Crime chief calls on police to step up road safety work
THE Police and Crime Commissioner has shared his vision of how to make the county’s roads safer.
On roads in Macclesfield and the rest of the county last year, 280 people were seriously injured and 29 people sadly lost their lives.
That works out as more than five people per week.
The announcement comes as part of ‘National Road Victim Month’, which aims to raise awareness on the injustice that crash victims face, as well as remembering loved ones killed on the roads throughout the whole of August.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire John Dwyer said that he was tasking the Constabulary to step up enforcement in this area.
He said: “Many of you have written to me expressing your concerns about speeding or reckless driving in your communities, I too, share these concerns.
“As such I’m tasking the Constabulary to gather intelligence in these areas and step up their enforcement activity.
“Although the number of people killed or seriously injured on Cheshire’s roads has thankfully reduced over the past few years, the level is still too high and there is more we can do to reduce harm and promote safer driving.”
With the easing of lockdown restrictions, Cheshire Constabulary launched their ‘Share the Road’ campaign encouraging everyone to be considerate when travelling.
Road traffic investigations have concluded that there are five contributory factors to collisions, known as the ‘Fatal Five’.
They are: Careless driving Drink/Drug driving Not wearing a seatbelt Distracted - using a mobile phone whilst driving Speeding John Dwyer added: “Collisions involving injury or loss of life are clustered in urban areas, but there is a significant number of incidents on rural roads.
“Pedestrians and cyclists are particularly at risk, with incidents involving both road users on the rise. With the government introducing its Active Travel Agenda to promote increased walking and cycling, incidents have the potential to increase further. We need to protect those who are vulnerable by working with partners to educate motorists on how to use roads safely, alongside carrying out enforcement against road users who put themselves or others in danger.”
“Stopping more deaths occurring as a result of something unnecessary and totally avoidable is a key priority.”