Firefighters target speeding (From Witney Gazette)

Firefighters target speeding

9:00am Wednesday 6th September 2006 in Witney By Samantha Simpson

FIREFIGHTERS spotted vehicles travelling at speeds up to 46mph on a 30mph road in Chipping Norton as they launched a campaign to raise awareness about road safety.

Some motorists failed to slow down despite the presence of fire crews, county council road safety officers, and an electronic sign flashing up speed warnings.

The speed indicator device was set up outside Chipping Norton fire station, in Burford Road, as part of a campaign aimed at saving 365 lives over the next ten years by preventing accidents on Oxfordshire's roads and cutting the number of house fires.

Initiated by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, the campaign will be officially launched next month, with firefighters visiting schools and speaking to motorists.

As part of their involvement in the campaign, firefighters in Chipping Norton logged the speeds of 1,155 vehicles, and found that motorists leaving the town tended to drive faster then those approaching it.

The survey - carried out between 9.30am and midday on a Saturday morning - showed one driver travelling at 46mph leaving Chipping Norton, and another at 38mph entering the town.

Firefighters handed out leaflets to drivers, giving information about speeding and road safety, and plan to carry out further similar exercises in hope of encouraging motorists to slow down. They will also be visiting schools to give presentations.

Paul Debling, from Chipping Norton fire station, said 17 and 18-year-olds would be targeted as this age group was at particular risk.

He said: "Some young people drive too fast, and get killed or seriously injured.

"In the Fire and Rescue Service. we see the results of careless driving far too often, and it is something we never get used to.

"We hope to save young lives by highlighting the dangers of speed and by making young people realise that a moment of showing off in front of their mates can result in a lifetime of regret and sorrow."

In the past ten years, 477 people have died in accidents and 3,235 have been seriously injured on Oxfordshire's roads. During the same period, 39 people died in fires.

The 365 Alive campaign aims to cut the number of deaths by 365 by 2016, reduce the amount of money spent on dealing with serious accidents and fires, and deliver a safety message to thousands of people in the county.