Pupils have joined the call for drivers to slow down on the back of figures showing that one fifth of road fatalities on North East roads involved a speeding driver.
Children from Errington Primary School in Marske have thrown their weight behind the campaign by Road Safety GB North East (RSGB NE) and police and fire services in appealing for motorists to slow down and look out for each other.
During the past five years, there have been 1,185 road casualties in the region where speed was a factor. Of them, 48 people were killed and 357 were seriously injured.
Of those collisions, two thirds of the drivers were aged between 17-34 years, where their speed, coupled with a possible lack of experience, were seen as contributing factors, particularly in poor weather conditions.
Half were within three miles of the driver’s home and within a 30mph limit, showing that people are likely to speed on smaller roads they are very familiar with.
Peter Slater, chair of RSGB NE, said: “Speeding features as a factor in a large number of casualties on the region’s roads and we know that if motorists just slowed down, we could drastically reduce the severity of many collisions.
“During the last five years, the figures have remained stubbornly high. We want to remind all road users that speed limits are there for a reason. People should drive for the roads and the conditions.
“Driving at a higher speed means you have less time to react. The faster you’re driving, the more likely someone will be killed in a collision, especially pedestrians. Nobody wants that on their conscience.”
Sarah Rule, headteacher of Errington Primary School, said: “I’m always concerned about the speed in which cars pass school, as well as how people park to drop off their children, restricting the view of pedestrians, especially at the beginning or end of the school day. Pupil safety is our first priority.”
Chief inspector Darren Bainbridge, of Cleveland Police, said: “Speeding is one of the four main causes of serious or fatal road traffic collisions; along with drink/drug driving, using mobile phones, and non-wearing of seatbelts.
“Speeding is a choice which has been proven to have devastating consequences for people involved. It is very easy to think that it won’t happen to you or that you are a good enough driver to avoid these mistakes, however, you cannot control what happens on the road. Being conscious of your speed may save lives, starting with your own, so don’t speed and arrive alive.”
Andrew Bright, road safety co-ordinator at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: “Our first responders see at first hand the consequences of excessive or inappropriate speed and this goes far beyond twisted metal, with so many lives unnecessarily put in harm’s way. If you’re running late, don’t be tempted to push the limits or take risks, plan ahead and give yourself plenty of travel time to ensure you arrive safely.”
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