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Drink driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while at the wheel are the four primary causes of fatal and serious injury collisions in the UK.

In Northamptonshire, the Fire Service assists the Safer Roads Team and Highways Team to carryout ongoing campaigns to tackle each of these four hazards. Here are some points to remember:

Drink driving:

• Don’t drink and drive. The only safe limit is none
• You can still be over the limit the morning after
• A drink driving conviction will stay on your licence for 11 years

Speeding:

Speeders can be fined up to 150 per cent of their weekly income, rather than the current 100 per cent.

• Keep to the speed limit; it could mean the difference between life and death

• Drive appropriately for the conditions; slow down when there is bad weather

• Don’t assume it is safe to break the speed limit on rural roads because there is less traffic. There can be more hazards

Seatbelts:

• Always wear a seatbelt, and make sure any passengers you are carrying are wearing a seatbelt
• Make sure children are in the appropriate car/booster seat and strapped in correctly
• Spending just one minute checking everyone is strapped in correctly could mean the difference between life and death

Mobile phone use:

If you’re caught using a handheld phone while driving, you will get six penalty points on your licence and a fine of £200. The increase in penalty points would mean an immediate ban for newly-qualified drivers who have a ceiling of six points for the first two years after passing the test.

• Don’t use your mobile phone while driving – switch it off before you set off
• Never call anyone if you know they are driving, and hang up if you call someone who answers and you realise they are driving
• No conversation, text message or online post is more important than someone’s life

Every driver has the responsibility of driving safely and to the rules of the road.

For more road safety advice, see http://think.direct.gov.uk

The Green Cross Code may have been launched in the 1970s, but it still holds some key messages for pedestrians when it comes to road safety.

1. First find the safest place to cross

• If possible, cross the road at: subways, footbridges, islands, zebra, puffin, pelican or toucan crossings, or where there is a crossing point controlled by a police officer, a school crossing patrol or a traffic warden.
• Otherwise, choose a place where you can see clearly in all directions, and where drivers can see you.
• Try to avoid crossing between parked cars and on sharp bends or close to the top of a hill. Move to a space where drivers and riders can see you clearly.
• There should be space to reach the pavement on the other side.

2. Stop just before you get to the kerb

• Do not get too close to the traffic. If there is no pavement, keep back from the edge of the road but make sure you can still see approaching traffic.
• Give yourself lots of time to have a good look around.

3. Look all around for traffic and listen

• Look all around for traffic and listen.
• Look in every direction.
• Listen carefully because you can sometimes hear traffic before you can see it.

4. If traffic is coming, let it pass

• Look all around again and listen.
• Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time.
• Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.

5. When it is safe, go straight across the road – do not run

• Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not see, or in case other traffic appears suddenly.
• Look out for cyclists and motorcyclists travelling between lanes of traffic.
• Do not cross diagonally.

For more road safety advice, see http://think.direct.gov.uk

Weather patterns in the UK usually mean that extreme conditions such as ice, snow and heavy rain can happen suddenly and can often leave drivers unprepared for what they might face on the roads.

Many drivers may fail to realise the extent to which extreme weather can affect aspects of driving such as visibility and stopping distances. Stopping distances can double in wet conditions and can increase ten-fold in ice and snow. Add to this the fact that reactions to hazards become impaired when drivers cannot see clearly, and the results can be fatal.

If possible, avoid driving in snow and other dangerous conditions such as fog, heavy rain and ice. Think about if there are any alternatives such as home-working arrangements; particularly if you live in a rural area.

Change the way you drive depending on the weather

• Make sure you slow down if the road is wet, snowy or icy or if weather conditions are causing you any problems in seeing. Take corners slowly and drive more slowly if your view of the road is obscured in any way. Remember that fog can be patchy, so do not suddenly speed up when you reach a clear patch.
• Do not drive too close to the vehicle in front as stopping distances are much greater in wet, icy or snowy conditions. You need enough time to stop safely.
• In adverse weather, avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Take great care with any manoeuvres attempted.
• Make sure you use lights whenever visibility is reduced. In dense fog, don’t forget to use front and rear fog lights, but switch them off if visibility becomes clear.
• In snow and ice, use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin, but don’t let your speed become too high.
• Always brake gently to avoid the wheel locking. When coming to a stop, get into a low gear earlier and let your vehicle slow down gradually.
• If your vehicle skids, do not brake. Instead, ease off the accelerator and steer slightly into the direction of the skid until you feel like you have control again.
• Do not attempt to cross flooded roads if you are not sure how deep the water is. Some vehicles only need about two feet of water to float.
• If winds are strong, take extra care on open stretches of road and when crossing bridges. Keep your distance from motorcycles and high-sided vehicles as these can be more affected by this type of weather.
• For sunny weather, make sure you keep sunglasses in the car and wear them to protect your eyes from the glare of bright sunshine.

The numbers of people choosing to cycle for fun, fitness or to get to work has increased by more than a quarter in twenty years and an incredible 3.2 billion miles are cycled on our roads every year.

