Police bid to raise awareness of the dangers that motorists face on the county's roads

Cumbria Police Officers will be out in force this week talking to people about the dangers we all face on the roads, lending their support to Road Safety Week which starts today (Monday, 18 Nov).

Promoted by road safety charity Brake, Road Safety Week is about what we can all do to become more aware and help put a stop to the fatal and serious injury collisions on our roads.

Inspector Chris O’Hare, South Cumbria Roads Policing Unit said:

"Road safety is everyone's concern and each one of us can do something to save lives on roads and prevent further tragedies. This year we are focussing on relaying the message that as dark nights have drawn in, there is less visibility and we want motorists to react accordingly in a bid to prevent road traffic collisions.

“Motorists need to reduce speed when visibility becomes an issue as they may see cyclists and pedestrians later than when conditions are clearer and this seriously impacts the reaction time a motorist has to stop safely. 

“One issue we would like to highlight is that new cars use daylight running lights, so when visibility decreases they automatically activate. However, what motorists must be aware of is that the lights only project out of the front of the vehicle and not to the rear. Once visibility is low please turn on lights so you, as a driver, can see the road clearly and other motorists can also see your vehicle.”

Cumbria’s Road Policing Unit officers will be carrying out a range of activities across the county, throughout the week, to create awareness amongst all road users. This will include work with car drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. Police activity will focus on creating awareness, prevention and keeping people safe but enforcement will be carried out where necessary.

As well as the Road Policing Unit, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Partner Agencies will be assisting with the force’s efforts during the week.

In North Cumbria, Police will be supporting Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service who are conducting Road Awareness Training in Brampton, Carlisle and Longtown throughout the week. The training is given to Year 11 students, who will soon be of the age where they can learn to drive. This will raise awareness of the dangers on the roads and what the effects of road traffic collisions and of the consequences to themselves and to others if they cause or are involved in a collision.

Throughout the week the North Cumbria Roads Policing Unit will be focussing on the importance of cyclists wearing the correct protective headwear and also discussing a wide variety of road safety issues that they come across with members of the public.

In South Cumbria, Officers from the Roads Policing Unit will be supporting Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service with Road Awareness Training in Kendal as well as facilitating Multi-Agency events at Furness College and Ulverston Victoria High School.

At Furness College, Police and Partner Agencies with the help of students will, produce a Mock Crash event on Wednesday 20^th November 2013. The event will show students what procedures Officers go through at the scene of a road collision.

Police and partner agencies such as Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Young Cumbria will be talking to students at Ulverston Victoria High School over a period of two weeks about their own experiences and perspectives following a serious road traffic collision.

Inspector Chris O’Hare, who will be speaking to students at the event, said: “Road safety is everyone's concern and each one of us can do something to save lives on roads and prevent further tragedies. If we can make an impact on the students who will go on to become future motorists, then all of this activity will be more than worth it.”

As well as these two events, safety advice will be issued to cyclists surrounding protective equipment and cycling in decreased visibility and Operation Spectrum, which focuses on anti-social and illegal parking in school drop off and collection points, will continue.

Police and Crime Commissioner Richard Rhodes said: “This issue of road safety is raised often when I meet with members of the public. I welcome the proactive approach from the police as part of the National Road Safety Week.  It is important that we all use our roads responsibly with the required care and attention especially as we now have winter weather conditions.”