The fire service is calling on South Yorkshire’s drivers to mark a major national awareness week by making the county’s highways injury free.
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue and its partners will be spelling out road dangers at four events across the county to mark UK Road Safety Week (June 8-15), coordinated by the Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA).
Every day around 10 injury collisions are recorded on South Yorkshire’s roads. By educating motorists, cyclists and pedestrians about common causes of road injuries such as speeding, drink driving and distraction, members of the South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership aim to bring that figure down.
Several road safety events and demonstrations are taking place across the county, including:
- Monday 8th June – Asda Aldwarke Lane, Rotherham
- Tuesday 9th June – Asda Old Mill Lane, Barnsley
- Wednesday 10th June – Morrisons Hillsborough, Sheffield
- Thursday 11th June – Lakeside Shopping centre, Doncaster
The events will feature a Subaru Impreza, used by the fire service to give advice to young drivers, who make up the majority of deaths and injuries on the region’s roads.
The advice that the fire service will be giving to road users includes:
Think speed – the risk of killing a pedestrian is four times higher at 40mph, than 30mph
Keep your distance – leave at least a two second gap between you and the car in front
Don’t drink and drive – just one drink can affect your response times as a driver.
Distractions– never use a mobile phone when driving, only use a hands free kit
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s Gary Bruce, said: “Safe driving is mostly common sense. So we’re asking people to drive at the appropriate speed, leave a decent gap between you and the vehicle in front and never, ever drink and drive. Not just during this week, but every single day.”
Click for more information about staying safe on the roads.
Or drivers can refresh their knowledge of the Highway Code with a quick fire service quiz here