South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
News
08 Jan 2021
WEHRLE'S WORLD: NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
A happy new year to everyone! I hope that 2021 brings all that you are wishing for.
As I look back on a 2020 that none of us expected and reflect on such a tough year, I’m grateful for so many things; friends and family who are safe and well, a home and community that have sheltered me through difficult months and a team of staff who have worked so hard from their dining room tables to continue to engage with our audience. Like everyone, we have faced many challenges, but we have persevered, adapted and learnt a lot about ourselves along the way.
So, as is traditional at this time of year, thoughts now turn to New Year’s resolutions; our best intentions to change those bad habits, achieve a new goal or improve our life. I usually find that new exercise regime or diet has been kicked into touch not long after the Christmas decorations have come down. But maybe this year, those resolutions will be a little different as a result of everything we have experienced in 2020. I hope that we can all resolve to be kind to ourselves and others.
I want this year to be the year I start to get fitter (OK, so I say that every year!) But this year maybe I’m being more realistic. Instead of joining the gym or swimming a mile, I’ll use the time I have now built into my routine to turn my daily walk into more strenuous exercise; maybe a little jog and build up to a run? And I hope to spend more time cycling so I can do a better job of keeping up with my husband when we go out on our bikes. That means the hi-vis gear I bought last year will still come in handy when I head out, so I can be seen by others when I’m on the road. As I novice cyclist, the new series the Safer Roads Partnership has planned on cycle safety will be useful. But, as ever, we’ll still be appealing to drivers to look out for cyclists, slow down and give cycles plenty of room as drivers over take.
I also want to make more of an effort to keep in touch with friends and family. Staying connected is so important in these times, when it would be easy to feel isolated and have no one to talk to. It provides a chance to laugh, to reminisce, to plan and look forward to get togethers in the future. Technology has been a great help in enabling us to stay in touch with friends during 2020 and I’ll continue during 2021. At least meeting up virtually on a Saturday evening for a catch up and drinks means no one has to be the designated driver and take the soft drinks option.
Mental wellbeing is something that has become much more talked about recently and it’s something that we need to take as seriously as our physical health. I’ll be trying some mindfulness practice to reduce stress and anxiety and help me to feel calmer. Being in the right frame of mind can also help us to be better drivers. And in 2021 the Safer Roads Partnership will be developing some new interventions for young drivers to provide some simple techniques to address negative emotions and help to control associated impulsive behaviour.
As for those bad habits that might need to be addressed, the New Year is a great time to assess my driving practices and look at where improvements might be needed. I drove a lot less in 2020, so skills and confidence can fade. At the end of a drive think, “if that was my driving test, would I have passed?” Did I use my indicators correctly to signal my intentions to other road users, did I use my mirrors enough so that I’m aware of everything that is going on around me? Am I leaving sufficient space between me and the vehicle in front? Am I giving cyclists plenty of room as I pass them? Do I need to brush up on my reversing skills? In the coming months, look out for tips from the Safer Roads Partnership on eco-driving to save you money, help to save the environment and make you a safer driver.
The New Year is a great time for taking stock and reflecting on how we could do better. But as well as improving yourself this year please also be kind to others. Continue to look out for others and offer help and support, as we have done during 2020.
We’ve all worked hard and played our part by sticking to the rules to protect ourselves, our friends and family, but also to protect total strangers from the spread of coronavirus. By also applying those same principles on the roads of sticking to the rules, giving each other space and respecting each others’ needs, we can all have a safe, healthy and happy 2021.
Until next time, stay safe.
Joanne
As I look back on a 2020 that none of us expected and reflect on such a tough year, I’m grateful for so many things; friends and family who are safe and well, a home and community that have sheltered me through difficult months and a team of staff who have worked so hard from their dining room tables to continue to engage with our audience. Like everyone, we have faced many challenges, but we have persevered, adapted and learnt a lot about ourselves along the way.
So, as is traditional at this time of year, thoughts now turn to New Year’s resolutions; our best intentions to change those bad habits, achieve a new goal or improve our life. I usually find that new exercise regime or diet has been kicked into touch not long after the Christmas decorations have come down. But maybe this year, those resolutions will be a little different as a result of everything we have experienced in 2020. I hope that we can all resolve to be kind to ourselves and others.
I want this year to be the year I start to get fitter (OK, so I say that every year!) But this year maybe I’m being more realistic. Instead of joining the gym or swimming a mile, I’ll use the time I have now built into my routine to turn my daily walk into more strenuous exercise; maybe a little jog and build up to a run? And I hope to spend more time cycling so I can do a better job of keeping up with my husband when we go out on our bikes. That means the hi-vis gear I bought last year will still come in handy when I head out, so I can be seen by others when I’m on the road. As I novice cyclist, the new series the Safer Roads Partnership has planned on cycle safety will be useful. But, as ever, we’ll still be appealing to drivers to look out for cyclists, slow down and give cycles plenty of room as drivers over take.
I also want to make more of an effort to keep in touch with friends and family. Staying connected is so important in these times, when it would be easy to feel isolated and have no one to talk to. It provides a chance to laugh, to reminisce, to plan and look forward to get togethers in the future. Technology has been a great help in enabling us to stay in touch with friends during 2020 and I’ll continue during 2021. At least meeting up virtually on a Saturday evening for a catch up and drinks means no one has to be the designated driver and take the soft drinks option.
Mental wellbeing is something that has become much more talked about recently and it’s something that we need to take as seriously as our physical health. I’ll be trying some mindfulness practice to reduce stress and anxiety and help me to feel calmer. Being in the right frame of mind can also help us to be better drivers. And in 2021 the Safer Roads Partnership will be developing some new interventions for young drivers to provide some simple techniques to address negative emotions and help to control associated impulsive behaviour.
As for those bad habits that might need to be addressed, the New Year is a great time to assess my driving practices and look at where improvements might be needed. I drove a lot less in 2020, so skills and confidence can fade. At the end of a drive think, “if that was my driving test, would I have passed?” Did I use my indicators correctly to signal my intentions to other road users, did I use my mirrors enough so that I’m aware of everything that is going on around me? Am I leaving sufficient space between me and the vehicle in front? Am I giving cyclists plenty of room as I pass them? Do I need to brush up on my reversing skills? In the coming months, look out for tips from the Safer Roads Partnership on eco-driving to save you money, help to save the environment and make you a safer driver.
The New Year is a great time for taking stock and reflecting on how we could do better. But as well as improving yourself this year please also be kind to others. Continue to look out for others and offer help and support, as we have done during 2020.
We’ve all worked hard and played our part by sticking to the rules to protect ourselves, our friends and family, but also to protect total strangers from the spread of coronavirus. By also applying those same principles on the roads of sticking to the rules, giving each other space and respecting each others’ needs, we can all have a safe, healthy and happy 2021.
Until next time, stay safe.
Joanne
