No. 261/2017
10th May 2017
Our Ref: V4/17
Royal Mail Group - Road Safety Communication Campaign May 2017 – Safety First ‘Vulnerable Road Users’ - “Put Yourself In Their Shoes”
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Introduction:
During May, commencing on Monday 15 May, Royal Mail Group will be launching a Road Safety
Communications Campaign focusing on ‘Vulnerable Road Users’ with the campaign theme “Put
yourself in their shoes”.
All Royal Mail Drivers have a responsibility to drive safely and minimise risk to themselves and
the public. Over the next few months, and as part of a Royal Mail Group business-wide focus
on road safety, there will be a series of Road Safety communications and messages with
drivers starting this month with ‘Vulnerable Road Users’.
Campaign Aims:
We all learn the safe way to drive but it’s easy to get into bad habits, take shortcuts or get
irritated at others, particularly vulnerable road users. Drivers have a responsibility to drive in a
way that minimises risks posed to vulnerable road users. The aim of this communications
campaign is raising awareness amongst Royal Mail and Parcelforce drivers and refreshing
knowledge and skills to ensure that our members who drive remain alert to the risks posed by
vulnerable road users. Therefore the May 2017 Road Safety Communication campaign will be
highlighting vulnerable road users and the actions that should be taken to reduce this risk by
asking everyone to “Put yourself in their shoes!”. This means, thinking like they would do
and adjusting how we drive to account for their vulnerabilities.
Vulnerable Road Users:
‘Vulnerable Road Users’ include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. Anyone
using roads without a vehicle around them offering some protection, so exposing them to the
full force of an impact.
Statistics Behind This Campaign:
 In the last 5 years 4 pedestrians, 3 motorcyclists and 1 cyclist have died in collisions
with Royal Mail vehicles
 In the last 3 years there have been 173 involving collisions with pedestrians and 149
accidents involving cyclists. (not including motor cyclists or horse riders.)
 In July 2014 a Royal Mail vehicle stopped to carry out a U-turn across the road turning
right into a bus stop on the opposite side of the road. As the Royal Mail vehicle started
the U-turn, a motorcycle, travelling behind the van decided to overtake causing a
collision and fatal injuries to the motorcyclist.
CWU Area Health & Safety Reps and Workplace Safety Reps Involvement:
Area Health and Safety Reps and Workplace Health and Safety Reps are asked to support the
campaign and will be fully consulted on delivery of joint Road Safety Communications and
involved in the campaign initiative and activities. Area Health and Safety Reps are asked to
focus Safety Inspections on the subject and on the completion of the planned line manager
Road Safety campaign activities. There is also an ASR Activity Plan attached and by carrying
out Safety Inspections and activities during this Road Safety Communication campaign, ASRs
can help to raise the profile of Road Safety and keep our drivers/members safe. Royal Mail
Group, Logistics and Parcelforce very much welcome CWU ASR/WSR involvement and support
in Road Safety Initiatives.
CWU Area Health & Safety Reps Activity Plan:
ASRs should Agree with Operational Managers, which Units will be jointly targeted and support
during this Road Safety Communications Campaign, and:
a. Assist Front Line Manager in delivering the WTLL
b. Carry out a Safety Inspection to include the following:
Ask Drivers:
 If they understand who vulnerable road users are?
 If they understand the risk associated with vulnerable road users and what they should
do?
 If they have seen the posters displayed?
 Use the communication materials to talk to drivers about Vulnerable Road User Risks.
Ask Front Line Managers:
 If they’ve completed the Vulnerable Road Users communications?
 Have they delivered the WTLL and displayed the posters?
 Have they completed a Driver/Vehicle SMAT concentrating on Vulnerable Road Users?
Observe Vehicles and Drivers and Discuss with drivers the importance of: Observations when reversing concerning vulnerable road users.
 Observing and rechecking when reversing and pulling out of junctions.
 Checking mirrors and blind spot observations.
ASRs should ensure that they record their Safety Inspections using the agreed
reporting processes.
Key Communications Campaign Messages and Tips on How to avoid Incidents
involving a vulnerable road user:
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Pedestrians
Look out for pedestrians when reversing. Give them time and space to cross, especially
children, the elderly or someone with a disability. They may not be immediately visible.
Never wave a pedestrian across the road. There may be another vehicle overtaking
from behind you which doesn’t see them.
Slow down and take extra care around busy shopping areas, stationary buses, ice
cream vans and at sites where there are gatherings of children such as a school or
leisure centre.
