The target to save 95 lives by the end of 2010 has been surpassed by the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership. The number of lives saved in the past five years is 126.
That means 126 more men, women and children are alive today who may otherwise have died if casualties had carried on at the rate of five years ago.
The Partnership was established by North Yorkshire County and City of York Council’s, North Yorkshire Police and Fire and Rescue and many other agencies, working together to cut down casualties on the roads.
The challenge was to change the behaviour of drivers, riders and pedestrians using Education, Enforcement and Engineering. After studying fatal crash reports Campaigns have concentrated on areas of most concern including motorcycles, seat belts, distraction driving, speeding, drink and drug driving, young drivers, driving for work and older drivers.
They’ve built on work being done by the road safety teams, coordinating efforts to deliver the crucial road safety messages that can save lives. These have included over 1,700 older drivers attending roadshows to encourage them to stay safe on the roads longer.
Huge amounts of work has been done in schools with pedestrian and cycle training, and recruiting Junior road Safety Officers. The Seatbelt Sheriff has sworn in 5,300 deputies to encourage children and adults to Clunk Click Every Trip. In the past five years 10,000 young people have attended Drive Alive events in schools to learn about the dangers new drivers face.
Over 200 new drivers have gone through the Enhanced Pass Plus Scheme, once they’ve passed their test, giving them the skills and knowledge that could save their own and some one else’s life.
Last year alone road safety staff talked to 10,000 motorcyclists at events across the County to encourage them to ride safe. Messages have been taken out into the community through country shows, markets and events. In campaign material real people have been used to have real impact. Volunteer members of the public were used for posters and victims of crashes and bereaved relatives have come forward to tell their own stories for DVD’s and on the 95 Alive YouTube channel.
North Yorkshire County Council’s Director of Business and Environmental Services, David Bowe, Chair of 95 Alive said: “This is such a huge achievement. The target to save 95 lives was very ambitious, to top that by a further 22 is staggering and very rewarding for everyone involved. “
“Education, Enforcement, and Engineering have been the key elements in working together to deliver the messages, and campaigns have been targeted at all ages. The most important thing has always been to change behaviour and the way people approach, walking, riding and driving to encourage them to think safety first every time. “
Contacts
Honor Byford
Team Leader – Road Safety & Travel Awareness
95 Alive Partnership
BES, County Hall, Racecourse Lane
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL7 8AH
T: 01609 532616
E: Honor.Byford@northyorks.gov.uk