Judging criteria
If a nomination is eligible under specific categories it can be considered according to their criteria. If, however, the nomination falls outside specific categories, the following should be of assistance in determining eligibility.
When making a nomination, it is helpful to the judges if supporting evidence is presented against these criteria.
Innovation
Innovation is one of the two criteria referred to in the PMRSA Mission statement. It does not necessarily imply that the particular activity must never have been practised previously. Innovation can simply refer to a local initiative as well as to a brand new project.
Achievement
This is the second criterion referred to in the mission statement. Essentially, no scheme or project should be recognised unless either there is clear evidence of it having had a beneficial effect on road safety or it is of such a nature that no reasonable evaluation could be made of its impact. This is an important qualification because certain admirable schemes (e.g. literature based, schools based, community based), are not capable of being translated into local accident reduction, but can nonetheless clearly have a significant benefit.
Commitment
It is invariably the case that no initiative is likely to have a positive effect unless it is a committed initiative over a period of time. Thus, the judges should look for evidence of long-term commitment, durability, and willingness to be involved over a period of years. This is important because, in general, judges should avoid recognising schemes which, however innovative, have not yet been fully rolled out, or where there is no clear evidence of a willingness to commit for the long term.
Well researched
It is important for any scheme to be based on a defined proposition, both in terms of the market to be addressed and the message to be conveyed. There are many cases of well-intentioned schemes which do not pass this test.
Replicability
Some projects are not capable of replication because they are single national initiatives. Most, however, are capable of being reproduced by others and the fundamental purpose of PMRSA should be to show interested professionals how particular initiatives have worked in reducing accidents. It is, therefore, an important criterion in terms of assessing eligibility.
Sustainability
Previous reference has been made to the need for a scheme to be durable. It is also necessary to ensure that it is adequately financed to achieve its goals over the period set for it.
No matrix of set criteria is a substitute for the judgement of individual judges who are appointed precisely for the particular level of expertise which they bring to our deliberations. Nonetheless, the above ought to be a useful tool to distinguish those schemes which are prima facie eligible from those which ought either to be declined or deferred for a subsequent re-evaluation.
