New year call for safer driving

ON Monday 5 January 2008 Motorists where being urged to make safer driving one of their New Year's Resolutions for 2009.

The Driving Standards Agency's Director for Safer Driving, Trevor Wedge, is asking all drivers to help reduce the numbers dying on British roads.

"There have been some significant achievements during the last few years in bringing road deaths down. Yet in 2007 almost 3,000 people still died on UK roads. Let's all make sure that driving in a safe and considerate way is one New Year's Resolution that nobody breaks." said Trevor, who is also DSA's Chief Driving Examiner.

Below are several tips for safer driving, which could also help save fuel and reduce vehicle emissions:-

* Plan your journey and route; give yourself plenty of time and for long journeys make sure that you have regular breaks.

* While driving plan well ahead. Be aware of what is going on in the distance as well as around you, so you are able to anticipate what's going to happen on the road.

* Reduce your speed and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front.

* Avoid harsh acceleration and heavy braking. Drive at a speed which is safe for the conditions.

* Ensure your vehicle is prepared for wintry weather - check the condition of the lights and tyres, and make sure the windows are clean and clear.

Trevor Wedge adds:- "The strapline of the DSA is Safe Driving for Life - if we want to avoid becoming a statistic ourselves, shouldn't we all consider adopting this philosophy?"

There was a constant fall from 2003-2007 in those killed in road accidents. However despite this trend, 2,946 people still died due to such accidents in 2007.

Road accident statistics for 2008 are scheduled to be released in the summer of 2009 and will be available online via:- www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics.

 Bryan Gray awarded CBE

BRYAN Gray, Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list, in recognition for his service to regeneration.  Since taking up the chairmanship of the NWDA in 2002, Mr Gray has played an instrumental role in drawing together regional partners to identify and implement a number of transformational actions for the Northwest. Key initiatives include developing MediaCityUK, leading the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan, establishing the University of Cumbria, and helping to deliver Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture programme. 

Bryan Gray, NWDA Chairman, said:- “To be awarded a CBE is a great honour and one which I am delighted to receive. As well as being an honour for me, I see this as recognition of the work the Agency has instigated, led or developed to ensure the ongoing economic regeneration of the region. I am very proud today and even prouder to continue to be part of the ongoing transformation of England’s Northwest.”

BEN-MY-CHREE IN DRY DOCK UPDATE

FOLLOWING confirmation from the dry dock operators, the Ben-my-Chree will now enter dry dock on Friday, 9 January 2009.

The vessel is scheduled to re-enter service with the 08.45 sailing from Douglas to Heysham on Tuesday, 13 January 2009. The service was originally planned that she would be out of service from Tuesday, 6 January 2009 until Friday, 9 January 2009 inclusive.

The delay means that the Ben-my-Chree will now operate her normal schedule until Thursday 8 January 2009. She will also carry out a sailing at 02.15 on Friday, 9 January 2009 from Heysham to Douglas.

Passengers who were transferred from overnight sailings on the Ben-my-Chree to daytime Viking sailings on these dates can transfer back to the overnight Ben-my-Chree sailing if they wish, and are asked to contact the reservations team on 661661 or 0871 222 1 333.

The change to the dry-docking arrangements means that Viking will be operating daytime sailings on the Heysham route from until Monday, 12 January 2009 inclusive.

The Liverpool Birkenhead sailings on Saturday 10 January and Sunday 11 January 2009 are cancelled as Viking cannot use the 12 Quays facility at Birkenhead.

The Liverpool landing stage is not available as improvement works are being undertaken by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.

Passengers on sailings that have been cancelled are being offered an alternative sailing or a full refund.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is acutely aware of, and shares, the frustration that passengers will be experiencing as a result of the delay to the dry-docking and the ongoing changes to the sailing schedule. Given the nature of dry-docking facilities and ship maintenance, repair schedules can be subject to change and, unfortunately, the Company does not have control over the facilities it needs to use.

The Company is endeavouring to contact all passengers affected by the changes to the schedule.

If anyone is in any doubt about the details of their sailing, they should call the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company reservations team on 661661 or 0871 222 1 333.

A freighter has been chartered to cover the freight service.

Mark Woodward, Chief Executive of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, said:- “We continue to have to work around the schedules imposed upon us by third parties. 

Unfortunately, the nature of heavy engineering such as ship maintenance means that plans sometimes have to change and that, in this instance, we are unable to access the dry dock until Friday, 9 January 2009. 

I can assure passengers that we would not be seeking to carry out this work unless it was necessary and I share the frustration that they are experiencing.”