A campaign to improve road safety in Worcestershire is being launched by the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner and the County Council.
According to latest figures there were more than 600 road collisions in the county in the last year.
‘Roads Focus’ will highlight the risks to road safety of distracted road users. The campaign, which begins with a week of events across the county during Road Safety Week (19th-23rd November), will focus on the county’s rural road network. It has been shaped by more than 400 suggestions that have been received from members of the public.
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “Both Worcestershire County Council and I have a shared aim to make our county’s roads safer, and Roads Focus enables the public to have a vital say on the issues that matter most to them. I was thrilled to see that so many people had contacted us expressing their concerns over roads in their area and it has allowed us to start tackling some of the problems raised.”
Worcestershire County Councillor Alan Amos, the Cabinet Member for Highways said: “Keeping the county’s roads safe for all of our road users is a top priority. Much of our roads network is made up of country lanes that take traffic through our villages and small towns. It is really important for us to work with local communities to help to make those roads as safe as they can be.”
Events to raise public awareness will be held in Wolverley, Bishampton, Catshill, Feckenham and in Hanley Swan. There will also be an opportunity for the public to attend a road safety awareness course free of charge.
John Campion added: “I’m pleased that as part of our week of action we are also able to offer a road safety course free of charge. This comes as a result of feedback from those who have attended courses out of necessity and found them to be useful. We hope that by opening this up to anybody, we can improve road safety across the county. I am committed to reducing the number of deaths on the roads of West Mercia and I have already earmarked £500,000 for new road safety initiatives.”
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Issued on: Monday 12 November