Hearse drives home message

A hearse parked up in a busy shopping centre, complete with a life-size coffin and flowers, was used to launch the new Road Respect campaign in South Shields last week.

The campaign is based on the government's Respect Agenda, which aims to rid communities of anti-social behaviour.

Jeremy Forsberg, spokesman for the campaign, said: "Unfortunately, anti-social behaviour is not just confined to the side-streets and back-alleys of our communities. It is also very evident on the region's roads, where the potential for serious injury and death is so much greater.

He added: "The image of the hearse is worth 1,000 words. It may be a bit strong for some people, but I find some of the behaviour that is occurring on our roads very offensive."

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