National Blue Light Users' Conference

Background

The Annual National Blue Light Users' Conference is aimed at all those who manage or train drivers who during the course of their work drive emergency vehicles. It is also relevant to those who manage health and safety and occupational road risk issues for all staff within the emergency services and those who are involved in casualty reduction.

Over the years the Conference has become an important event in the diary for the emergency services and has gained a reputation and credibility with Government and its agencies and other organizations concerned in any way with the emergency services.

The First Conference Chairman

The Conference began in 1998 when Robert Jackson was the Chairman of AIRSO and at the time also Head of Driver Training for West Midlands Fire Service. His aim was to bring together those who trained drivers in all the emergency services, looking beyond the primary services of Police, Fire and Ambulance and recognizing the contribution made to society of the other emergency services as well as those who work within the commercial and voluntary sector. Robert Jackson, held the position of Conference Chairman for 10 years.

The 2008 Conference Chairman

Owen Lower, MAIRSO, Senior Driving Instructor from the Suffolk Constabulary, has been appointed Chairman of the 2008 National Blue Light Users' Conference. Owen served with the Suffolk Constabulary for 30 years, retiring in the rank of Chief Inspector in 2000. During his police career he worked within the specialist area of roads policing, for different periods over fifteen years, eventually commanding that department.

On retirement he was appointed to the police staff role of Senior Driving Instructor, and currently heads a small team of driver and rider trainers based at Suffolk Police Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich. Owen is a DSA approved driving instructor, a registered fleet trainer and member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and RoSPA. He is secretary of the Eastern Region Police Driving Schools Conference, a training practitioners group that links into the National Police Driving Standards Group.

While not an original attendee of the National Blue Light Users' Conference, he has been a delegate at each of the last five conferences, and one of the speakers at the 2007 conference.

In being appointed as the 2008 Conference Chairman, he is keen to see that the original vision of the conference founder, Bob Jackson, is not lost, but is continually developed to meet the needs of all "blue light" users. He acknowledges that in selecting conference topics not all will be relevant to all delegates, but his aim is to continue the theme that the conference remains the forum of the practitioners, and that it continues to enhance its credibility as the consultative voice of those practitioners. Also of importance is to provide the delegates with the appropriate knowledge required to enable them to professionally brief their employers, organisations or authorities with the aim of ensuring legal and procedural compliance and circulation of best practice, thereby ultimately ensuring that we have the very best and safest emergency service drivers and riders.

For the purposes of the Conference the Emergency Services are defined as those who are entitled by law to drive under blue lights and sirens.

Arising from the Conference has been the production of a five minute video and supporting leaflet aimed at all road users about how they should respond when confronted by an emergency vehicle driving under blue lights and two tone horns. AIRSO is grateful to the Department for Transport and Keymed for their sponsorship of the video and to Graham Cole (PC Tony Stamp of The Bill) who presented the issues and advice to road users.

2008 National Blue Light Users' Conference

This year's National Blue Light Users' Conference will take place on 27th & 28th August 2008 at the Hinckley Island Hotel.

Full details of this year's Conference have now been published and are available to download in pdf format. The Brochure, with an introduction by the 2008 Conference Chairman, Owen Lower, provides all necessary information for delegates. You will find a full agenda for the day, with presentations on a range of topics important to all Blue Light Users. There are also a selection of fully costed Delegate Packages which will allow delegates flexibility to attend all or part of the conference and give them a choice regarding accommodation and meals. Importantly the Brochure includes the Application Form which you can download, print out, complete and return with payment to the AIRSO Secretary at the address shown.

2007 National Blue Light Users' Conference

The 10th Annual National Blue Light Users' Conference took place at the Hinckley Island Hotel on 29th & 30th August 2007. AIRSO was grateful to Wincanton Plc for their financial support. Presentations from the Conference are now available for downloading.

2005/2006 Conference Presentations

For your information downloadable PDF files of presentations given at the last two conferences are available.