South Gloucestershire plans multi-pronged campaign

National research, together with South Gloucestershire Council’s local accident investigation findings, have triggered the largest road safety education, training and publicity campaign ever organised within the area.

It has been proven that disadvantaged areas suffer a greater problem with road collisions resulting in personal injury and death than other areas – and local statistics bear out this finding. Kings Chase in Kingswood is the most disadvantaged electoral ward within South Gloucestershire and there has been a disproportionate number of road collisions and casualties in the area.

As a result of these findings a road safety initiative will run throughout the month of March. The campaign is being co-ordinated and planned by senior road safety officer Alan Hale. "The statistics were quite significant and we are eager to address the causes," he says. "I am hopeful that this campaign will raise people’s awareness of the need to take care on the road, in whatever capacity they use it."

Drivers aged over 50 will be able to attend a talk given by the Driving Standards Agency, and have their eyesight screened.

A road safety Theatre in Education production of the ‘Pete Ashby Road Show’ will give performances at all Kings Chase’s primary schools and pre-school groups that have taken up the offer of a modified performance. Senior schools will be visited by the Avon and Somerset Police ‘Operation Impact Road Show’, which addresses car crime and its tragic results.

Children aged seven to 11 years will also take part in a colouring competition run by the road safety team in partnership with the local ASDA store.

Speed Visor data gathering equipment will be mounted on certain roads at the start of March - but for the last two weeks of the month the local police and safety camera partnership will be enforcing the speeding limit.

6 March will be Road Safety Day at the Chase Shopping Centre. The fire brigade, ambulance service and police will be on hand to explain their equipment and the problems they encounter with serious road accidents. On the same day the child car seat manufacturer Britax will carry out safety checks at the local Somerfield supermarket.

For further information about the campaign contact Alan Hale, 01454 863607, Alan.Hale@southglos.gov.uk.