Safe Beginnings
Page 47
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THERE are now no fewer than 16 holders of 40-year-awards —signifying a driving life free from blameworthy accident or infringement of traffic laws—among the 300,000 drivers who take part in RoSPA's annual safety scheme. And if you have ever wondered how the whole scheme started, the answer came last
week when the London Accident Prevention Council celebrated its 50th anniversary in Caxton Hall, London, where it was inaugurated in 1916.
It was this London Council that started a Freedom from Accident competition for commercial drivers in 1918—and this was the forerunner of today's RoSPA contest.
Anyone who remains cynical about road safety should sit and contemplate some of the statistics which Prince Philip used in his speech at the anniversary meeting: For example, in the next 10 Years over four million people will be killed or injured on Britain's roads. If that doesn't jolt you, nothing will.