Putting The Brakes On Poor Driving (From Crewe Guardian)

Putting The Brakes On Poor Driving

9:28am Friday 24th July 2009 in

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A NEW series of sessions to tackle poor driving have been launched across South Cheshire.

The Driver Engagement Days have been organised by the Cheshire East Local Road Safety Partnership to target roads where there are safety concerns.

They bring drivers who are breaking road safety regulations into close contact with Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The aim is to raise road safety awareness and reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.

PC Paul Burke, of Crewe, said: “The infringements officers deal with on these engagement days cover a complete cross section of safety issues.

“The lack of understanding which some drivers show is disturbing.

“For instance a worrying number of people still do not see the need to wear a seatbelt.

“This appears to be especially true of younger drivers and people driving in connection with their work, who you would expect to have a professional attitude to safety.

“This is a major issue on our roads. Seatbelts are a key life-saving device.

“They really reduce the risk of death and serious injury, should you be involved in a crash.

“They are routinely being ignored by a considerable number of drivers and passengers. That is an attitude we need to change.”

During the sessions officers from Neighbourhood Policing Teams will target roads where local people have expressed concern about speeding or other road safety issues. For each breach of the regulations the officers will decide whether to proceed with a prosecution, or a fixed penalty notice or to offer the alternative of a roadside safety presentation.

These are delivered by firefighters and deal with general road safety and highlight a number of key issues, such as seatbelts, speed and the use of mobile phones.

They also illustrate the possible consequences of ignoring the regulations which apply to all these.

PC Burke added: “The advice to drivers is focused on the positive action they can take to reduce their risk of being involved in a collision.

“It is all about developing appropriate driver attitudes and effecting driver behaviour.

“The engagement days provide us with a partnership opportunity to provide a high profile on roads where there is local concern and to pro-actively enforce road safety.”