Posted on Tuesday 7th April 2020
Helen Fisher
People are being urged to do their bit to reduce the strain on the emergency services and NHS by taking extra care every time they travel.
The Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership is backing the latest campaign by Road Safety GB to help reduce the number of casualties on the county’s roads.
The pressure being placed on the NHS by the escalating situation with regard to coronavirus is well known – and the situation is likely to get worse in the coming weeks and months.
While Staffordshire continues to have some of the safest roads in the country, statistics show 160,597 people were killed or injured on Great Britain’s roads in 2019 – an average of 440 people each day. In many of these cases, the police would have attended while a significant proportion would have required the care of paramedics and others hospital treatment.
Speaking on behalf of the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership, Helen Fisher, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council said:
These are unprecedented times and we all have a role to play in helping in the fight against Coronavirus.
As road users, one thing we can all do to help is to follow Government advice and only make journeys that are absolutely essential. If we do have to travel, then we want people to take extra care and to drive or ride responsibly.
If we all do our bit, we can help to ease the strain currently being placed on the NHS – and all emergency services.”
Alan Kennedy, executive director of Road Safety GB, said:
Whether you are a driver, rider, cyclist or pedestrian – we can all play our part over the coming months by only travelling when necessary, and taking extra care on every journey.
Our key message – as is always the case – reduce speeds, wear a seatbelt, drive sober and alert, and stop your vehicle to use a mobile phone.”
The partnership is asking drivers and other vehicle occupants to:
• Always drive at an appropriate speed
• Always wear a seatbelt
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Never use a mobile phone behind the wheel