We need you! Using social media to spread the road safety agenda!

There are 2.3 billion active social media users across the globe. In the past year there was a 176 million increase and 81% of small to medium sized organisations are using it for their business needs. It would be foolish of us not to embrace the advantages that come from this growing digital experience.

As with all other aspects of the industry, we want to make sure that IAM RoadSmart is as current as possible. So to make sure that we keep up with these ever changing social media developments, we are offering our audiences a variety of online content across a selection of channels. You can keep track of what’s on offer via our Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Facebook and Twitter are pretty standard…so what’s new?

There will be brand new multimedia content and activity to come over the next few weeks. If you want the latest developments, be sure to follow these platforms. There will also be new opportunities for our members and a wider audience to have their say on aspects of driving behaviour and road safety and take advantage of great chances to win free merchandise.

Why bother with social media?

Road safety and careful driving are not the most glamorous of topics, particularly for the younger generation. This is where the use of social media, with its fast-moving, trendier and less traditional status has its potency. In an environment where causes and industries are constantly competing to be heard, the use of new and engaging content via digital media has never been more vital. It encourages safer driving behaviours and spreads our evidence-based research, tips and driving and riding courses across multiple audiences.

So what’s in it for you?

As well as our existing policy updates, motoring tips and blogs, we will now be conducting on a regular basis:

• Twitter polls (on key policy developments or general everyday driving/riding issues).
• Facebook and Twitter Q&A’s (what expert driving/riding advice do you want to know more about).
• Competitions(answer our themed question correctly and win IAM RoadSmart goodies/vouchers).
• Free giveaways (No need to enter anything – all you have to do is tune in to our social media channels and be in for a chance to claim the goodies when offered).
• Introducing ‘Volunteer of the week.’ Know an outstanding volunteer, who uses their Advanced Driving or Riding status for the greater good? Perhaps they run an IAM RoadSmart group, are an observer or blood biker? - Whatever the role, we want to hear from you. Get in touch with us via Twitter or Facebook and we will select a new face each week.

Times may be changing, but our focus remains the same: to make roads safer through making better drivers and riders.
Thenuka Mahendrarasa, IAM RoadSmart social media executive