We’re pleased to announce that the Project EDWARD podcast has returned with the new title: My role in The Safe System. For the forthcoming season, we are planning monthly episodes starting Friday 27th October and leading us up to the Project EDWARD Parliamentary Reception. We will be working hard on presenting content that’s sparkling and compelling – as well as on growing the audience, which we believe should primarily be those with a professional interest in road safety, transport planning, sustainability, active travel, future mobility, etc.
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57 recent
June 12, 202630 min
Craig Flannery and Aled Griffiths, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue
In this edition explore the Safe System in practice with Chief Officer Craig Flannery and Head of Community Safety Aled Griffiths from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. They discuss how fire and rescue services contribute far beyond emergency response, from prevention and education to partnership working across agencies. Hear how their on-the-ground experience is shaping safer roads, reducing harm and supporting a more integrated approach to road safety across Wales and beyond.
May 22, 202621 min
Eric Richardson, New York City’s former Deputy Chief Fleet Officer
In this episode of My Role in the Safe System, we’re joined by Eric Richardson – one of the most influential voices in global fleet and urban road safety. As New York City’s former Deputy Chief Fleet Officer, Eric helped push Vision Zero from slogan to reality, rolling out safer vehicles, telematics and sideguards across one of the world’s busiest city fleets. Now Road Safety Advisor to Together for Safer Roads and Strategic Mobility Advisor at Windels Marx, he explains how big fleets, smart data and public–private partnerships can slash risk on busy urban networks. We explore why boards need to treat road safety as a core business performance issue, not just a compliance tick‑box, and what it really takes to build a “zero harm” safety culture. Eric shares powerful examples from major operators like PepsiCo and UPS, shows how smaller fleets can tap into TSR’s tools and support, and reflects on what New York’s Vision Zero journey can teach cities worldwide. We also look ahead at AI-enabled safety tech, intelligent speed assistance and the Safe System ingredients that give him real optimism for the next decade.
May 8, 202623 min
Reflections on the Mature Drivers' Conference: James Gibson and Prof Charles Musselwhite
In this episode we’re joined by James Gibson of Road Safety GB and Professor Charles Musselwhite to reflect on the Mature Drivers’ Conference held in Birmingham at the end of April 2026. With more than six million drivers aged over 70 on UK roads, we explore the growing urgency of supporting safe, sustainable mobility in later life. The conversation unpacks key insights from the event, from Safe System thinking and policy priorities to the human factors shaping identity, wellbeing and life beyond driving. We discuss gaps in current provision, the realities of driving cessation, and what practical steps road safety professionals can take to better support an ageing driver population.
April 24, 202627 min
Professor Sally Kyd, University of Leicester
Professor Sally Kyd from the University of Leicester is one of the UK’s leading experts on driving law and criminal justice. She has spent more than two decades studying how our legal framework responds when drivers cause death or serious injury. Her research challenges some long-held assumptions about what makes someone a “competent and careful driver.” In our latest episode (24 April 2026), James Luckhurst hears from Professor Kyd about the current legal framework for driving offences in the UK. The conversation focuses on the distinction between careless and dangerous driving, as well as the need for a comprehensive review of the law.Two recent fatal driving sentences are examined: Javonnie Tavener and Madeleine Lonsdale – discussing the rationale behind the charges, judicial reactions and the implications for legal consistency and public understanding. Professor Kyd considers the gap between public expectations and actual sentencing in fatal driving cases, as well as the influence of media narratives and the challenges of outcome and hindsight bias in public opinion.
