“AIRSO provides one of the largest platforms available across the road safety spectrum”

AIRSO, a membership organisation, has grown from a handful of people who retired from the police service, ending their career at the famous Metropolitan Police Driving School at Hendon, and took off on their second career as road safety officers in industry. If they could, they would actually tell us that a major part of their work was in driver education and training for the staff in their various industries. That was 40 years ago, which indicates that even then some companies were concerned to ensure that their drivers were highly skilled and the reputation of the company could remain intact. Even at that time, company directors and managers recognised that a safe company was not only an efficient company, but also profitable.

Such was the thirst among those who had left Hendon and stepped into the unknown to share their new experiences that they continued to meet together informally to exchange good practice and engender support from one another. It was soon formalised and in 1965 AIRSO was born, then – and until recently – referred to as the Association of Industrial Road Safety Officers, a title now only used on formal occasions. The AIRSO membership is now comprised of many high-profile individuals who work in road safety, as they recognise the contribution that the association is making in a realistic way to the safety of our streets.

The association of the 21st century is a lot different from that founded in 1965. It has fast become an organisation for those whose work is any way connected with the promotion of road safety, boasting a membership from both the statutory and voluntary services, those who are responsible for training drivers and managing the risk of people who during the course of their daily work use the road. As such, it is the home for fleet and transport managers, human resources and health and safety officers, road safety officers, those working in the emergency services, the armed forces, road safety engineers and many of those working in other road safety organisations. AIRSO is, therefore, providing one of the largest platforms available on a regular basis across the spectrum for networking and ensuring at least some integration of ideas and practices occurs.

An elected Council of Management steers the association in a way in which the traditions of AIRSO are maintained, but recognises the constant need for new innovation in order to run the affairs of an expanding organisation which needs to command its rightful place in setting the pace and practices for the safety of all who use the road. AIRSO is financed by its annual subscription payable by all members and the small charge it makes for some of its activities. In essence the association has become known for its high-value programmes providing continuous professional development for its members for a very low cost. The continuing programme of conferences and seminars ensures that members are kept up to date with the latest road safety research, promotion and training techniques. The programmes are designed to provide high-value inputs by experienced and highly regarded speakers. They are interactive in their approach and provide the opportunity for those attending to question and debate the issues that are being addressed.

Graham Feest, Secretary, AIRSO

“AIRSO aims to give an honest opinion together with guidance”

A regular e-mail service to all members allows them to keep up to date with the developments in road safety as well as serving as a reminder about what is going on in the association and what position is being taken over high-profile issues. The AIRSO website hosts the National Road Safety Diary listing national and regional events. The diary is designed to assist organisers of like-minded events and to provide an opportunity to inform interested persons about forthcoming events. Also listed are conferences and courses arranged by commercial bodies. To celebrate the 40th anniversary, AIRSO is developing a web-based directory of those providing road safety training and related services. The provider list aims to be the most comprehensive of its kind and will be constantly developed throughout the year. The starting point has been a directory of those schools providing large goods vehicle training.

AIRSO is represented on the Parliamentary Council for Transport Safety, including its Road User Working Group, the Fleet Safety Association, the National Road Safety Committee, RoadSafe, London Accident Prevention Council, and the Occupational Road Risk Alliance. It has strong links with the Department for Transport, the Driving Standards Agency and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Transport Research Laboratory, the Highways Agency and the Vehicle and Operators Services Agency. All these consult the association on a regular basis about regulatory matters and other initiatives, proposed in the interest of road safety in its broadest context. AIRSO conducts its high-profile road safety work via a Road Safety Group, which comprises a number of portfolio holders who have been appointed to head up the work of the association in the areas of law, motorcycling, education training and publicity, public service vehicles and training, large goods vehicles and training, car and light goods vehicles and training, managing occupational road risk, emergency services and road safety engineering and infrastructure.

AIRSO takes a balanced view of road safety, recognising that on the one hand, safety is paramount but also that society as a whole needs to continue to function. It would therefore follow that there are times when AIRSO does not follow the puristic road safety line, but seeks to enhance the management of the risks associated with everyday practices. It opens itself up to being consulted by any organisation or individual that is seeking comment, guidance or support/endorsement about a particular idea or initiative, which will have an impact on road safety. This service is available free of charge, and using the wide range of expertise available through the AIRSO Road Safety Group the association seeks to give an honest opinion together with guidance if appropriate about such proposals. The association will, from time to time, support an initiative in a way in which it becomes a positive position of the association and lend its support towards bringing about changes in legislation. AIRSO is host to the National Blue Light Users Conference, which was set up in 1998 and has now become an annual event for all the emergency services.

The Conference is designed for those who manage or train drivers who, during the course of their work, drive emergency vehicles of any category whether in the course of their normal activity or under blue light conditions. As a result of the Conference, AIRSO has produced a five-minute video and a leaflet aimed at the public, giving clear and simple advice of what they should do if confronted by an emergency vehicle with sirens and lights ablaze.

For more information, visit: Website: www.airso.org.uk