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Merseyside Road Safety
Partnership supports:- 'Safer Driving Scheme'
MERSEYSIDE Road Safety Partnership,
incorporating Road Safety Teams from across Merseyside and Merseyside
Police, are supporting a scheme which aims to help reduce the number of
traffic incidents involving senior road users.
Members of the road safety team from St Helens Council, which is the lead
authority on Merseyside for the Senior Road User Group, assisted with the
launch of the:- 'Drive Safely for Longer' course.
The 2 hour course, delivered by approved driving instructors to help enhance
drivers' practical skills, gives drivers, aged 65 and over, the chance to
brush up their observation skills, learn how to cope with the mistakes of
other road users and address any concerns they have.
The awareness course is to be delivered across Merseyside by experienced
approved driving instructors, who will discuss requirements such as eyesight
and insurance with the drivers, before setting off on a drive in the
driver's own vehicle, providing advice and tips to enhance their driving
skills along the way.
Drivers aged 65+ have been involved in 1088 collisions in the last 3 years
and 1 in 7 collisions in Merseyside now involves a driver 65+.
Sergeant Paul Mountford from Merseyside Police's Roads Policing Unit said:-
"We understand the importance of driving to people as they get older
and the independence it gives them. We want them to continue to drive and
feel safe and confident as they do so. For those drivers who may have passed
their driving test many years ago, the Drive Safely for Longer course is an
opportunity to brush up on their driving skills and help them drive with
confidence."
A spokesperson for the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership said:- "We
hope that the launch of this free driving course which, along with other
similar events, will play an integral part in ensuring the safety of our
senior road users, by helping them to stay safer in what is becoming a
challenging driving environment."
A number of themed events, aimed at this road user group, have also been
organised by Council road safety teams across Merseyside and will be held
over the coming months. The free events will include a range of speakers as
well as stalls providing free resources and advice.
The next available dates are Friday, 18 March 2016, between 10am to 2pm, in
Southport, and on Friday, 29 April 2016, from 10am to 2pm, in Hoylake, on
the Wirral. The events must be booked via emailing:-
freecourses@no-excuses.org.uk and if you are able to attended
they will let you know. 'Olympics for the +50s' will also be
held on Friday, 22 April 2016, at Dunes Splashworld, Southport.
Motorists warned of dangers of
driving while under the influence of drugs!
MERSEYSIDE Police are warning motorists of the dangers
of driving while under the influence of drugs on the 1st Anniversary of the
introduction of the National Drug Drive Law. The law was brought in, on 2
March 2015, that introduced specific limits for 17 both legal and illegal
drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
Since the introduction of the law, the Police have adopted roadside drug
tests and drug swabs as an enforcement tool. Now the number of drug drive
arrests on Merseyside have almost trebled, from 110 in 2014 to 325 in 2015.
In December 2015 there were 66 drugs arrests and so far in 2016, over 100
people have been arrested on suspicion of drug driving with figures expected
to well exceed those in 2015. Drugs were detected in 98% of the
samples submitted to the forensic labs in 2015 and a total of 73% of drivers
were prosecuted. The penalties for drug driving are the same as for drink
driving. If you are convicted you will receive a minimum 12 month driving
ban; a criminal record and a large fine or up to 6 months in prison or both.
During March 2016 the road safety charity:- 'THINK!' are
sponsoring a national campaign, backed by Merseyside Police, aimed at
highlighting the issue of drug driving targeting those most likely to drug
drive; young males aged between 17 and 34.
Sergeant Paul Mountford said:- "The new legislation has
not only led to the removal from our roads of those drivers who drive under
the influence of drugs, thereby reducing the risk of road accidents where
people could be killed or seriously injured, but also impacts on criminal
activity and movement. In the same way that drink driving can affect you,
driving while under the influence of drugs is extremely dangerous and can
affect your driving skills in a number of ways. You don't have to be on
illegal drugs to be impaired to drive; prescription or over-the-counter
medicines can also impair your ability to drive. If you're taking medicines,
talk to your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional before driving.
As always Officers will be carrying out roadside checks on people the
suspect of drug driving. Our advice would be; do not drive if you feel
drowsy, dizzy, unable to concentrate or make decisions, or if you have
blurred or double vision and do not accept a lift from a driver you know has
taken drugs."
