#projectedward – Every Day Without A Road Death
Saturday 20th Apr 2024
Monday 14 Sep 2020
“Zero deaths on the roads” – that is the message from North Wales Police as they join a national bid to help reduce casualties on the road network.
The Project Edward (Every Day Without a Road Death) road safety initiative will take place throughout the coming week (Monday 14 to Friday 18 September) and the goal is to achieve a week where no one loses their life – or is seriously injured – in an avoidable road collision.
Originally devised by TISPOL (the European Traffic Police Network) in 2016, the theme this year is ‘Driving for Work’ and police forces across the UK will be looking at speed, maintenance of vehicles, fatigue, loading, driver behaviours and towing.
North Wales Police are fully supporting this year’s campaign which will see officers from the Roads Policing Unit and Go Safe out and about on the region’s roads conducting targeted enforcement around the Fatal 5 offences.
Superintendent Jane Banham, North Wales Police said: “Reducing casualties remains a priority for North Wales Police. We want to encourage all road users to think about their driving and how this can be improved for their own and others’ safety.
“Project Edward helps to emphasise this by encouraging every road user to reflect on their attitudes and behaviour and think about their safety on the roads – whether they are drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrian, cyclists or horse riders.
“Aspects of bad driving all combine to make our roads unsafe with speeding, driving without a seatbelt, using a mobile phone, drugs, alcohol and dangerous driving being the Fatal 5 elements which influence this.
“That is why we focus on those that flout the law and are a danger to themselves and others, we need to get the message out there that death on the roads is unacceptable. All road users must play their part and make the extra effort to look out for each other.”
Supt Banham added: “Sadly North Wales is not immune to fatal and serious collisions, we have already seen far too many tragedies and serious collision on our roads over recent years. The emergency services see first-hand the devastating consequences of road traffic collisions, and the impact they have on loved ones and those left behind trying to pick up the pieces. One of the hardest jobs a police officer has to do is visit relatives to tell them a loved one has died. It is that much harder for relatives to deal with when that death could have been easily prevented.
“Over recent months we have sadly seen some motorists using the roads irresponsibly, with highly-excessive speeds recorded on key routes and other dangerous offences such as drink and drug driving.
“This of course has been concerning, but at the moment it is especially poignant. Fatal or serious collisions caused by taking risks and driving or riding at excess speed would require the use of the NHS, fire and police - all who are busy because of COVID-19.
“Those involved in a serious collision are likely to end up in hospital, depriving people suffering from COVID-19 of precious NHS resources, precious medical care and potentially hospital beds.
“Staying safe on the roads apply to every single one of us. Please help us in our efforts to reduce road casualties and fatalities by taking all relevant safety precautions when driving or riding.”
Social media users can follow the #ProjectEdward hashtag to learn more about the campaign.
Further information is available via the website http://www.projectedward.org or follow them on Twitter via @ProjectEdward
