Symposium puts spotlight on latest RST developments
The Road Safety Trust hosted its first symposium yesterday, bringing together practitioners, researchers and advocates to discuss the latest advancements in road safety, and chart the course for future initiatives.
The event, held at the Royal Automobile Club in London, attracted more than 100 delegates, including many grant recipients, united by their commitment to improving road safety and saving lives. The theme was ‘celebrating success, making connections and looking to the future’.
Mission
The symposium opened with a welcome address from Tony Fuller, Chair of The Road Safety Trust, who underscored the Trust’s ongoing mission to fund innovative projects and research which make roads safer for everyone. This was followed by an overview of the Trust’s work by Chair of the Road Safety Initiatives Committee, Heather Ward, who highlighted the impact of the Trust providing £10m for more than 100 projects across the UK in the past decade.
Workshops during the day allowed participants to delve into the practical aspects of road safety projects, with sessions on effective communications, how to secure project funding, and the crucial importance of disseminating research findings to a wide audience.
Turning Research into Practice
Dr Tim Nutbeam, Dr Shaun Helman and Dr Helen Wells emphasised the importance of data, evidence, and behavioural insights in shaping effective work at the frontline of road safety.
Tanya Fosdick, Research Director at Agilysis, underscored the necessity of evidence-based approaches in her talk on the role of research in driving policy and practice.
Advocacy and Future Strategies
This session was led by Jamie Hassall, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), who discussed the pivotal role of advocacy in driving legislative and policy changes, particularly with a newly incumbent Government.
Spotlight on Funded Projects
The second half of the Symposium showcased a selection of innovative projects from recent years. Delegates heard from researchers, including Professor Richard Rowe of the University of Sheffield and Dr Elizabeth Box of the RAC Foundation, who presented groundbreaking work on intelligence speed assistance (ISA) and life-saving educational and training interventions targeted at young drivers.
Addressing Inequalities in Road Safety
The symposium concluded with a powerful session on the need to address the wider determinants of inequalities in road safety, delivered by Professor Nicola Christie of University College London. This topic will form the theme of the RST’s new autumn round of grant funding applications, which opened on 26 September.
