Publicity - 2006
December
 The Road Safety Team decided to run a Christmas “Drink-Drive” campaign with a difference this year. We targeted young male drivers with a tongue-in-cheek promotion designed to catch their attention and give them a serious message to think about. The campaign was titled: “Whose bed will you end up in after the Xmas party?” Posters carried this headline alongside a picture of a drunk-driver in a prison cell bed.
This was complimented by a radio commercial which carried a story-line about a drunken driver chatting up a woman, who turns out to be a police officer!
Click here to listen to the commercial.
November
Road Safety Week November 6-12
Road Safety Week is every week for the team but this year we tested our new driving simulator on an unsuspecting staff at the county council's headquarters in Endeavour House, Ipswich.
The simulator takes the driver through a number of different driving scenarios, including rural and urban environments, and different conditions, such as rain and snow.
The equipment tests reaction times, the ability to follow a vehicle in front safely and hazard awareness.
October
 Be safe Be Seen
Road safety staff supported this national campaign by distributing "Hedgehog" materials to the county's schools. Several schools also held "Brightness Days". These are educational days where lessons are themed around safety and being seen. As a special treat pupils are encouraged to leave their uniform at home and come to school in bright clothing!
September
Child Restraints New Law
There was already a lot of national publicity about this new law and so we supplemented this information campaign at a local level with a burst of radio advertising and a great offer of some free booster seats.
For more information about the new law Click here
August
 Drug Drive
Road safety officers teamed up with the police and the council's Drug Action Team to promote an anti-drug/drive message throughout Suffolk. The campaign is being targeted at 17 to 25-year-olds, the age group regarded most likely to be at risk of drug driving, and aimed at preventing accidents and injuries on the county's roads. Selected pubs and nightclubs will display posters supported by a radio campaign.
Listen to the DRUG DRIVE commercial click here
July
Pass Plus roadshow
At Lowestoft Air Show Vibe fm took to the airways at the end of this month with a special outside broadcast which featured PASS PLUS, our young driver promotion for 2006. The "Vibe Tribe" handed out leaflets and explained the benefits of taking extra training.
Listen to the PASS PLUS commercial click here
See the PASS PLUS television commercial click here
Older driver and Pass Plus roadshows
The Pass Plus and Older Driver promotion continued with a big screen display at Tower Ramparts, Ipswich. Road safety officers took along a reaction timer which proved popular with young and old alike!
June
Suffolk Show
Once again the road safety team were out in force at this year's Suffolk Show. We really made a big effort this year, launching two major campaigns - Pass Plus and Older Driver - together with our new motorcycle website (see May).
Our other Roadsafe partners joined us: the police promoted Bikesafe motorcycle training, the Safety Camera Partnership demonstrated safety camera equipment, and the Fire Service created a spectacular reconstruction of a crash scene.
For more information about Pass Plus click here
For more information about Older Driver click here
See the Older Driver television commercial click here
Junior Road Safety Officers and School Travel Plan Awards
Pupils from Suffolk Schools were rewarded for their road safety work at a special award ceremony in Endeavour House this month. Junior Road Safety Officers from three schools were presented with JRSO of the Year shields and youngsters from two other schools won School Travel Plan of the Year trophies.
Suffolk Roadsafe Cycle Show
The county council supported this year's Suffolk Cycle Roadsafe Show, which was held at Martlesham Park and Ride site. Visitors were treated to a great day's entertainment with Vibe fm acting as our hosts and freestyle displays from Team Extreme. The Ipswich to Felixstowe Charity Cycle Ride raised funds for St Elizabeth Hospice and Vibe fm's Children's Trust.
May
Walk to School Week
Walk to School Week has become a firm part of the school calendar and this year we had a record number of pupils sign up to walk on the school journey. 32,000 children took part - an increase of 4000 over last year. This annual event aims to raise awareness about safety and sustainability on the way to school.
Motorcyle website
May also saw the launch of our new website aimed at motorcyclists - visit www.suffolkride.net to find out more! We produced an innovative leaflet to publicise the site, which is available as a pdf download. A great competition inside also encourages people to log on.
April
Motorcycle safety
Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils teamed up with the police and the British Motorcycle Federation to launch a new motorcycle safety initiative. Special signs aimed at both car drivers and motorcyclists have been placed on roads in North Suffolk and Norfolk. The campaign aims to make all drivers and riders more aware of road safety.
February
Anti-speeding campaign
Our "For My Girlfriend" campaign has gone from strength to strength with many other authorities beyond the Eastern Region adopting the materials to communicate the anti-speeding message to young drivers. "For My Girlfriend" has become an annual event on Valentine's Day and this year we re-launched the campaign with an event at Otley College.
With the help of our police partners we staged a stopping distances demonstration outside in front of the whole college. Students were invited to place a cut-out figure along the path of car where they thought the vehicle would stop at 30 mph. Unfortunately everyone underestimated the overall stopping distance and all the dummies were hit!
Young people at schools, colleges and other outlets in Suffolk received a special Valentine card containing a road safety message.
January
 Mobile phones
A poster offer was sent to local businesses to remind staff of the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving. This supported national advertising.
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