Roadvert graphics drive home health advice
The Spedian panel system devised by vehicle graphics specialist Roadvert has been put through its paces in recent months, helping the government to communicate vital, life-saving messages to the UK population throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The past year has seen Roadvert spearhead an initiative by working closely with Public Health England and local authorities up and down the country to devise a series of messages in line with the government’s high-profile publicity campaigns.
Using the sides of refuse vehicles and recycling lorries which visit every home in the country, the Spedian graphic panel system allows local authorities to promote the latest messages.
In the early part of the pandemic, Roadvert kickstarted the campaign by offering every local authority two free panels with the government-branded creative to use on their refuse and recycling vehicles.
The initiative was instantly embraced by local authorities across the country, including Bolton Council which went on to equip its entire fleet with the panels after it was revealed the town had highest number of Covid cases in the UK.
As well as the well-known ‘Hands. Face. Space’ and ‘Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives’ national campaigns, Roadvert has worked closely with authorities behind the scenes to devise a series of other campaigns promoting government messages including ‘Don’t Accidentally Spread It’, ‘Act Like You’ve Got It’ and ‘You Could Be Spreading It Without Knowing’ as well as promoting the NHS’ Track & Trace programme.
With very little downtime for each vehicle, the panels are quick and easy to install or uninstall in under an hour, says Roadvert, enabling councils to get the vital messages up and running quickly.
Between them, refuse and recycling lorries are the only vehicles on the road to visit every street on at least a weekly or fortnightly basis, the firm points out – and with more people now working from home than ever before, the potential reach is far greater than prior to the pandemic.
The system does not only benefit local authorities, says Roadvert; some councils now rent out the space on the sides of their vehicles, generating income for them and allowing local companies to promote their products and services where their potential customers live, work and drive.
Once the life of the promotional campaign is over, the materials for the vehicle graphics are fully recyclable. This means the panels can be used, rolled up, stored and reused later, or they can be used in the manufacture of other products, such as traffic cones.
Last year Roadvert, in partnership with One Trafford – a collaboration between Trafford Council and Amey – saw keen gardeners receive old Spedian vinyl sheets donated to help allotment holders in Trafford to create plant bedding and to protect their plants and vegetables from weeds.
Lawrence Craig, CEO of Roadvert, said: “Local councils throughout the UK are reaping endless benefits from the Spedian system.
“If not maximising the use of their vehicles to advertise their own messages, or the latest messages from the government, they are giving local businesses in their area the chance to advertise on the side of refuse vehicles for a fee which is affordable and can help generate some much-needed income for authorities to help keep services running…
“As time progresses local authorities everywhere are recognising Spedian as a win-win investment of benefit to everyone in their local communities and beyond.”
