LAURIE BUNN AWARD


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HOW IT ALL BEGAN

It all began during the dark days of the First World War, when a company of about 200 public spirited people assembled at Caxton Hall on December 1st 1916 at the invitation of Mr H E Blain (later Sir Herbert Blain), (the Operating Manager of the London General Omnibus Company). Members were invited to discuss if anything could be done to reduce the alarming increase in road traffic accidents occurring in the Metropolis.

At that time there were only 428,000 licensed vehicles using our roads but there were a staggering 46,199 accidents recorded of which 833 proved fatal. Something had to be done in an attempt to tackle this terrible carnage

The Meeting decided on a proposal from the Mayor of Westminster that the Conference approve the organisation of a "Safety First" campaign in the Metropolitan area and the election of a "Safety First" Council.

The first meeting of the Council was held on the 17th January 1917, out of these two meetings and the work of a handful of dedicated people, determined to apply their specialist knowledge in organising an all out attempt to reduce London's accident figures, has grown the national movement we know today.

One of the first major efforts of the Council was to promote in 1918 the "Safe Driving" competition, as it was immediately realised that the co-operation of the professional driver was essential. The object of the competition was to encourage, by the award of money prizes and badges of merit, drivers of all classes of vehicles to exercise every care and discretion in their driving.

Read on........<<<Work of the London Accident Prevention Council>>>