Don't break a heart

DON’T break a heart on Warrington’s roads.

This is the strong message to drivers following the launch of the Cheshire Road Safety Partnership’s Red Routes campaign in Warrington on Valentine’s Day.

Red Routes are roads that have been identified as carrying a high level of risk to road users of death and serious injury. Road collision and casualty data provided by Cheshire Constabulary to the council was used in the analysis.

The data shows that 365 people have been killed or seriously injured on Warrington roads during the three year study period. The Warrington roads selected for inclusion as a Red Route are:

Lovely Lane / Folly Lane / Kerfoot Street
C1049 Orford Lane / Marsh House Lane / Padgate Lane
A 57 Manchester Road (Kingsway North to Woolston Grange)
A57 Manchester Road (M6 to Borough Boundary)
A49 Wilderspool Causeway (full length) & London Road (up to A56 Walton Road)
A49 London Road (A56 Walton Road to Longwood Road)
A50 Kingsway South / Kingsway North

The Warrington Road Safety Partnership is leading the campaign locally and signs have been put up on these roads with the number of casualties on to warn motorists of the potential dangers.

Enforcement was also being carried out on the launch day and 31 vehicles were stopped for offences such as seat belts not worn, mobile phone use, and the driver not in proper control of the vehicle.

Don’t become a statistic.

What you can do:

• Belt up – wear your seatbelt front and back at all times
• Wake up – if you’re tired, stop and have a rest
• Sober up – don’t drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even some prescription or over the counter drugs
• Slow up – watch your speed. Observe speed limits, weather conditions and the    environment
• Look up – watch out for other vehicles and pedestrians
• Sharpen up – have regular eye tests
• Shut up – don’t use your mobile phone while driving
• Back up – keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front
• Check up – maintain your vehicle regularly, including checking your tyre pressure and tread

Cllr Brian Axcell, Executive Board member for environment services, says:  “We have really got to get this message out there if we are to save lives on our roads.  It’s simple,  don’t do things like use your mobile phone when driving and watch your speed as it’s your life as well as other people’s that you are putting at risk if you don’t.”

Issued by:  Joanna Driscoll, Principal Communications Officer
Date:   Tuesday 5 March, 2008
Release: Immediate