Kia UK
Passenger safety is a fundamental feature of every model that Kia sells in the UK, and the Soul EV is well-aligned with Project EDWARD’s stated aims to reduce road deaths.
As standard, the car’s active safety and driver assist features include anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Detection with Rear-Cross Traffic Assist and Driver Attention Warning. These systems are intended to help drivers avoid potential hazards and collisions.
Furthermore, the car’s bodyshell features Kia’s most recent expertise in maintaining structural integrity in the event of a collision, with a high proportion of high-strength steel used to create its body structure. The cabin is also fitted with seven airbags throughout the cabin, as well as ISOFIX child seat tethers, further protecting occupants.
Nextbase Dashcams
Nextbase UK pioneered a range of dash cams which are currently the most popular in the UK and the Nextbase 322GW Dashcam was fitted to each road trip car to record the road ahead and protect our drivers.
The award-winning 322GW includes revolutionary new safety features, helping you enjoy a safer journey than ever before. The 1080p HD model uses Emergency SOS to alert the emergency services to your location in the event of an accident. With a new IPS HD touch screen, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built-in, the 322GW is an extremely well connected Dash Cam.
Nextbase even provided a load of dashcams to give away on our road trip.
Webfleet Solutions
Webfleet is Europe’s number one vehicle tracking & fleet management software. Webfleet provides real-time location of vehicles, lets you communicate directly with your drivers, helps improving driving behaviour and drop routes, saving fuel & time. Our Kia Soul road trip cars were fitted with Webfleet systems so website visitors could track the vehicles in real time and see how efficiently each was being driven. Detailed fleet data was sent to our operations team who planned routes so that our drivers knew where to charge them for optimum journey planning.
GRIDSERVE
The GRIDSERVE Electric Highway is a low-cost, rapid and high power charging infrastructure that is reaching every corner of the UK, covering 85% of the UK’s motorway network. GRIDSERVE offers rapid and high power charging options at their Electric Forecourts® and selected Electric Highway Hubs, where 350 kW high power chargers can deliver 350+ miles of range from a 20 min charge on enabled vehicles. GRIDSERVE was charging the Project EDWARD Kia Soul EVs as each car sought to cover around 1000 miles during the week.
Aura Brand Solutions
Aura Brand Solutions provide comprehensive livery solutions for commercial and public service fleets. From promotional wraps to complete fleet rebrands, Aura will help you mobilise your brand.
Over 100,000 vehicles on UK roads carry Aura graphics including the three Kia Soul EVs that we used on the Project EDWARD road trip.
DfBB
Driving for Better Business is a free to access government-backed National Highways programme, delivered in partnership with RoadSafe, to help employers in the private and public sectors reduce work-related road risk, protecting staff who drive or ride for work, and others who they may share the road with. A number of road trip stops will be featuring employers with large fleets and lots of employees who driver for work. We showcased what these businesses were doing to ensure their own drivers and other road users remain as safe as possible.
This was our road trip schedule including live broadcast times
Mon 13th Morning
Join us live at 10.15
Black car
Dundee
Helping to Go Safe with Ziggy and with a police team as they carry out a roadside operation.
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Ely
Visiting the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership to see their ‘Surround the Town’ event. We’ll be talking to some of the key people behind their Vision Zero road safety strategy, built around the safe system, and visiting the various stands and activities in Market Square.
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Devon
We’ll be at the Marsh Mills retail park on the outskirts of Plymouth as we welcome Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez to provide a formal launch of the week of action. She will be joined by representatives of the emergency services, road safety professionals, and trauma surgeons.
Mon 13th Afternoon
Join us live at 15.00
Black car
Traffic Scotland Control Centre
Visiting the Control Centre to see first-hand how it contributes to road safety. Also taking a look at the new electric safety camera van and other vehicles
White car
Still with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership well be looking at speed enforcement with the roads police unit and Community SpeedWatch teams, vehicle roadworthiness initiatives, , tyre checks, pedestrian and cycle safety for youngsters, and post-crash care.
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Exeter Airport
Recorded highlights of the lunchtime visit to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue’s training academy, where we are promised some superb aerial footage of the Project Edward car and an extensive convoy of emergency vehicles… let’s hope for good weather on the day!
Tue 14th Morning
Join us live at 09.00
Black car
Cambuslang, Scotland
At the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service HQ for a Vision Zero event, with a casualty extrication demonstration. Then looking at one of the first Average Speed Check sites to be set up on a local road.
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Sussex & London
An early start at Plumpton College to see Sussex police’s Operation Close Pass horse event with the British Horse Society.
Then it’s back up the M23 to NW London to visit a large urban construction site where they’re focusing on truck safety to ensure transport movements on and off site are as safe as possible.
