The new van, still a unique venture for any distribution company to pursue in the United Kingdom, covers sleep apnoea and general tiredness at the wheel.
The van displays the devastating impact this sleep disorder and driving without sleeping or taking sufficient breaks had on Steve and Toby.
Steve was killed, along with nine other people, at the Selby Rail Crash due a car driver falling asleep at the wheel and crashing onto the rail tracks.
The investigation found that the driver had been driving in a sleep-deprived condition and had not applied the brakes as his car had went down the embankment towards the rail tracks, indicating that he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Toby was killed by a sleeping driver who did not know he had sleep apnoea.
Many people are not aware of this disorder and how the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance.
A website has been launched about Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and road safety to raise awareness of this condition. Please visit this excellent site for further information.
Click the slideshow below to view the new van.
With the launch of these vans KDS are proud to continue their journey with Shell that has allowed us to display our road safety vans at a number of Shell forecourts across Scotland.
The new van was displayed at the busy Hillington Shell garage in Glasgow in April.
This follows on from successful van displays and road safety guidance at Shell forecourts in Edinburgh and Paisley.
The feedback from the general public and Shell staff has been phenomenal, confirming the effect these vans also have on the road.
Below are a selection of comments.
“Customers that were getting fuel at garage, when paying for it were commenting on the story asking if it was true and also commenting on how disgraceful it was when people were being ignorant of the facts that are staring them and also happening every day on our roads.”
“One customer had said that she had just witnessed someone on phone while sitting at lights just up from garage.”
“Customers praised the garage about having vehicle sitting in forecourt for the weekend, as it was good to see this being projected at the spot where they know is a dangerous junction.”
“All “2 YOUNG 2 DIE” leaflets were handed out to customers whilst at counter paying for fuel; customers were very interested in these leaflets.”
“Emma and her team gave great feedback on the Road Safety Vehicle on forecourt of garage, commenting on how the road junction that the garage sits on is a spot where the police are always out doing checks on members of the public using mobile phones, so this could not have worked better and had more of a response of raising awareness.”
“All team at Maybury Shell realised and fed back that after working at the garage, and seeing so many people on mobile phones each day, that they fully backed and appreciated what the message was about and were pleased that this was happening at Maybury.”