(L-R) NIFRS Watch Commander Stuart Worthington, Station Commander Rick Allen NIFRS, PCSP Chair Councillor Angela Smyth, PSNI District Road Safety Lead Inspector Ben Parkes; Neil Herron DEA Manager MEABC
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Partnership (PCSP) are working in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to encourage everyone to take responsibility for road safety.
The call comes during Road Safety Week 2023 which runs from 19-25 November with the theme this year highlighting ‘Let’s talk about speed’.
The week aims to highlight the dangers of speeding, the importance of wearing a seatbelt and to remind everyone how they can contribute to safer roads for all.
The week also reminds everyone of key areas of road safety - including safe vehicles, the recent update to the Highway Code and the importance of inclusivity to keep everyone safe on the roads - no matter how we travel.
(L-R) NIFRS Watch Commander Stuart Worthington, Station Commander Rick Allen NIFRS, PSNI District Road Safety Lead Inspector Ben Parkes; PCSP Chair Councillor Angela Smyth, Neil Herron DEA Manager MEABC
Chair of the Mid and East Antrim PCSP, Cllr Angela Smyth, said:
“Road Safety Week is the UK's biggest road safety event and, each year, thousands of people around the UK get involved to take action for safer roads.
“It provides a unique opportunity to focus attention on how the safety of our roads impacts all our daily lives. Every life on our roads matters. Every time we’re on the road we need to consider how our driving can help keep ourselves and others safe.
“As we head into winter, it’s vitally important we are prepared for the road – watch our speed, ensure our cars are roadworthy and always wear our seatbelt.”
Vice-Chair of Mid and East Antrim PCSP Mr Lexie Scott emphasised the importance of partnership working to highlight this issue:
“Within the PCSP we have agencies that work in partnership with us on prevention and education on a regular basis, but we are also very conscious that our colleagues in the PSNI and NIFRS are first responders and will be the first on the scene to Road Traffic Collisions.”
District Road Safety Lead Inspector, Ben Parkes, added: “We have launched a new initiative urging road users to play their part in keeping safe by familiarising themselves with the’ Fatal Five’.
“The ‘Fatal Five’ are the main reasons why people are dying on our roads. For each of these, there are five simple rules which road users should follow in order to ensure they stay safe, these are - don’t drink or take drugs and drive; slow down; don’t be careless; always wear your seat belt and never use your mobile phone whilst driving.”
Station Commander Rick Allen from NIFRS Ballymena District, explains:
“As road users, we all have a personal responsibility to do all we can to ease the pain, loss and suffering to individuals, families and communities caused by road traffic collisions.
“We are urging you to drive to the road conditions, don’t speed, allow more time for your journey and don’t get distracted when driving.”
Share The Road to Zero is a huge road safety community programme with one aim – zero road deaths on our roads.
You can pledge here: www.sharetheroadtozero.com