Highways Agency
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Highways Agency's new magazine gives advice on staying safe on the road
A new magazine from the Highways Agency is making information and helpful guidelines available to road users who may consider themselves to have a disability.
The magazine, called "My Way", aims to help road users stay safe and keep moving. It contains advice on how to plan for a journey, where to get useful and up-to-date information about road conditions, some tips to help road users cope in emergency situations, and special considerations for drivers or passengers with disabilities or hearing impairments. It can be accessed in print form and online at http://www.highways.gov.uk/disability.
In line with the Agency's commitment to ask for customers' views and act on feedback, the magazine is part of a driver information programme which has been designed following an online survey of drivers with disabilities, which received in excess of 370 responses.
Nicky Ensert, Diversity Manager for the Highways Agency, said:
"We want to deliver services that all can access. To do this, we are actively working to understand the barriers that the trunk road network and our way of doing things may present for our disabled customers. For example, we have a long term programme to improve access to and across the trunk road network - in developing this a key strand has been consultation with disability groups who have helped us to establish priorities.'
Included with the magazine is an emergency advice card intended to be kept in the vehicle, and this can also be downloaded from the Highways Agency website. The magazine will be available for free at the Mobility Roadshow on 5 and 6 June.
Helen Smith, Director of Policy and Campaigns for Mobilise, a
campaigning charity for Blue Badge holders, disabled motorists,
wheelchair and scooter
users, said:
"We're pleased to be working with the Highways Agency on this project, and it's great to see a government agency taking disabled road users' interests to heart."
Safety advice is also being made available as a film presented in British Sign Language, which can be viewed via the website as above.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Issued by the Highways Agency Press Office. For details contact
Alex Barnett or Stuart Thompson on 020 7081 7443.
Media
enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency
National Press Office on 020 7081 7443.
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. "My Way" magazine is available for free at the Mobility Roadshow on 5 and 6 June 2009, or online at http://www.highways.gov.uk/disability, along with the emergency advice card. Also available is an online film signed in British Sign Language.
3. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is available:
* From our Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
* From the web at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo or http://www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
4. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary.
Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.
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Issued by the Highways Agency Press Office. For details contact Alex Barnett or Stuart Thompson on 020 7081 7443.