Pedestrians may stand in blind-spots - Look for pedestrians emerging from between
parked vehicles. Be ready for the unexpected.
Don’t park on pavements. This obstructs the pavements for pedestrians and is
particularly hazardous for the blind, wheelchair users or pushchairs, forcing them onto
the road.
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Children often do not understand the risks of the road and can be unpredictable.
Older people may have impaired hearing, vision, concentration and judgement. They
may also walk more slowly and so could take a long time to cross the road.
Cyclists
Expect to share the road with cyclists and give them time and space when passing.
Anyone encroaching inside that safe passing distance – a minimum of 1.5 meters − runs
the risk of being prosecuted for driving without due care and attention. The air movement
caused by an overtaking large vehicle can be sufficient to cause cyclists to fall, and
passing too close or fast can drag the cyclist towards the vehicle.
Cyclists can be unstable and may move suddenly. They may also move out without
warning due to pot holes, drain covers, debris and so on. It’s important to give them
plenty of room when overtaking.
Bicycles can be hard to see and are easily hidden in blind spots. They are often quicker
than you think. Always recheck for cyclists when pulling from a junction.
Cyclists will overtake in heavy traffic. Always check your mirrors before turning. They can
legally overtake/undertake vehicles and are likely to pass on both sides in heavy traffic.
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Motorcyclists
Always check your mirrors for motorcyclists. Take extra care at roundabouts and when
turning left.
Give motorcyclists plenty of room when overtaking – they can be affected by side wind.
Take extra care when pulling out of junctions – always recheck for motorcyclists as they
can be difficult to see.
Motorcyclists often moving quicker than you expect.
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Horse riders
Always driver slowly past horses. Give them plenty of room and be prepared to stop.
Keep engine noise as low as possible and avoid sounding the horn.
Look out for horse riders’ signals, be aware that they may not move to the centre of the
road before turning right.
Over half of all road accidents involving horses, happen on minor roads.
Horses are large animals, falling from a horse can cause serious injury.
Horses can be scared or alarmed by noise or fast moving vehicles. They are generally
found on small rural roads and can be unseen around bends.
Horse riders may ride abreast for safety, especially to protect a young rider or nervous
horse.
Horse riders position on the left side of the road when turning right at junctions or on
roundabouts.
What drivers should generally do to consider the vulnerable road users
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Use all the signals you have and give plenty of warning – this will help to show all other
roads users your intentions.
Check your mirrors regularly, especially in traffic, before you move off, change lanes, or
turn. Remember cyclists or motorcyclists may be passing.
Turning Left - Never attempt to overtake a cyclist or motorcyclist just before you turn left.
If you want to turn left and there’s a cyclist or motorcyclist in front of you, hold back. Wait
until the cyclist has passed the junction and then turn left behind them.
Junctions – when pulling out of a side road watch carefully for cycles and motorcycles. Be
especially careful if there are parked vehicles restricting your view. IF YOU DON’T KNOW,
DON’T GO.
Overtaking – Treat motorcyclists and cyclists as you would any other vehicle. Ensure that
there is adequate time to pass and that you have a clear view of approaching traffic. Pass
at an appropriate speed and give plenty of room. The minimum distance when overtaking
should be 1.5 metres.
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Roundabouts - Be especially careful that your nearside is clear when at roundabouts.
Links to videos around Vulnerable Road Users - May 2017
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The Road Safety Authority (RSA) launched its Vulnerable Road Users campaign, Monday
9th April 2012. This campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the vulnerability of road
users such as pedestrian and cyclists and calling for all road users especially drivers to
share the road safely.
https://youtu.be/AB7z9jfdLHc
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A frightening insight into how drivers of semi-trucks can easily miss cyclists travelling
alongside them.
https://youtu.be/lV-rhiGRFTE
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Blind Spots - looking at the dangers of blind spots.
https://youtu.be/OQuc2REU5Ok
Attachments:
 Vulnerable Road Users Poster May 2017
 Road Safety Communication May 2017
 Blind Spot Poster May 2017
 Vulnerable Road Users Logistics Handout/Briefing May 2017
 WTLL – Vulnerable Road Users May 2017
 Links To Videos on Vulnerable Road Users May 2017
(Certain Posters will have different vehicles featured for Logistics, Parcelforce and Ops).
Royal Mail Group Road Safety Team have apologised for the short timescale due to the Easter
holidays delaying the development late finalisation of this campaign but welcome CWU/HQ and
ASR/WSR support.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer