With temperatures due to plummet even further and snow forecast over the weekend, it is even more important for motorists to be prepared to deal with the challenges of travelling in bad weather conditions. The Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia is advising motorists to take a few moments to pack an ‘Emergency Kit’ in their car in case of roadside breakdown or delay.

The kit should include items such as an ice-scraper, torch, warm clothes and a blanket, a pair of boots, a first aid kit, battery jump leads, a shovel for snow, food and drink and sunglasses to help see in low winter sun. Motorists are also advised to make sure their mobile phone is fully charged before heading off on a journey.

Katy Jenkins at the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia says: “It is worth taking a few minutes to put a few items in your car that may be essential if you break down or experience a delay due to snowy or icy conditions. You may not need to use them but if you’ll be glad you packed them if you do.”

Driving on icy roads is also challenging for drivers as stopping times and distances are greatly increased. The Partnership is advising motorists to drive carefully and according to road conditions. It is important to drive smoothly and avoid braking sharply and accelerating quickly as this could lead to wheels locking or spinning. Keep well back from the vehicle in front to allow plenty of time to slow down and always look as far ahead as possible to anticipate what other road users might do.

Katy Jenkins adds: “Widespread icy roads and snow will make driving conditions hazardous over the weekend. Our advice if travelling is to check local weather forecasts and road conditions before setting off and make sure you pack some emergency provisions in case of delay or break down. Ensure all ice and snow is removed from windows, mirrors and lights so you have good visibility and drive carefully and smoothly, avoiding harsh accelerating and braking.”
 

The Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia is launching a new mobile speed enforcement site on Holyhead Road, Oakengates in Telford, following concerns raised by local residents about the speeds of drivers along the 30mph road.

The new site, which is being launched next week, forms part of the Safer Roads Partnership’s ‘Community Concern’ site programme which responds to community requests for speed enforcement. Speed data collected by the Safer Roads Partnership shows that there is a compliance problem on the road with over half of all vehicles (57%) exceeding the 30mph speed limit and 15% travelling above 38.2mph.

Concerns have been raised by local residents about traffic speeds along the road with Oakengates Town Council and the Traffic Management team at West Mercia Police and. In response to these concerns, a new site where a mobile speed camera will operate from is being launched to improve driver compliance with the speed limit. The Local Policing Team has also distributed wheelie bin stickers to residents, which they have attached to their bins, to remind drivers that Holyhead Road is a 30mph and to encourage them to slow down.

Katy Jenkins of the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia said: “The aim of the Community Concern enforcement programme is to respond to requests from local people for speed enforcement. We regularly receive requests from local people for action to be taken against speeding drivers especially in 30mph zones. Residents living on Holyhead Road have told us that they are worried about the number of drivers exceeding the 30mph limit and in response to this we are introducing a new speed enforcement site on road.”

It is hoped that the mobile speed camera (operated from speed camera van) will encourage greater compliance with the 30mph speed limit and improve the safety of the road for local residents and drivers using the route. The site will be operational for a minimum period of six months and data will be collected during this time to assess the impact of enforcement on speeds and driver behaviour.

The Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia is part of West Mercia Police and works in partnership with nine partner agencies to reduce casualties and make the roads safer for all users in West Mercia through targeted communication, education and training together with enforcement.
 

As national drink/drug drive figures are released today (Friday 20th January), the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia is reporting a slight drop in those people that provided a positive breath test following a collision. Over the Christmas period those testing positive following a collision has fallen from nearly 6% over Christmas 2009 to 5% during Christmas 2010 and down to 4% over December 2011.

The overall percentage of positive breath tests has also remained steady; 203 people were arrested over December 2011 for driving under the influence of drink and drugs, just under 8% of those breathalysed in total. Over the Christmas period in 2009 just over 9% of those tested either refused to give a test or tested positive for drink or drugs; over the same period during 2010 this had reduced to 8% and has now dipped to just below 8% for December 2011 showing a downward trend.

However, despite these slight drops overall, data collected throughout December indicates some worrying trends. Most of the motorists who tested positive for drugs or alcohol were following nights out over the weekends. Postcode analysis of those motorists also indicates that over half of those arrested actually live and were tested within an urban area with good public transport and taxi options that obviously have not been utilised.

Further analysis has also shown that 40% of those testing positive for drink or drugs after a collision were actually under the age of 25. This reflects the worrying national statistics released today that show young drivers continuing to have a higher rate of offending.

The Partnership joined forces with other partnerships, local authorities and police forces across the Midlands region to launch a huge publicity campaign to raise awareness of the issues around drink driving. Posters, beermats and other material was targeted at local pubs and clubs throughout the region designed to make people think about the consequences of drink or drug driving. Part of the campaign was also a series of online Blogs and videos of five everyday characters who unwittingly take a risk. Key to the campaign was a close working relationship between the Partnership and West Mercia Police supporting extra enforcement activity from the Force as part of delivering Operation Christmas Presence.

Figures from the Safer Roads Partnership indicate that, over the past 3 years (Nov 2008 – Nov 2011), 38 people lost their lives in West Mercia and 172 were seriously injured following collisions where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor. The campaign was designed to reach out to people to raise awareness of what could happen to them if they make the decision to drive after drinking.

Vicki Bristow, Communications Manager at the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, says:
“Although the percentage drop isn’t large, it’s encouraging that the number of positive breath tests we are seeing overall and after collisions is steadily reducing however, there are still a significant number of motorists ignoring the simple message that drinking or taking drugs and driving ruins lives. Overall West Mercia Police conducted 2,409 breath tests throughout December; this was a big increase on previous years and shows the Force’s commitment to tackling this problem to bring down the number of positive tests even further. It’s worrying that 203 people were arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs and that motorists think they can risk having a drink if they are driving, especially in areas where there are so many other options available. Our simple message to them is it’s not worth it - driving after drinking or taking drugs will continue to be a focus over this year to ensure West Mercia roads become safer for all”.

Superintendent Lee Davenport of West Mercia Police comments: “Despite our many warnings over the festive period and throughout the year, about not driving if you’ve had a drink, there are still far too many irresponsible drivers ignoring the devastating consequences that drinking and driving can cause for them, their family, friends and other road users. Anyone who drives after they have been drinking is gambling not only with their own lives, but also with the lives of their passengers and the lives of other road users. Enforcing the drink driving law is a year round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week activity for West Mercia Police and will continue to be a priority throughout 2012.”
 

With a couple of months worth of dark nights and mornings still ahead of us the Safer Roads Partnership are again reminding people when out walking, cycling or running near the roads to think about whether they can be seen by other road users.

As nights and mornings remain dark it is increasingly more difficult for motorists to see other road users. Pedestrians are being encouraged to think about their presence on the roads and wear high visibility clothing and reflective material and to always use pedestrian crossings where possible. Many people may have received i-pods or MP3 players over Christmas and, although these are tempting to use when running or walking, we are urging people to think about the route they may be taking and to not use this equipment when near roads or crossings. Cyclists should also think about their clothing and ensure their bike is in good working condition and carries front and rear lights.

Nationally road casualty rates increase with the arrival of darker nights and worsening weather conditions, these conditions affect all road users but especially children, the elderly, cyclists and motorcycles. Figures from the Safer Roads Partnership indicate that, over the past 3 years*, 28 people lost their lives in West Mercia and 273 were seriously injured following collisions involving pedestrians or cyclists. This amounts to nearly 17% of the total of overall fatalities and 24% of all serious injuries.

Vicki Bristow, Communications Manager at the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, says: “Many people have probably made New Years resolutions to get fit, lose weight or get healthier after Christmas. At this time of year this often means more people are out and about running or walking near roads in the dark. We are encouraging people to think about what they are wearing to ensure that they are highly visible to motorists by using reflective or high vis clothes. Motorists are also being urged to look carefully for other road users with the dark mornings and evenings.”
 

The Safer Roads Partnership are today reminding people of the dangers of drink driving over the New Year celebrations.  The Partnership, together with West Mercia Police and other agencies, have been raising awareness of the consequences of drinking and driving and carrying out roadside checks over the whole of December. 

 

Unfortunately not everyone has taken these warnings on board and since the drink drive campaign was launched on 1^st December 166 people across West Mercia have been arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

 

Figures from the Safer Roads Partnership indicate that, over the past 3 years*, 38 people lost their lives in West Mercia and 172 were seriously injured following collisions where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor. 

 

Posters, beermats and other material has already been targeted at local pubs and clubs throughout the region designed to make people think about the consequences of driving under the influence.  A series of online Blogs and videos of five everyday characters who unwittingly take a risk have also been at the heart of the campaign.

 

The force wide campaign supports the national month long winter drink drive campaign that was launched on 1^st December by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).  Police forces throughout the UK are working hard throughout this month to make sure the roads are safe for everyone this Christmas and West Mercia will certainly be no exception to this. 

 

Vicki Bristow, Communications Manager at the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, says:

“Officers from West Mercia Police have been carrying out roadside checks throughout the whole of this month and, as part of Operation Christmas Presence, police activity will increase with the run up to New Years eve celebrations to ensure our streets and roads are safe for all. 

 

There are still people out there who think they know how much the limit is or will gamble with drinking and driving thinking they won’t get caught - it’s unfortunate that nearly 170 people so far have been arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs this Christmas.  There is only one way of being sure that you are safe to drive and that is not to drink at all.  We would also ask people not to get into a car as a passenger if they suspect that the driver has been drinking or taking drugs. We realise that this can sometimes be difficult but would urge people to make the safe decision - it’s not worth risking your life for.”

 

Superintendent Lee Davenport of West Mercia Police comments: “Cracking down on those who take drugs or drink and then drive is a year round commitment for West Mercia.  However, we are very aware the festive season can present opportunities where people are tempted to drive after taking drugs or drinking.  To combat this, extra patrols will be conducted over New Year, in a bid to tackle those who commit the unacceptable act of drinking or drug driving.”

 

“Worryingly, and despite many warnings over the years about the dangers of drink/drug driving, there are still far too many reckless drivers ignoring the devastating consequences. Alcohol and drugs both affect your ability to judge speed and distances accurately and slow down your reaction time.  If you are tempted to drive under the influence of drink or drugs this Christmas then spare a thought for your family and friends and think hard about what you will put them through if you are badly hurt or killed in a crash.”

 

ENDS

 

The Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia is warning motorists in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire to be prepared for potentially hazardous driving conditions tomorrow as heavy rain turning to snow is forecast for the Midlands region in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Safer Roads Partnership is urging drivers to be prepared for potentially hazardous driving conditions tomorrow and in the event of severe weather follow their advice about driving on snowy, icy and wet roads. Driving in these conditions can be particularly challenging for drivers as vehicle handling changes and stopping times and distances greatly increase. It is important to drive smoothly and avoid braking sharply and accelerating quickly as this could lead to wheels locking or spinning.

The advice from the Safer Roads Partnership is to keep well back from the vehicle in front and allow plenty of time to slow down. Drivers are advised to look as far ahead as possible to anticipate what other road users might be planning to do especially at junctions and roundabouts.

Katy Jenkins from the Safer Roads Partnership comments: “Heavy rain turning to snow is predicted in the early hours of Friday morning for the Midlands region which may lead to hazardous driving conditions throughout the morning. Motorists need to take extra care if weather and road conditions deteriorate. Vehicle handling can change considerably and it takes much longer to slow down on wet and snowy roads. Steering may become unresponsive and if this happens, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. Braking sharply on a snowy, icy or wet road will only make the situation worse and could cause the brakes to lock and the car to skid.”

“It is advisable to allow more time when pulling out of junctions, entering roundabouts and when merging with flowing traffic to enable you to do so smoothly, rather than accelerating quickly and risking wheel spin if the road is wet or icy. Also, look ahead and try to anticipate what other road users might do at junctions, traffic lights and roundabouts.”

The Safer Roads Partnership is also advising drivers to pack an ‘Emergency Kit’ in case of break down or delay. The kit should include items such as an ice-scraper, torch, warm clothes and a blanket, a pair of boots, a first aid kit, battery jump leads, a shovel for snow, food and drink and sunglasses to help see in low winter sun. Motorists are also advised to make sure their mobile phone is fully charged before heading off on a journey.

Katy Jenkins adds: “It really is worth taking a few minutes to put a few extra items in the boot of your car that may be essential if you break down or experience a delay due to bad weather. You may not need to use them but if you’ll be glad you packed them if you do.”
 

As part of the Christmas drink drive campaign, West Mercia Police will be carrying out a series of vehicle stop checks at various roadside locations across Worcestershire to target drivers who drink and drive during the festive period.

Unfortunately not everyone has taken the warnings on board and since the drink drive campaign was launched on 1st December, 69 people across West Mercia have been arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Police officers will be carrying out stop checks on vehicles and administering breath tests where appropriate along the A449 between Worcester and Malvern on Wednesday 14 December as part of the crackdown on drink drivers.

Roadside checks are also planned for Hylton Road in Worcester on Friday 16 December and at Sidbury in Worcester on Saturday 17 December and further checks are planned for Abbey Road, Evesham on Wednesday 21 December.

The roadside checks form part of a wider campaign supported by West Mercia Police and the Safer Roads Partnership to raise awareness of the dangers of drink driving and to target those who put other people’s lives at risk by driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Figures from the Safer Roads Partnership indicate that, over the past 3 years*, 13 people lost their lives in Worcestershire and 44 were seriously injured following collisions where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor.

Superintendent Lee Davenport of West Mercia Police comments: “Cracking down on those who take drugs or drink and then drive is a year round commitment for West Mercia. However, we are very aware the festive season can present opportunities where people are tempted to drive after taking drugs or drinking. To combat this, extra patrols will be conducted in the run up to and over Christmas and New Year, in a bid to tackle those who commit the unacceptable act of drinking or drug driving.”

“Worryingly, and despite many warnings over the years about the dangers of drink/drug driving, there are still far too many reckless drivers ignoring the devastating consequences. Alcohol and drugs both affect your ability to judge speed and distances accurately and slow down your reaction time. If you are tempted to drive under the influence of drink or drugs this Christmas then spare a thought for your family and friends and think hard about what you will put them through if you are badly hurt or killed in a crash.”

Vicki Bristow, Communications Manager at the Safer Roads Partnership comments: “There are still people out there who feel they can gamble with drinking and driving and think they know how much the limit is but the simple fact is, there is only one way of being sure that you are safe to drive and that is not to drink at all. We would also ask people not to get into a car as a passenger if they suspect that the driver has been drinking or taking drugs. We realise that this can sometimes be difficult but would urge people to make the safe decision - it’s not worth risking your life for.”
 

The Safer Roads Partnership are today reminding people of the dangers of drink driving during the festive period. With the season of festivities now well underway the Partnership, together with West Mercia Police and other agencies, have been raising awareness of the consequences of drinking and driving and carrying out more roadside checks.

Unfortunately not everyone has taken these warnings on board and since the campaign was launched on 1st December 69 people across West Mercia have been arrested for driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Figures from the Safer Roads Partnership indicate that, over the past 3 years*, 38 people lost their lives in West Mercia and 172 were seriously injured following collisions where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor.

Posters, beermats and other material has already been targeted at local pubs and clubs throughout the region designed to make people think about the consequences of driving under the influence. At the heart of the activity will be a series of online Blogs and videos of five everyday characters who unwittingly take a risk. It will build on last years successful ’Amy’s Story’ campaign, in which a moving blog described how a young woman became a drink driver and criminal because she drove the morning after a party.

The campaign supports the month long winter drink drive campaign that was launched on 1st December by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Police forces throughout the UK are working hard throughout this month to make sure the roads are safe for everyone this Christmas and West Mercia will certainly be no exception to this.

Vicki Bristow, Communications Manager at the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, says:
“It’s great we are able to join forces with our colleagues in the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire to highlight this important message, through outdoor advertising and social media. The campaign highlights the possible consequences of what could happen if a person decides to drive under the influence.

There are still people out there who feel they can gamble with drinking and driving and think they know how much the limit is but the simple fact is, there is only one way of being sure that you are safe to drive and that is not to drink at all. We would also ask people not to get into a car as a passenger if they suspect that the driver has been drinking or taking drugs. We realise that this can sometimes be difficult but would urge people to make the safe decision - it’s not worth risking your life for.”

Superintendent Lee Davenport of West Mercia Police comments: “Cracking down on those who take drugs or drink and then drive is a year round commitment for West Mercia. However, we are very aware the festive season can present opportunities where people are tempted to drive after taking drugs or drinking. To combat this, extra patrols will be conducted in the run up to and over Christmas and New Year, in a bid to tackle those who commit the unacceptable act of drinking or drug driving.”

“Worryingly, and despite many warnings over the years about the dangers of drink/drug driving, there are still far too many reckless drivers ignoring the devastating consequences. Alcohol and drugs both affect your ability to judge speed and distances accurately and slow down your reaction time. If you are tempted to drive under the influence of drink or drugs this Christmas then spare a thought for your family and friends and think hard about what you will put them through if you are badly hurt or killed in a crash.” 

The Safer Roads Partnership are today warning people of the dangers of drink driving during the festive period. With the season of festivities now underway the Partnership, together with West Mercia Police and other agencies, will be raising awareness of the consequences of drinking and driving.

The Partnership will be joining forces with other partnerships, local authorities and police forces across the Midlands region to launch a huge publicity campaign to raise awareness of the issues.

Posters, beermats and other material will be targeted at local pubs and clubs throughout the region designed to make people think about the consequences of driving under the influence. Outdoor advertising will also be used in key places across the region. At the heart of the activity will be a series of online Blogs and videos of five everyday characters who unwittingly take a risk. It will build on last years successful ’Amy’s Story’ campaign, in which a moving blog described how a young woman became a drink driver and criminal because she drove the morning after a party. The campaign also embraces a relatively new form of technology to reach a wider audience who will be able to access the web-based films using Quick Response (QR) codes on smart phones.

Figures from the Safer Roads Partnership indicate that, over the past 3 years*, 38 people lost their lives in West Mercia and 172 were seriously injured following collisions where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor. The campaign is designed to reach out to people to raise awareness of what could happen to them if they make the decision to drive after drinking.

The campaign supports the month long winter drink drive campaign launched today (1st December) by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Police forces throughout the UK will be working hard throughout December to make sure the roads are safe for everyone this Christmas and West Mercia will certainly be no exception to this. This Drink Drive campaign forms an important part of the overall Christmas Presence campaign and more local officers will be out on the streets during this time.

Vicki Bristow, Communications Manager at the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia, says: “It’s great we are able to join forces with our colleagues in the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire to highlight this important message, through outdoor advertising and social media. The campaign highlights the possible consequences of what could happen if a person decides to drive under the influence.

There are still people out there who feel they can gamble with drinking and driving and think they know how much the limit is but the simple fact is, there is only one way of being sure that you are safe to drive and that is not to drink at all. We would also ask people not to get into a car as a passenger if they suspect that the driver has been drinking or taking drugs. We realise that this can sometimes be difficult but would urge people to make the safe decision - it’s not worth risking your life for.”

Superintendent Lee Davenport of West Mercia Police comments: “Cracking down on those who take drugs or drink and then drive is a year round commitment for West Mercia. However, we are very aware the festive season can present opportunities where people are tempted to drive after taking drugs or drinking. To combat this, extra patrols will be conducted in the run up to and over Christmas and New Year, in a bid to tackle those who commit the unacceptable act of drinking or drug driving.”

“Worryingly, and despite many warnings over the years about the dangers of drink/drug driving, there are still far too many reckless drivers ignoring the devastating consequences. Alcohol and drugs both affect your ability to judge speed and distances accurately and slow down your reaction time. If you are tempted to drive under the influence of drink or drugs this Christmas then spare a thought for your family and friends and think hard about what you will put them through if you are badly hurt or killed in a crash.”
 

 

The Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia Police are lending their support over the next week (21^st – 27^th November) to National Road Safety Week, an established week in the UK calendar set up by road safety charity Brake. 

 

The campaign takes place every year in November and aims to give everyone an opportunity to promote road safety in their community, school or company.

 

This year’s national theme – ‘Too Young to Die’ highlights the amount of younger people that are either killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions every year.  Over the past three years (Oct 2008 to Oct 2011) in West Mercia 54 young people (under the age of 26) were killed in road traffic collisions and 411 were seriously injured.

 

Local Policing teams will be undertaking a range of activity during this week to promote road safety within schools, clubs, colleges and shopping centres, giving young people the opportunity to talk to their local policing officer about various aspects of road safety.

 

Vicki Bristow, Communications Manager for the Safer Roads Partnership in West Mercia said: “This week provides our communities with a timely road safety reminder and raises awareness of the risks that are present when using our roads, especially with the arrival of darker nights and worsening weather conditions.  As the nights draw in it is important that all road users re-assess their journeys and account for the darker evenings.  We are advising all motorists to check their vehicles and for pedestrians and cyclists to ensure they are highly visible to other road users.”