Christopher Pincher Supports the Guide Dogs’ Safe and Sound Campaign

Christopher Pincher MP with Guide Stig

Christopher Pincher, Member of Parliament for Tamworth, showed his support for the Safe and Sound campaign when he visited Guide Dogs’ stand at the Conservative Party Conference last month.

The stand featured a large Scalextric track, complete with Guide Stig dressed in a white racing suit and helmet, where Mr Pincher was challenged to post a winning time on the ‘Top Gear style’ leader board.

The Guide Dogs’ Safe and Sound campaign aims to raise awareness of the potential dangers that quiet electric and hybrid vehicles present to visually impaired people.

Mr Pincher achieved a respectable time of 3.2 seconds and said, “This was a fun way of raising awareness of such a serious issue, which is often over looked.  Silent vehicles cause a real problem form all pedestrians, especially young children and the blind.  People much be vigilant when crossing the road and make use of specific pedestrian crossings with audio assistance.”

Guide Dogs launched its Safe and Sound campaign at this year’s party conferences.  Last month the charity released a report called Silent But Deadly, which examines the danger that quiet vehicles pose to blind and partially sighted pedestrians, who rely on hearing them approach in order to cross roads safely.

Guide Dogs believes that the risks will only increase as more quiet vehicles are sold, the charity is calling for these types of vehicle to be fitted with artificial engine noises so pedestrians can hear them approaching.