Special Sub-Topic: Milestones in UK Road Safety Click Here To Play: Milestones in UK Road Safety

The Locomotive Act 1865 was otherwise known by what name?

The Red Flag Act. Under the Act, it was stipulated that someone carrying a red flag would have to walk 60 yards (55 meters) ahead of any self propelled motor vehicle, and warn horse-drawn traffic of the approaching menace.

What was the maximum speed allowed for self-propelled motor vehicles under the terms of the Locomotive Act 1865?

4 mph in the countryside and 2mph in the towns.. The flag carrier had to enforce a walking pace. Drivers were not encouraged to run over their flagmen. Despite the lethargic progress, statistics show over 1500 fatalities in RTA's by 1875.

In 1896, with the passing of the Locomotives on Highways Act, a new class of "light vehicles" was created. What was the maximum unladen weight of these supposedly light vehicles?

Up to 3 tons. Also known as The Emancipation Act, it removed the need for the lighter vehicles to have a minimum crew of 3 (driver/stoker/flagman) and allowed them to race along at 14 mph. The relaxation of the 3 crew rule eased the way for the rapid growth of the British car industry.

To celebrate the introduction of the "Locomotives on Highways Act 1896" (also known as the "Emancipation Act"), Henry J Lawson instituted which annual event?

London to Brighton Rally. The Royal Automobile Club's annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the world's longest-running motoring event. As it is a 60 mile run from Hyde Park in central London to the seafront on the Sussex resort of Brighton, many of the elderly vehicles (and some of the occupants) find it all too much.

Which of the following was NOT introduced by the 1903 Motor Car Act?

Car Insurance. Local Authorities could reduce the maximum speed limit to 10 mph in areas that they thought too dangerous. Car Insurance was made compulsory in 1930.

In which year was the Highway Code first introduced?

1931. The Road Traffic Act of 1930 had required the Minister of Transport to prepare a code of directions for the guidance of road users. It was published the following year.

What were Belisha Beacons?

Flashing orange globes. Placed on top of poles on each side of the road, they marked pedestrian crossings, and helped drivers kill fewer people. They were named after Leslie Hore Belisha (later 1st Baron Hore-Belisha), Minister of Transport 1934-37, who also introduced the compulsory driving test. The early warning system against the Napoleonic threat was a chain of Martello Towers around the coast. The studs were called Catseyes, but didnt involve any animal cruelty. These were invented and manufactured in Yorkshire by Percy Shaw.

What kind of animal was Tufty Fluffytail?

Red Squirrel. Tufty was created by Elsie Mills MBE, and was used in a series of public information films aimed at children, so that they would cross the road safely. People of a certain age may remember being in the Tufty Club, which started in 1961. I probably have a badge somewhere! The essence of such messages seemed to be "When you want to go to the ice cream van, always take mummy with you".

With the development of faster and faster cars, the newly built motorways encouraged some drivers to go at lunatic speeds. In which year was the current 70mph national speed limit passed by Parliament?

1965. This measure was piloted through Parliament by Minister of Transport Thomas Fraser M.P. He was immediately replaced by Barbara Castle who introduced the breathalyser in 1967.

In 1972, it was made compulsory for all motorcyclists in the UK to wear what?

Helmets. Successive Goverments throughout the 1970s attempted to make the wearing of seat belts in cars compulsory, but this wasn't passed until 1983. www.rospa.com/history/beltingup.htm

The appearance of what tells pedestrians it is safe to cross the road at a Pelican crossing?

Little green man. The official name is Pelicon crossing (short for PEdestrian LIght CONtrolled crossing).

Under the Green Cross code, what were you meant do once you had thought carefully and found somewhere safe to cross the road?

Stop!. The Green Cross code was drawn up by ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and is promoted by the Department of the Environment, in continued efforts to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries.

Lieutenant Commander "Bill" Boaks was an eccentric gentlemen who stood for Parliamentary election many times. He often stood as the "Air, Road, Public Safety, White Resident" candidate. He died in 1986. How did he die?

He died of complications arising from a head injury. This was sustained in a Road Traffic Accident while getting off a bus in 1984.

In an effort to discourage illegal parking, the UK traffic authorities introduced wheel clamps to be fitted to offending vehicles. What do Americans call these devices?

Denver Boots. The Denver boot was invented and patented in 1953 by Frank Marugg. Marugg was an inventor and a violinist with the Denver Symphony Orchestra.

As a result of the safety measures introduced over the years, and advances in technology to do with car manufacture (ABS brakes, crumple zones, etc), UK road deaths have come down substantially. How many died on Britain's roads in 2004

3221. This figure was the lowest since accurate records began to be kept in 1926.