Health and Safety
Health and Safety
Introduction
This page is provided to give guidance on resources to assist with safe and secure active travel.
Highway Code
The Highway Code is essential reading for all road users, including pedestrians, mobility scooter users, cyclists, horse riders, drivers and motorcyclists. The aim of the Highway Code is to promote safety on the road, whilst also supporting a healthy, sustainable and efficient transport system.
The Highway Code - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Visibility and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Pedestrians – general guidance
Pavements and footways (including any path along the side of a road) should be used if provided. Where possible, avoid being next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, look both ways first. Always remain aware of your environment and avoid unnecessary distractions. Always show due care and consideration for others.
If there is no pavement, keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. You should take extra care and
- be prepared to walk in single file, especially on narrow roads or in poor light
- keep close to the side of the road.
It may be safer to cross the road well before a sharp right-hand bend so that oncoming traffic has a better chance of seeing you. Cross back after the bend.
Help other road users to see you. Wear or carry something light-coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions. When it is dark, use reflective materials (e.g. armbands, sashes, waistcoats, jackets, footwear), which can be seen by drivers using headlights up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials. Help yourself to be seen
Young children should not be out alone on the pavement or road. When taking children out, keep between them and the traffic and hold their hands firmly. Strap very young children into push-chairs or use reins. When pushing a young child in a buggy, do not push the buggy into the road when checking to see if it is clear to cross, particularly from between parked vehicles.
Organised walks or parades involving large groups of people walking along a road should use a pavement if available; if one is not, they should keep to the left. Look-outs should be positioned at the front and back of the group, and they should wear fluorescent clothes in daylight and reflective clothes in the dark. At night, the look-out in front should show a white light and the one at the back a red light. People on the outside of large groups should also carry lights and wear reflective clothing.
Motorways. Pedestrians MUST NOT be on motorways or slip roads except in an emergency
Refer to the Highway Code for further information.
Rules for pedestrians (1 to 35) - The Highway Code - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Cyclists
Clothing. You should avoid clothes that may get tangled in the chain, or in a wheel or may obscure your lights when you are cycling.
Light-coloured or fluorescent clothing can help other road users to see you in daylight and poor light, while reflective clothing and/or accessories (belt, arm or ankle bands) can increase your visibility in the dark.
You should wear a cycle helmet that conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened. Evidence suggests that a correctly fitted helmet will reduce your risk of sustaining a head injury in certain circumstances.
At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.
When riding in places where sharing with pedestrians, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles is permitted, take care when passing pedestrians and horse riders, especially children, older adults or disabled people. Slow down when necessary and let them know you are there; for example, by ringing your bell (it is recommended that a bell is fitted to your bike), or by calling out politely.
Remember that pedestrians may be deaf, blind or partially sighted and that this may not be obvious.
Do not pass pedestrians, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles closely or at high speed, particularly from behind. You should not pass a horse on their left. Remember that horses can be startled if passed without warning. Always be prepared to slow down and stop when necessary.
Refer to the Highway Code for further information.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82
Street Safety and Repairs
FixMyStreet is a service which allows mapping and reporting street problems to the councils responsible for fixing them, anywhere in the UK.
The Northamptonshire's Councils FixMyStreet webpage can be found at
https://fixmystreet.northamptonshire.gov.uk/
The FixMyStreet app is available for portable devices and details can be found at
SafeStreet
StreetSafe is a pilot service for anyone to anonymously tell the police about public places where they feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, eg street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, eg being followed or verbally abused.
Please note: 'StreetSafe' is not for reporting crime or incidents.
Police Help
If something has happened to you or someone you know (including in public spaces online) you can call the police on 101 or find out what online reporting services are available. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use textphone service 18000 or text the police on 999 if you've pre-registered with the emergencySMS service.
WalkSafe
The WalkSafe app has sat-nav features, which include a live map where your family and friends will be able to track your journey and chat with you in real time. It provides a map which allows people to plan their safest route home, by looking at recent crime data. TapSafe will immediately connect you to loved if something goes wrong. HomeSafe can automatically alert loved ones if you fail to get home on time. Further information I available from Walksafe
Link: https://www.walksafe.io/