A range of agencies across Cumbria are to increase their visibility on the A66 to improve road safety as part of a multi agency collaboration to support of the county’s work towards Vision Zero.
Cumbria Road Safety Partnership announced in May its aim to reduce serious injury and deaths on the county’s roads by targeting the accident hotspots across the county, formally adopting Vision Zero 2040.
Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s.
Cumbria Road Safety Partnership has, analysed collision data from the past five years, and identified a section of the A66 from junction 40 to Kirkby Thore as an area to prioritise.
Partner agencies, including Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service and the Highways Agency, have agreed to provide a high visibility presence in a ‘guardianship’ role aimed at improving driver behaviour and, in doing so, positively impacting the number of fatal and serious collisions.
The Highways Agency, under the new road safety scheme, have agreed to provide a high visibility presence in a ‘guardianship’ role aimed at improving driver behaviour. The scheme will also see Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service provide educational awareness and, in doing so, prevent the number of fatal and serious collisions.
Work is already on-going on the A66 to reduce the likelihood of collisions resulting in serious injuries or deaths, including the deployment of a safety camera van in the area.
In the two months from 20 April to 20 June, the van has been deployed 98 times on the A66 east of Penrith, resulting in 682 notices of intended prosecution. Of these, 30 were for speeds in excess of 95mph, with the highest two being 133mph and 134mph.
Sergeant Jack Stabler of Cumbria Police said: “Significantly reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads, with the aim of reducing that figure to zero, is not just a priority for the police but a priority for all organisations in the road safety partnership and should be a goal for everyone across the county.
“Such an ambitious goal requires new thinking and new ways of working, which is why I’m so pleased partner agencies have taken this step beyond its usual way of working, in support of saving lives on our roads.”
Cumbria’s Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Mike Johnson, said: “This pilot is exactly the type of innovation that we need to help reduce the number of people being killed or seriously injured on our county’s roads and to achieve Vision Zero.
“The Cumbria Road Safety Partnership are already taking steps to reduce the likelihood of significant incidents and all partners are passionate about keeping our roads as safe as possible for everyone from motorists to pedestrians, but it is a community effort.
“I would urge the public to remember that the laws and restrictions, such as speed limits, are in place for a reason – to keep everyone safe.
“We all need to play our part to reduce the risk of an accident on the road, from following the law, driving the conditions of the road, and making sure you are as visible as possible."
“I look forward to seeing the results of the pilot which, I’m sure, will be a success.”
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