April 10, 202622 min
Sarah Smithurst MBE, National Trailer and Towing Association
Sarah Smithurst MBE is Chief Operating Officer at the National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA), the UK’s main body representing the light towing industry. She leads operational delivery, member services and organisational development, championing high standards in trailer safety and customer service. With a background spanning public and private sectors, including extensive work with Nottinghamshire Police and Ghana Police, she brings wide-ranging project management and partnership experience. Passionate about Ghana, road safety and professional development, she is committed to raising standards across the towing sector and supporting people and businesses to thrive.National Trailer & Towing Association Ltd
March 27, 202619 min
Duncan Vernon, Deputy Director and Consultant in Public Health, Warwickshire
Duncan Vernon is a senior public health specialist in Warwickshire with a background in transport, road safety and health inequalities. He is Associate/Deputy Director and Consultant in Public Health working across Warwickshire County Council and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, contributing to the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System and Health and Wellbeing Board. Previously at RoSPA, he authored “Road Safety and Public Health” and led projects connecting active travel, urban planning and population health. His current work focuses on neighbourhood health, homelessness and health data, and using cross-sector partnerships to improve outcomes for vulnerable communities.
March 13, 202620 min
George Chester-Master from George's Car Media talks about his role in the Safe System
George Chester-Master has built one of the UK’s most influential car culture channels, turning more than a billion views into a force for safer, smarter driving among young and enthusiast drivers. In this episode, he talks candidly to James Luckhurst about his journey from creating engaging performance-focused content to becoming a trusted voice on legality, etiquette and risk on the road. Crucially, George is willing to unpack the story behind his driving ban – how “just a bit over” on several SP30 offences added up to a court appearance, a six‑month loss of licence and a hard reset of his attitudes to speed, responsibility and the consequences of everyday choices. He explains how that experience, together with losing friends to dangerous and impaired driving, reshaped his mission to “race the track, not the road” and to act as a relatable “bigger brother” for his audience.George's Car Media - WebsiteGeorge's Car Media - YouTubeGeorge's Car Media - InstagramGeorge's Car Media - FacebookGeorge's Car Media - LinkedIn
February 20, 202616 min
Renee Rogers from Ono talks about supporting drivers following a fleet collision
Renee Rogers from Ono talks to James about supporting drivers following a fleet collision.Renee is founder and chief executive of Ono, a company that supports drivers and fleets in the aftermath of some of the most stressful incidents on the road, helping them navigate both the human and organisational impacts of collisions. She also serves as a trustee of the Association for Road Risk Management (ARRM), the professional body focused on managing work-related road risk and championing evidence-led, safesystem thinking across organisations of all sizes. In this conversation James Luckhurst explores how her work with Ono and ARRM fits into the Safe System approach, what that means for employers and professional drivers, and how better post‑crash support and leadership can contribute to a future free from death and serious injury on our roadsOno Website
February 6, 202616 min
CLEAR the incident: Steve Bird, senior advisor for National Highways
James talks to Steve Bird about how National Highways and the Emergency Services CLEAR a major incident on the Strategic Road NetworkEngland’s motorways and major A‑roads make up the Strategic Road Network – more than 4,300 miles of high‑speed routes managed and operated by National Highways. This network is among the most advanced anywhere in the world, supporting around 4 million journeys every day and moving over a billion tonnes of freight each year. It underpins the country’s social and economic wellbeing by linking communities, enabling access to employment, and keeping businesses connected.When a serious incident occurs, a core priority is to resolve the situation quickly and efficiently so any casualties can be swiftly attended to and the road can reopen. The CLEAR approach highlights how teams work closely with emergency services and other partners to achieve these aims.CLEAR is often described as a way of getting roads open more quickly after major incidents. Steve explains how this fits within the wider Safe System approach where safety, evidence and learning come first rather than simply ‘getting traffic moving’.
January 23, 202622 min
I'm fuming... the words of Bobby Colleran, according to his mother Joanne
Bobby Colleran died in Liverpool in 2014 at the age of six. As a result, his mother Joanne founded the Bobby Colleran Trust and works tirelessly to provide children with road safety education resources. In March 2023, after years of fundraising and dedication, she opened Bobby’s Base, a unique health and well-being centre in West Derby, Liverpool. This one-of-a-kind, child-friendly space offers therapy, a sensory garden, and a calm, nurturing environment where children can heal, build resilience, and regain confidence.James Luckhurst went to Bobby's Base where he caught up with Joanne and her colleague Anne Mckenna.The Bobby Colleran Trust
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