Campaign aims to improve road safety in Shropshire

Shropshire Council and the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion are working together on a joint campaign to improve road safety in the county – including a chance to join a driver awareness course free of charge.

The ‘Roads Focus’ campaign will run from 8 to 12 July [2019], with a series of events across the county.

Drop-in sessions will be held in Ludlow, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Bridgnorth to enable people to put comments, concerns and questions about road safety issues to Shropshire Council, the PCC, Safer Roads Partnership, the police and the local town or parish council.

Shropshire Council’s road safety education team will also be on hand to talk about the road safety education and cycle training available to schools.

People will also be able to find out more about work being done across the county to improve road safety.

At the end of the week there will also be an opportunity for people to attend a ‘driver awareness course’ in Shrewsbury free of charge.

All comments and suggestions raised as part of the campaign will be considered by the relevant organisation and, where appropriate, action will be taken.

The drop-in sessions will be held as follows:

• Monday 8 July – Ludlow, Mascall Centre: 5pm to 7pm
• Tuesday 9 July – Market Drayton, Festival Drayton Centre: 3pm to 5pm
• Wednesday 10 July – Oswestry, The Qube:  2.30pm to 4.30pm
• Thursday 11 July – Bridgnorth, Castle Hall: 5pm to 7pm

The driver awareness course – run in conjunction with TTC – will be held on Friday 12 July, from 2pm to 4pm, at The Lantern in Shrewsbury.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and parking, said:

“According to latest figures 141 people were killed or seriously injured on our roads in 2018. Keeping the county’s roads safe for all of our road users is therefore 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.”

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said:

“Both Shropshire Council and I have a shared aim to make our county’s roads safer, and Roads Focus enables communities to have a say on the issues that matter most to them. It is vital that we give them the forum to do this, and with those that have the power to make changes.

“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.”

On Saturday 25 May, the Deputy PCC and representatives from the PCC’s team will be at the Shropshire County Show in Shrewsbury ready to listen to concerns around road safety.

PCC John Campion added:

“Ahead of the drop-in sessions taking place in July we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to share their concerns. My team will aim to answer as many questions as possible at the Shropshire County Show, however we might also need to pass them on to the police, council or Safer Roads Partnership team to look into further.”

More information about the Roads Focus campaign will be available on the West Mercia PCC and Shropshire Council Facebook pages in the coming weeks.

The PCC previously ran a successful Roads Focus campaign in partnership with Worcestershire County Council in November 2018.

Further information

About the driver awareness course

This is a great opportunity to become a better driver and brush-up on your driving knowledge. Can you remember what every sign means? Can you tell what the speed limits are without signs? Can you spot hazards? Do you know how many people die on Shropshire roads every year?

During this session you will get the opportunity to refresh your driver knowledge and learn about distractions. You will also listen to an officer from the West Mercia Roads Policing team, as they give you an insight into how you can prevent yourself from becoming a statistic in West Mercia’s road traffic collisions.

To register your interest, please email opcc@westmercia.pnn.police.uk or visit the West Mercia PCC Facebook page.