Bike Week puts MPA Cycle Safe campaign in the spotlight

More than 950 drivers have now completed new MPQC ‘Safeguarding Vulnerable Road Users’ course

FOLLOWING last week’s ‘Bike Week’ (from 15–23 June), the need to keep vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, safe has been highlighted more than ever.

As part of its ongoing ‘Cycle Safe’ campaign, the Mineral Products Association (MPA) has introduced the most positive policy initiative to improve vulnerable road user safety of any industry in the UK, a key element of which requires all drivers delivering for MPA member companies to receive vulnerable road user training.

As part of this objective, the MPA has played a key role in developing the new Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC) ‘Safeguarding Vulnerable Road Users’ driver training course, designed by industry experts to increase driver awareness of vulnerable road users, change perceptions and develop a responsible attitude towards these groups.

To date, more than 950 drivers have taken part in the course, which covers the following subject areas:

• Who are the vulnerable road users?
• Road safety initiatives
• Consequences of a fatality
• Driver awareness
• Vehicle checks
• Vehicle specification
• Hazard awareness
• Defensive driving

The training, which can be delivered at company premises or on an open public course basis, lasts one day (7 hours) and is an interactive JAUPT-approved CPC course comprising presentations, group discussions, exercises, DVD clips and case studies.

According to the MPA, feedback has been extremely encouraging. Trainers delivering the course have been pleased with how positively the course has been received by delegates.

MPA chief executive Nigel Jackson said: ‘Our sector takes its health and safety ambition seriously – it is our number one priority. As an industry that operates some 30,000 lorries, MPA members want to be at the forefront of helping to improve road safety and our policy reflects the industry’s commitment to this issue.

‘It requires new lorries to be equipped with a range of safety equipment and retrofitting of the existing fleet. This latest leap forward in driver training is another important development and shows that the sector is behaving responsibly.’

However, Mr Jackson said it was essential that all road users play their part. ‘The MPA’s position is that, while driver training and awareness are a key aspect of the contribution the industry can make to improved vulnerable road user safety, there is joint responsibility for road safety,’ he explained.

‘National and central government must ensure that roads and junctions are designed for safety and properly maintained, large goods vehicle (LGV) operators and drivers must take action to minimize the risk of collisions, and cyclists and other vulnerable road users must behave responsibly.’

For further information about taking part in the ‘Safeguarding Vulnerable Road Users’ training, call Maggi Pelling at MPQC Skills Centre on tel: (0115) 983 6580; email: [email protected]; or visit: www.mp-qc.org