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Issue:- 21 October 2010

Liverpool drivers rank in top 10 of poll on courteous driving

AXA reveals most and least respectful towns when it comes to driving and urges more respectful driving.  Liverpool just missed out of the top 5 best city drivers and it is clear why they have come in 7th place. Only a small percent of drivers (15%) refused to stop for pedestrians at a zebra crossing in the morning while an even smaller 13% didn’t stop in the rush to get home.

The respectful attitude slips slightly with priority parking bays however, with drivers putting their needs in front of others. 26% felt it was reasonable to use a parent and child bay without having a child and 37% used a disabled space without having a disability.

Liverpool drivers are not respectful to bus drivers during rush hours. 61% of local drivers refused to let buses carry on their way despite indicating to pull in the morning and 74% did so in the afternoon.  A reasonable 58% of drivers indicated fully on roundabouts in the morning, which increased to 65% of drivers in the afternoon and over a quarter at least partially indicated in the morning and afternoon (27% and 30% respectively).

Respect is mixed when it comes to traffic lights. A promising (in comparison to other UK city drivers) 60% drivers in the morning and 53% in the evening stopped correctly at a red traffic light. Some drivers felt comfortable going through an amber light (27% in the morning and a 33% in the evening) however 13% felt the need to risk lives and jumped a red light in the morning increasing to 16% in the evening.

The research, that included 7 live observation tests (including observance of red lights, indicating correctly at roundabouts and allowing pedestrians to pass at zebra crossings), found that Swansea has the least respectful drivers in the UK while Southampton tops the list of most courteous road users, a new report by AXA Motor Insurance reveals.

The worst culprits:-

► Aberystwyth drivers are the worst culprits when it comes to using their indicators with 74% refusing to let other drivers know their intentions

► 20% Plymouth drivers don’t see the issue with remaining stationary in a yellow box junction for longer than 10 seconds

► Sheffield, Gloucester and Swansea drivers are not so keen on letting buses pull out

► Of those drivers faced with a red traffic light, 30% sailed on through

► Those in Belfast believe pedestrians can wait a little longer with almost 66% refusing to stop at a zebra crossing

► Over half of Oxford drivers are happy to take a much needed disabled space without having a disability and over two thirds of those in Coventry won’t think twice before parking in a parent and child space, despite not having a child

Recent research carried out by AXA showed that disrespectful driving causes thousands of serious accidents on British roads every year. 40% of drivers involved in the 222,100 accidents say they were frightened or angered by other drivers in the critical moments before a crash. Of those, more than 20% said another driver had been ignoring road rules and signs.

Tina Shortle from AXA car insurance said:- “It’s generally supposed that Londoners are the worst drivers when it comes to showing manners, so it’s surprising to find that it’s actually Swansea residents that top the disrespectful list. This live experiment clearly highlights the lack of respect road users have for others and the thoughtlessness for safety when on the road. It is this that can cause accidents; sadly, sometimes fatal ones. That’s why we’re encouraging people to get behind our campaign to bring back respectful driving.”

45,000 UK DEATHS COULD BE PREVENTED EACH YEAR WITH LOWER-MEAT DIETS

SWITCHING to diets that contain no more than 3 meat meals each week could prevent around 45,000 early deaths and save the NHS £1.2 billion each year, as well as helping to tackle climate change and curb deforestation, according to a new Friends of the Earth report.

Researchers from Oxford University analysed the health implications of a range of dietary options and concluded that lower-meat diets could cut deaths from heart disease by around 31,000, deaths from cancer by 9,000 and deaths from strokes by 5,000 each year. 

The report also highlights how factory farming and processing of meat has made it less healthy, with an average supermarket chicken today containing 2.7 times as much fat as in 1970 and 30% less protein.  Its release comes ahead of a key vote on the Sustainable Livestock Bill in November. If passed, the new Law should see the Government recommending healthier meat-based diets and changing the way food production is funded through subsidies paid for by taxpayers. Current levels and methods of meat production are driving wildlife loss in South America where rainforests are being cleared to grow animal feed and rear cattle for export to Europe.

Friends of the Earth's Director of Policy and Campaigns, Craig Bennett said:- "We don't need to go vegetarian to look after ourselves and our planet - but we do need to cut down on meat.  While the Government has ignored the environmental impact of high meat and dairy consumption, it can't ignore the lives that would be saved by switching to less and better meat.  Eating less and better meat is a win win but we need the Government to act too - at the moment it promotes unhealthy high-meat diets and funds damaging factory farms.  Join Friends of the Earth's MOOvement for change and ask your MP to vote for the Sustainable Livestock Bill on November 12."

Dr Mike Rayner of the Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, said:- "This research demonstrates the clear health benefits of cutting down on meat and dairy in the UK and quantifies this more comprehensively than ever before."

Actress and mum of 3 Helen Baxendale said:- "We've switched to less and better quality meat since we heard about the damaging impact factory farming is having on the planet - now I want the Government to play its part.  It's outrageous that millions pounds of public money is spent on factory farming and imported animal feed that's grown where we used to have rainforests.  I'm proud to be part of Friends of the Earth's MOOvement for rainforest-free food and I want my MP to vote for the Sustainable Livestock Bill next month."

Glaucoma group hosts international association

SOUTHPORT and West Lancs. Glaucoma Support Group has won the backing of the International Glaucoma Association.  The local group was established earlier this year with the help of consultant ophthalmic surgeon Jose Gonzalez-Martin, of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.  “Support groups can really help both patients and families but, until we founded the local group, the nearest one was in Bolton. I am delighted that the Association is sponsoring our October meeting and telling us about the work they do for people across the country.”  The meeting will be held in the Windsor Suite at the Royal Clifton Hotel in Southport on Wednesday, 27 October 2010, from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Light refreshments will be served and there is free car parking at the hotel.  Anyone who would like to join the group should call the chair, Dorothy Gerrard, on:- 01704 539407.

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