Chief Officers from Cheshire’s three emergency services have voiced their concerns at the rising number of people being killed on the county’s roads.
Forty-six people died in road traffic collisions in Cheshire in 2018, and this year so far 22 people have died – more than one a week.
That’s a rise from 22 deaths in total in all of 2017.
Chief Constable Darren Martland, Chief Fire Officer Mark Cashin, and Chief Executive Officer of North West Ambulance Service Daren Mochrie are warning more people could lose their lives if motorists don’t think about how they drive, consider the conditions of the road and assess their surroundings.
Investigations into collisions show some fatalities could have been prevented.
And they say the biggest killer on the roads is motorists driving carelessly, followed by driving too fast, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving while using a mobile phone – together known as the Fatal 5.
Chief Constable Darren Martland said: “From a policing perspective, this is Cheshire’s biggest killer.
“People are dying on our roads as a result of motorists’ poor driving, reckless decisions and momentary lapses in concentration.
“Fatal collisions are heart-breaking – for the family, for the community, and for the responding emergency services staff who have to witness the tragedy and subsequent aftermath.
“Stopping any more deaths from occurring as a result of something unnecessary and totally avoidable is a top priority for us.
“While it is absolutely necessary officers are out enforcing the laws of the road, it’s also about educating road users on how to drive safely, and we will be working closely with our Cheshire Road Safety Group colleagues to help prevent further tragedies from occurring.”
Chief Fire Officer Mark Cashin said: “Firefighters do a great job of rescuing people from collisions.
“Sadly, it is sometimes just too late and our firefighters have seen far too many fatalities and life-changing injuries on the roads as a result of something completely preventable.
“One reckless decision can cost you, or an innocent member of the public, their life.
“It is absolutely crucial we educate motorists on how to use the roads safely.
“All vehicles today are designed to keep us safe but, when driven badly, they can turn into a lethal machine.
“Human error is by far the biggest contributory factor to fatal collisions and if a person drives carelessly.
“No matter how safe you think your vehicle is, the risk of a serious collision occurring is increased considerably. It’s just not worth dying for.”
Daren Mochrie, Chief Executive for NWAS, said: “We see all too often the devastation that is caused by careless and dangerous driving.
“Lives have been unnecessarily lost due to careless driving and we really urge drivers to think twice before they get behind the wheel and help avoid this heartbreaking situation from happening.
“It takes just one of the five fatal factors to cause an accident and just a bit of extra care to prevent them.
“Please don’t take the risk and only drive when it’s safe to do so.”
For more information about Fatal 5, and for important road safety advice visit Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s websites.
Follow the hashtag #Fatal5 to keep up to date with the road safety campaign on social media.
(video and images courtesy of Cheshire Police)
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