you over and ask you to take a breath test at any time.

If you are convicted of drink driving, here are some of the consequences you may face.
Your car insurance costs will increase
You will have a criminal record
You may not be able to drive for over a year
You could lose your job

Of course, many believe that those who are caught by police are lucky; these drink drivers are stopped before they harm themselves are someone else.

The UK’s Challenge: End Drink Driving

As shocking as drink driving statistics are, there still remain those who continue to defy common sense and drink drive anyways. Although the UK’s laws are not exactly lax, other countries are definitely stricter.

In Norway, for example, any alcohol level above 0.1 mg/ml is considered illegal. Having no tolerance means that drivers never have to guess whether those couple of drinks have put them over the limit.

Similarly strict is Denmark. Although this country has a limit similar to the UK, drivers who blow over 0.8 mg/ml face imprisonment. As a result of these strict laws, there have been fewer alcohol-related deaths in their respected countries.

Drink Driving is a serious issue requiring further education and de-bunking of drink driving myths. Most importantly, it takes the responsibility of everyone to be aware of the law to become more responsible to protect everyone on the road. Spread the word and let everyone know about the consequences, challenges, and laws involved in stopping the drink driving menace.

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• Green Flag
• The RAC
• More Than
• GEM Motoring Assist

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Tags: Alcohol, Cars, Drink-Driving, Roads, Safety