COMMUNITY SAFETY

For many authorities, the Local Government Review process provided the catalyst for a serious examination of the way local communities are consulted, and their opinions actively sought, on many local issues including road safety. Much of this consultation revolved around the planning and implementation of environmental engineering – for example traffic calming and urban safety management schemes.

In many localities a more holistic approach to community safety has evolved since that time, largely led by local authorities in response to concerns expressed about various safety issues, which may include crime prevention, fire risk and general perceptions about personal danger.

Involvement in initiatives of this kind offers opportunities for road safety officers to benefit by being included in a wider process of addressing safety issues, from gaining direct public support and direct evaluation of ETP interventions, and also from the opportunity for wider involvement with local communities.

THE ROLE OF THE RSO
The Association believes that road safety officers can offer direct support to colleagues involved in community consultation, both in providing information and in seeking to heighten awareness of community responsibility regarding road safety issues.

This may include:

• encouraging local forums to be involved in planning the future road environment in their locality

• encouraging the wider community to address safety issues as part of that planning process

• raising awareness that it is often the people within the community who are contributing to the problems that others are experiencing

• accessing the wider community, including businesses, to encourage joint working/partnerships to address local issues and gain added value from resources

• working with other interested agencies/partners in the consultation process and in implementing appropriate joint interventions

MONITORING AND EVALUATION
For each project realistic targets should be set and monitoring should take place against identified road safety objectives, which may be both qualitative and quantitative.