Road safety activists are to launch a PR offensive in an attempt to
gain a media relations advantage over the motoring lobby.
Brake, the road safety charity, is to take action after repeated and
successful attempts by groups such as the Motorists Association to
highlight the cost, disruption and civil liberty issues around road
safety schemes, such as speed cameras.
The focus of Brake's campaign will be to give training to emergency
services PROs on how to gain a more favourable public perception of such
schemes. A series of regional training seminars will take place next
year.
The campaign launches on 3 December at a Brake conference called Getting
Road Safety in the News. BBC Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross is among the
speakers.
Brake PRO Angela Thompson said: 'Particuarly in the tabloid press, the
headlines involve big brother cameras and focus on the cost. What has
been forgotten is that these schemes save lives.'
