RSA signs new road safety deal in Berkshire

Date: 12/6/2012

Berkshire's six road authorities have established a new shared service arrangement and created an innovative model for delivering road safety services in the county.

Called Safer Roads, the initiative will see Road Safety Analysis (RSA) taken on as a contractor to work with authorities over the next four years. This contract will enable greater flexibility when it comes to managing costs and varying services.

Furthermore, it will provide long-term support to some award-winning schemes in the sector.

The changes come a year after the publication of the Strategic Framework for Road Safety, which aims to combine the resources of both private and voluntary sectors to make routes in the UK safer.

Berkshire has managed to do this by adopting RSA as its service provider.

RSA recently formed a new partnership with TRL on a road safety scheme to support local authorities by delivering innovative road safety solutions. The two groups are planning numerous projects that will enable those working in the industry to gain better access to their expertise.

At the time, Director of Road Safety Division at TRL Tracy Savill explained the research body has knowledge and expertise on casualty reduction, which it will be able to deliver to local authorities through its partnership with RSA.

Speaking about the new Berkshire contract, Operations Director for RSA Richard Owen said his organisation is "delighted" to continue its work in the county.

"The costs to each authority are now lower, the service offering is broader, the liabilities are reduced and yet the skilled and experienced staff have been retained," he stated. "The new model represents excellent value for the public and a significant innovation for the industry."

Mr Owen added that Berkshire authorities have already shown leadership and creativity by developing the contract.

Various measures will be provided by the Safer Roads service, including communications and enforcement management, a suite of analytical reports and campaign management services.

It also wants to work with some of the leading experts from TRL to make the scheme in Berkshire even more effective.

Posted by Sarah Bailey