This week (14th – 20nd Sept) officers from the Mobile Support Group (MSG), road safety team (RST) and the serious collision investigation unit (SCIU) will be supporting two road safety incentives.
One Road, One Week is a national operation from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) aiming to target collision hotspots. Throughout the week officers across the county will be out enforcing on roads identified by collision reduction officers.
Project EDWARD which stands for Every Day Without A Road Death is a project that works with police forces, road safety groups and other great partners to save lives globally. This year’s theme is driving for work.
Across the week Project EDWARD will be running virtual events and webinars to educate road users which can accessed via their website – https://projectedward.org/
Inspector Steve Minnikin, from Cumbria’s Road Policing team said: “We continue to work all year round to enforce and educate road users to reduce the number of fatal, or life changing collisions which have a devastating impact on those involved and their family.
“We all have a responsibility when behind the wheel to take steps to reduce the risk to ourselves and other road users.
“Many collisions are made by poor judgement and decisions, a lapse of concentration or ignorance of the risks.
“We will be targeting roads identified by our collision reduction officers as collision hotspots throughout the week of action.”
Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, said: “Anti-social driving is one of the biggest concerns raised with me by the public.
“This is why am I so pleased to see the Cumbria Constabulary focussing in on problem areas around the county as part of One Road, One Week.
“It is a community effort that is needed to stop road deaths – we all play a part.
“The rules of the road are in place to keep us all safe so I would urge the public to drive within the speed limit, wear seatbelts at all times, avoid distractions such as alcohol, drugs and phone use when driving and always be aware of the conditions around you.
“Together we can reduce road deaths in Cumbria.”
Simon Turner, campaign manager at Driving for Better Business who have responsibility for this year’s Project Edward, commented: “The odds of winning the National Lottery are one in 45 million, and every week millions of people excitedly think it might be them. The odds of being involved in an injury collision while driving for work are one in 500, yet millions refuse to believe it might be them.
“Government figures show that in 2018 there were approximately 42,000 road deaths and injuries involving someone who was driving for work at the time. However, it is rarely the driver who is the casualty. 82% of those deaths and injuries were other road users, often vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
“The Project EDWARD week of action seeks to show that we are all more vulnerable than we think, but that anyone with the right approach, access to good training, a commitment to regular vehicle checks and appropriate employer support can significantly reduce the likelihood of being hurt on the road.
“Our Project Edward Road Trip – largely virtual this year to comply with Covid-19 restrictions – will be stopping at multiple locations each day to share exciting content, knowledge, interviews and stories all linked to keeping those who drive for work safe.
“We will be looking at Safer Drivers, Safer Vehicles, Safer Journeys and Driver Wellbeing as well as how best to manage those who drive for work in order to reduce risk, control costs and improve efficiency.”
For more information on Project EDWARD visit their website here – https://projectedward.org/
Officers out enforcing during the week of action will be tweeting from the forces roads policing account – @CumbriaRoadsPol.
