United Kingdom | Association

AIRSO is an independent, individual membership association registered charity, and aims to advance education and training among all road users in the furtherance of casualty reduction and prevention. At the end of 2005, the Membership of AIRSO was 583.

We feel there is a need to develop a Code of Practice so as to improve the operation of Refuse Collection Vehicles on the highway. Over the next three years (2006-2009), we will develop a Code of Practice (supported by sponsorship) for the safe operation of Refuse Collection Vehicles to be available to all Local Authorities and their service providers where appropriate. It is proposed that it will be launched at a conference. We will form a Working Group to draw up the Code of Practice, gaining the support of the Health and Safety Executive and the Local Authority Associations where appropriate. The Working Group will also have representatives of the unions and those authorities where incidents have taken place.

We aim to reduce road risk in the voluntary sector. Over the next three years (2006-2009), we will establish a number of seminars/workshops and conferences that are specifically orientated for the various voluntary organisations, in terms of those that deal with youth and community groups. The needs and requirements of each organisation will be assessed on an individual basis. We will tackle two voluntary organisations each year. The delivery of the programmes will be discussed with each organisation so as to decide whether the subject matter should be delivered on a national, regional or local basis. We believe that the increased knowledge that the seminars/workshops will bring to voluntary-sector drivers will reduce road risk, as they will be better equipped to deal with various road situations.

We wish to further improve the driving skills of those who manage/drive minibuses, with particular reference to schools, colleges and voluntary bodies. Over the coming three years (2006-2009), we will establish a series of workshops for a maximum of 48 people at any one time, working on a county basis and running approximately three/four times a year.