• Drivers should always keep on the alert for cyclists, particularly at junctions and when getting out of cars.
• Motorists should always leave plenty of room for cyclists at traffic lights.
• Cyclists should ensure they ride a door’s width from parked cars and should ride centrally in narrow lanes.
• Drivers should make sure they indicate ahead of manoeuvring.
• Advanced stop lines allow cyclists to remain visible by taking position at the front of the traffic. Drivers must stop at the first white line reached, if the lights are amber or red. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green light shows.
• Cyclists should ride decisively and well clear of the kerb. They should be clear in looking and signalling to show drivers what they plan to do, making eye contact where possible so they know drivers have seen them.
• Cyclists should avoid riding up the inside of large vehicles such as lorries or buses, where they may not be seen.
• Lights should be used after dark or in poor visibility.
• When cycling, it is sensible to wear clothing that is light coloured and reflective as this increases the chance you will be noticed.
• Cycling helmets are recommended. This should be fastened securely and should conform to regulations.

Bikeability

Cycling is an effective sustainable mode of travel to school, however, all pupils cycling must be made aware of the need for safety and security when cycling. The National Standard Cycle Training is a progressive scheme that moves through three levels to give parents the reassurance that their children have the necessary skills and confidence to cycle to school. Children are encouraged to achieve all three levels of training. Bikeability is organised by our Highways Team in Northamptonshire. If you would like further information regarding Bikeability training please contact them on cycletraining@kierwsp.co.uk

Please visit the Think website for further information and safety tips on cycling.

Two fires a day are started by candles, and along with incense and oil burners they are one of the biggest causes of fires within the home. Follow our tips to keep you and your home safe:

• • Never leave a candle unattended

• • Always use a suitable holder when burning candles and incense, they should be on a heat-resistant surface, and take care with tea lights, which get hot enough to melt plastic

• • Scented candles turn to liquid in order to release their fragrance, so always burn them in a suitable glass or metal container that can withstand the heat of the liquid and ensure that the liquid cannot leak out

• • Always extinguish all candles when leaving a room, before going to bed or if the flames become too large (trim the wick to prevent the flame from becoming too large)

• • Keep lit candles out of reach of children and pets

• • Place candles away from curtains and other flammable items and keep burning candles away from draughts, open windows and fans

• • Don’t put them under shelves and make sure there’s at least one metre (three feet) between a candle and any surface above it

• • Do not burn a candle longer than the manufacturer recommends

• • Avoid lighting candles when alcohol is being consumed

• • Use a proper snuffer to put them out as blowing them out can send sparks and hot wax flying

• • Consider an extra smoke alarm in the rooms that candles are being burnt in

• • Consider using battery-operated candles that give the ambience of the real thing, but are a lot safer

Around half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents. Here are some tips to prevent them and to keep you safe. If you are concerned that you or a family member are becoming forgetful or confused about cooking, we can give you further advice. Please visit our home safety checks and alarms page for more information on how you can carry out your own home safety check or how you can arrange for one of our home safety check visits. A helpful video has been provided by our colleagues at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service on how to stay safe whilst cooking.

How to cook safely

• Don’t leave your cooking unattended and don’t leave children in the kitchen alone when cooking
• Avoid cooking when under the influence of alcohol
• Keep flammable items away from the cooker and hob
• Take care with electrics and keep leads and appliances away from water
• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean and avoid the build-up of fats
• Don’t put anything metal in the microwave
• Take care when cooking with hot oil – it sets alight easily
• If oil starts to smoke – it’s too hot, turn off the heat and leave it to cool, use a thermostat controlled electric deep fat fryer to prevent this

What to do if the pan catches fire:

• Never throw water over it
• Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so and do not move the pan
• Do not tackle the fire yourself
• Get Out, Stay Out, Call 999

​Faulty electrics (appliances, wiring and overloaded sockets) cause around 6,000 fires in the home across the country every year. For some handy tips, watch the following short video (courtesy of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service):

How to avoid electrical fires

• Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.
• Certain appliances (washing machines, etc.) should have a plug socket to themselves, as they are high powered.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and look for the CE mark that indicates chargers comply with European safety standards, ensure your furniture has the fire-resistant permanent label.
• Check and replace any old cables and leads, especially if they are hidden from view.
• Unplug appliances when they’re not in use.
• Secure portable heaters and never use them for drying clothes.
• Store electric blankets flat, rolled up or loosely folded to prevent damaging the internal wiring and unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless they have a thermostat control for safe all-night use.
• Never buy second-hand blankets.
• Read the electric blanket safety leaflet (PDF 1,054KB) for more information.

An extension lead or adaptor will have a limit to how many amps it can take, so be careful not to overload them to reduce the risk of a fire, try and keep to one plug per socket. Appliances use different amounts of power – a television may use a 3 Amp plug and a vacuum cleaner a 5 Amp plug for example. To check if your plug sockets are overloaded use the handy socket calculator.

The most common cause of fire death in the home is smoking. If you or someone in your home smokes, there are a number of simple steps you can take to prevent a fire from happening in your home:

Fire safety tips for smokers

• Ensure you have a working smoke alarm on every floor of your home (more advice on smoke alarms can be found on our home safety checks and alarms page)
• Take extra care when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs, or if you have been drinking
• Always use a proper ashtray – never a wastepaper basket
• Always keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children
• Never leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around – put them out, right out!

E-cigarettes fire safety tips

There have been a number of incidents in the UK caused by e-cigarettes or their chargers. To help reduce the risk, follow these safety tips:

• Never leave e-cigarettes that are on charge unattended for long periods
• Do not mix components of different e-cigarettes
• Only use the charger supplied
• Ensure you purchase your e-cigarette from a reputable source
• Check the e-cigarette carries CE certification