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M4, Wiltshire
A live look at Operation Tramline, created by National Highways and implemented by police forces across the country. Tramline uses the cover of an inconspicuous truck cab to allow police officers a good view of what may be going on in other vehicles. Examples of unsafe driver behaviour in previous operations include non-wearing of seatbelts, drivers on the phone and all kinds of other distractions. We’ll also be joined by Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
Tue 14th Afternoon
Join us live at 15.45
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Cleveland
The launch of Community Speed Watch by Cleveland Police, with new equipment funded by speed awareness course attendances. Talking to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the area. Also looking at a demonstration of post-crash response by Fire and Rescue teams.
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Chelmsford
Tuesday afternoon sees the launch of the Essex Vision Zero road safety strategy. There lots to see and do with activities that support all five themes of the safe system. We’ll also be talking the partners about their objectives and expectations for the new strategy.
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Hampshire
At a Royal Mail depot looking at safe driving for work, then on to Hampshire Fire and Rescue to look at a casualty extrication exercise.
Wed 15th Morning – #SafeSpeeds24 day
Join us live at 09.45
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Lincolnshire
Spending the day with Lincolnshire Police as part of the first ever UK-wide Safe Speeds Day, running from 7am to 7am. We’ll be looking at live police operations, discussing equipment and talking about the human cost of excessive speed.
We’ll be talking live to the operational lead for England and Wales, as well as to Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner. We’ll also have updates from around the country on National Safe Speeds Day
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Manston, Kent
Launching Kent’s Vision Zero strategy, a multi-agency approach to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the county’s roads, with VIPs and keynote speakers. We’ll be talking to the people behind the development of the VZ strategy, demonstrating active vehicle safety technology with Thatcham Research including emergency braking systems for vans and trucks.
There’s also a road safety conference that we’ll be streaming live from 12.30 to 16.00.
Blue car
New Forest
Focusing on two things: speed and horses. Our reporter will be in the saddle to experience life as a vulnerable road user. Also on hand will be a team from Hampshire Police to play their part in Safe Speeds Day and to discuss initiatives designed to protect people and animals in the New Forest.
Wed 15th Afternoon – #SafeSpeeds24 day
Join us live at 12.30 and 19.00
Black car
Lincolnshire
Spending the day with Lincolnshire Police as part of the first ever UK-wide Safe Speeds day, running from 7am to 7am. We’ll be looking at live police operations, discussing equipment and talking about the human cost of excessive speed.
We’ll also have updates from around the country.
White car
Manston, Kent
The live road safety conference features a wide range of thought leaders and experts in road safety, and will be opened by the leader of Kent County Council Roger Gough alongside Prince Michael of Kent. The conference will look at delivering safer vehicles, delivering safe roads and streets, and promoting community engagement. Closing remarks will come from Kent PCC Matthew Scott.
In a late evening broadcast we’ll also be talking to some of the suppliers who’ll be helping the Kent partnership deliver their VZ strategy.
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Bracknell and Gloucestershire
At a supermarket distribution depot looking at some great examples of safer driving for work, then on to Gloucestershire to view community speed enforcement activity.
Thu 16th Morning
Join us live at 10.30
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Nottingham
In the city centre, looking at road enforcement activity in response to locally-highlighted concerns.
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Quinton
Operation Tramline will be working the M5 all week and we’re talking to Mark Cartwright of National Highways about the objectives for this initiative, as well as others that his Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team are working on.
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West Mercia and South Wales
In Leominster for an event including West Mercia PCC John Campion, then on to St Brides for work with South Wales PCC Alun Michael.
Thu 16th Afternoon
Join us live at 15.00
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West Midlands
Looking at Operation Safer Junction with West Midlands Police, at a particularly dangerous location.
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Stoke
Openreach operates one of the biggest fleets in the country and so its imperative that they take driver safety seriously. We’re visiting their dedicated staff training centre to look at the induction training for new recruits, including a mix of virtual reality and on-road programmes as well as talking to the key people making sure Openreach drivers are some of the safest on the road.
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Pont Abraham Services
At the western end of the M4 motorway, with Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn and partners.
Fri 17th Morning
Join us live at 11.00
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Coventry
The last day of the 2021 week of action sees all road trips join up to visit a major construction site to see how how commercial vehicle drivers should be managed throughout a large supply chain. This event features some of the biggest employers in the country and we’ll be watching driving competitions, technology demonstrations and interviews with some of the leaders responsible for ensuring the safety of both drivers and other road users.
White car
Coventry
The last day of the 2021 week of action sees all road trips join up to visit a major construction site to see how how commercial vehicle drivers should be managed throughout a large supply chain. This event features some of the biggest employers in the country and we’ll be watching driving competitions, technology demonstrations and interviews with some of the leaders responsible for ensuring the safety of both drivers and other road users.
Blue car
Coventry
The last day of the 2021 week of action sees all road trips join up to visit a major construction site to see how how commercial vehicle drivers should be managed throughout a large supply chain. This event features some of the biggest employers in the country and we’ll be watching driving competitions, technology demonstrations and interviews with some of the leaders responsible for ensuring the safety of both drivers and other road users.