The THINK! video:- 'Paranoia' can be viewed online on
YouTube.
Also for more information on the dangers of drug driving, please visit:-
Think.Direct.Gov.UK.
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Just take an extra 5
minutes to ensure your home and property remain safe!
MERSEYSIDE Police are urging people to take an extra 5
minutes to ensure their homes and property remain safe and secure.
With the introduction of increasingly sophisticated security and alarm
systems installed in cars criminals have resorted to more elaborate ways of
stealing vehicles including entering houses with a view to stealing car and
van keys for vehicles parked outside.
The people that want these vehicles are professionals and the vehicle can be
stolen to order, utilised for joy riding, used to transport offenders or
even be used in other crimes.
Offences are predominantly committed in the evening, between 7pm and 10pm, or
overnight, between 10pm and 4am, with offenders typically targeting
properties via insecure windows or doors, while the owner is asleep or using
a device through the letter box to remove house and car keys which are left
in the hallway or left inside the door.
Offenders will then either push the vehicle off the drive and start it or
simply drive the vehicle out and make off...
Similar incidents have been reported in areas all across the Force in recent
months and Officers want motorists to take extra precautions to ensure they
don't fall victim.
Chief Superintendent Louise Harrison said:- "Many of these offences
are preventable with the offenders gaining entry to the house via an
insecure door or window. Other offences have occurred where car keys have
been left near to the front door and implements have been used to remove the
keys via the letter box even when the occupiers have been asleep inside. I
would urge everyone to take an extra 5 minutes every day to make sure their
homes and properties remain secure, both during the evening and overnight,
even when they are at home. If you have a garage use it or if your park on a
driveway ensure you close your gates at night and consider putting an
obstruction such as your wheelie bin in front of your vehicle. Always put
your car keys out of sight and never leave them in the back of your door and
if possible use a steering wheel lock on your vehicle, which are unappealing
to thieves looking to make a fast getaway. These people are looking for the
easiest and least confrontational way to steal a vehicle. Anything you can
do to make it harder for them means you are less likely to fall victim. We
all need to be vigilant. If you see anyone acting suspiciously report it to
the Police. These offenders will need to walk up driveways to look through
doors and windows to see if there are keys in sight of a door or window. If
you notice any such behaviour contact the Police on:- 101 or in an emergency
dial:- 999. In response to the increase in car key burglaries an operation
has been put in place to put offenders on the back foot. Extra patrols,
consisting of uniformed and plain clothes Officers, are being deployed to
areas that have seen an increase in this type of crime at key times, but
everyone can do their bit to prevent this crime happening in the 1st place."
To minimise the risk of car key burglary Merseyside Police have issued the
following advice:-
► If you have a garage, please park your car in
it. Many people with garages use them for storage. This will keep your cars
out of the sight of preying eyes.
► On entering the house lock the front door behind
you.
► Never leave your car keys near a door or window.
Criminals can hook keys through open windows and letter boxes. It is
therefore vital that householders do hide the keys from view. People have
keys stolen without anyone even entering the premises.
► Do not leave car keys in an obvious place; make
it as hard as possible for the thief.
► Do not leave house keys in the back of your door
lock.
► Consider installing security lights to the front
and rear of your property.
► If you are threatened with violence for your car
keys is to hand them over do not put yourself at risk.
► Special letter box cowlings are also available;
they allow your papers and post to be delivered, but stops the:- 'hook
and canes' fishing.
► Householders also need to make sure that they
take other simple crime prevention measures to ensure that they don't become
victims of sneak in thieves or burglary, such as remembering not to leave
doors and windows unlocked.
The Force is also offering the following crime prevention advice to keep
homes safe this winter:-
► During the dark nights, use a light timing
device to switch the lights on (ensuring your blinds/curtains are drawn.)
► Always lock your windows and doors. If you
haven't got windows locks, you are advised to get window locks fitted. If
you have window locks... use them.
► Always check your front and back door are secure
even if you are in.
► Secure your shed and garage properly. Don't
leave tools lying around.
► Security mark all your home and garden equipment
with full postcode using a UV marker pen or permanent marker. This can help
make it easier for victims to be reunited with your property if you are the
victim of a burglary and the items are recovered. |
