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Aberdeen Safer Community Trust does its bit to tackle £10 million per month road crash costs

Aberdeen Safer Community Trust is to stage an event aimed at reducing the number of casualties on North East roads next week (19th and 20th September) when Older and Wiser, the free annual show run by the charity for the 50+ festival returns for its 7th year.

Entitled ‘Near Misses’, this year’s Older and Wiser will focus on road safety, highlighting the specific challenges faced by this age group and demonstrating simple techniques to deal with the risks portrayed.

We all know that as we get older, we often need a little more time to cross the road than we used to and whether we are pedestrians or drivers, our hearing and vision may not be all it was. Other drivers can’t always see if a pedestrian has physical limitations and they can be impatient, making going out a frightening and unpleasant experience for many older people. Added to this we know that people aged over 60 are 3 times more likely than younger people to be killed as a result of being hit by car.

Using a drama staged by Livewire Theatre company coupled with other entertaining and informative activities, Older and Wiser will show older people where they can be at risk and ways they can improve their safety and feel confident as road users whether they are pedestrians, cyclists, drivers or users of mobility vehicles.

The event comes just days after it was reported that the cost to society of road crashes in the North East was £10 million per month with each individual fatality costing £1.8 million, according to the Department for Transport.

Over the last three years there have been 36 slight, 17 serious and one fatal injury to over 60s within Aberdeen City, the peak months for incidents being in October, November and December, amounting to over £2.8 million in this age group alone.

Commenting on Older and Wisers’ activities, Emma Bellu, Chief Executive of the Trust said:

“We have always known the importance of education in improving road safety and in light of the recent headlines reporting that road crashes across the north-east cost society £10 million a month it seems even more crucial than ever.”

We know that older people face specific challenges and Older and Wiser sets out to tackle these serious issues by providing practical and easy to implement advice wrapped up in a fun and entertaining day out.”

She added:

“If we can prevent just one road death, not only can will we be saving society up to £1.8 million, we will be saving at least one family the devastating consequences of these terrible accidents.”

The Trust’s ultimate dream is to build a permanent facility where this kind of interactive learning can be available all year round to everyone in Grampian. The ‘Risk Ready’ centre would be a purpose built interactive village coupled with 21st century technology to provide a realistic and experiential way to learn about safety and citizenship, with the ultimate goal of preventing unnecessary injury and death, reducing crime and improving the quality of life for all residents, visitors and investors in the North East of Scotland.

Key messages identified by Road Safety Grampian that will be included in Older and Wiser will be: finding and using safe places to cross; using the green cross code properly at all times; dressing appropriately for time of year...be safe be seen; the effect of vision, hearing and mobility on road users; the law and how it applies to the over 50’s, and developing a better awareness of how other road users behave.

This year’s event will take place at the Salvation Army Citadel, 28 Castlegate, Aberdeen on 19th and 20th September with doors opening at 12 o’ clock and the main event beginning at 12.30pm. Free teas and coffees are provided as well as a free goody bag containing useful information and road safety items.

Tickets for Older and Wiser are free and can be booked by calling Aberdeen Box Office: 01224 641122. Further information can be obtained by contacting Aberdeen Safer Community Trust on 01224 646461 or by logging on to the website, www.absafe.org.uk.

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