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News release

13 October 2011 - NR 51/11

Retired Chief Inspector gets on his bike for a new lease of life

A retired Chief Inspector from the Met has two reasons to celebrate after gaining a Masters degree and scooping an award for his studies into road safety and sustainable development.

Ian Brooks, 56, from Ruislip, started his dissertation research into police accident investigation procedures together with an evaluation of heavy goods vehicles and cycle fatality risks. And, as a result of his research, was a competition winner in the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) London Metropolitan Branch student research competition.

Ian, who retired from the Metropolitan Police to take a job as a risk adviser in work-related road safety said: “I’m thrilled to win this award. I’m very pleased and the icing on the cake is achieving a Masters degree this late in my life!

“There’s an inconsistency in the manner in which occupational risk is managed on the road and off the road – yet the former accounts for far more deaths. Improved road safety, particularly in relation to cycle safety, can make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of London.”

He added: “I was inspired to do research into occupational road risk because increased levels of cycling would benefit individuals, organisations and London overall. Yet, too many cyclists are being seriously injured or killed in collisions with heavy goods vehicles as a result of poor safety management arrangements.

“As a retired Met Police Chief Inspector, all too familiar with the human costs associated with such tragic incidents, I feel as though I have unfinished business contributing to a change in safety culture.”

Paul Williams, chair of the IOSH London Metropolitan Branch, commended Ian for his research.

He said: “We were particularly impressed with Ian’s entry as his enthusiasm really shone through. He’s right of course. London does have a road safety problem, and the quicker the authorities tackle it, the quicker people will feel safer to take to the streets on their bike, therefore making London a healthy and uncongested city to live and work in.”

- Ends -

Notes for editors:

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 40,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.