Crackdown on driving safety aims to 'do some good'

Road safety checks across Devon and Cornwall are being stepped up by police.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the move was part of a week-long push organised by the Vision Zero South West Road Safety Partnership.

The partnership, which involves emergency services and several other organisations, said it was aiming to reduce the number of deaths and serious accidents in the counties by half by the year 2030 and, eventually, down to zero.

The week of action was also seeing a number of educational events aimed at schoolchildren, as well as targeted police operations including extra speed camera patrols, bosses said.

The partnership began in 2021, when there were 47 deaths recorded on roads and 647 serious injuries.

The latest figures have shown a slight increase in 2023, with 48 deaths and 702 serious injuries.

Adrian Leisk, from the partnership, members were not disheartened as the partnership was still relatively new and more work needed to be done.

He said: "I’ve knocked on doors to tell people that their loved ones are not coming home, I’ve also stood at crash scenes surveying the devastation, so, personally, I have bought into this.

"We need to work harder; we need to engage more partners.

"We are going to Westminster to highlight what we are doing down in the South West because we are recognised now across the country as driving innovation and changing the way we approach road-related harm."

Christ Boston, from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the objective was simple.

He said: "If we can get to one person today, and get that message across to not drink and drive, not do drugs, to put that seat belt on for a short or long journey, look after each other in the car, and be a sensible driver, then we have done some good."

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