IAM chief executive Simon Best said:  “It is unacceptable that road deaths and serious injuries have risen for children, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.  

“Cutting road safety education, scrapping casualty targets and cuts in council spending all suggest this isn’t a major priority. The government  needs to show much greater leadership on road safety. Last year’s increase in people killed was a serious warning, but this could be the start of a trend. More must be done to get drivers to look out for vulnerable road users. We must have changes to the driving test, greater enforcement and incentives for driver training.”   The latest Department for Transport road casualty statistics give the first set of figures for this year, covering January – March 2012. They show some worrying trends for vulnerable road users.

•The number of cyclist casualties rose by 10 per cent from 3,775 to 4,160.
•Cyclists killed or seriously injured increased by 13 per cent compared to the same period last year. 700 cyclists were killed or seriously injured compared to 621.
•Motorcyclists killed or seriously injured increased by 8 per cent from 1,024 to 1,110. The number of overall motorcyclist casualties rose by 7 per cent from 3,946 to 4,240 (Jan-March 2011, compared with Jan-March 2012). •The number of children killed or seriously injured in road accidents rose by 9 per cent from 522 to 570.
•The number of children killed or seriously injured as pedestrians increased from 360 to 410, a rise of 14 per cent. 

Over the same period (Jan-March 2011, compared with Jan-March 2012):  
•Car users Killed or seriously injured dropped by 4 per cent, from 2,227 to 2,140. The number of overall casualties among car users also dropped by 4 per cent, from 29,627 down to 28,420.
•The total number of road casualties decreased by 2 per cent from 47,235 to 46,270.
•However, the number of road users killed or seriously injured rose by 4 per cent from 47,235 to 46,270 – suggesting that increases in KSIs for vulnerable road users is having an impact on the overall KSI figure.

www.iam.org.uk

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Up to 3,000 BMWs are set to descend on the Heritage Motor Centre on Sunday 19th August when it hosts the annual National BMW Festival.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the BMW Car Club and the Festival is expected to be even bigger than ever before. As well as celebrating this special milestone, the Club will also be celebrating 40 years of BMW Motorsport with a huge display of M Power vehicles representing all four decades. BMW UK will also be in attendance with a display of new and classic vehicles from BMW Classic.

In addition there will be numerous trade stands. The Club stand will feature the ‘Club Shop’, along with a huge BMW Tombola with a prize for everyone, all donated by BMW UK. Other exciting elements of the Festival include the National Concours final, a ‘Show & Shine’ competition, a ‘Cars for Sale’ section and large displays from the Club’s M Power, Zed, Alpina and MINI Registers.

Steve Miller, General Manager, BMW Car Club, commented “The BMW Festival is a must for any BMW enthusiast; with BMW displays stretching as far as the eye can see and new and old BMWs from BMW UK and Independent Specialists. Visitors can also enjoy free access to the Heritage Museum and with pre-booking and a small fee, take a turn on the test track. This is THE BMW event to attend this summer”!

Event prices apply. Discounted tickets are available in advance from the BMW Car Club Office on 01225 709009 or www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

See www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk website for more event details and links.

THE MAIN STAGE

Friday - Saturday

THE ANSWER - TERRORVISION

NOVANA - 1977

GATECRASHERS - SLEEZE SISTERS

DAMAGED Inc - BLACKJACK

THE IRIS STAGE

Friday - Saturday

MOTHEREARTH - BONESHAKERS

WHOLE HOG - BROWN BOTTLE BAND

BIG RED & THE GRINNERS - BIG RIVER 

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