Partnership unveils action plan

1 April 2010

Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership will tackle five priorities aimed at cutting deaths and injuries on the roads during the coming year.

Motorcyclists - almost a third of the 566 people killed or badly hurt on Derbyshire’s roads last year were riders or their passengers. The number of motorcyclists killed or badly hurt in the county rose from 128 in 2008 to 170 in 2009. 

Young drivers (17-25 years) - more than a quarter of the deaths and serious injuries on the county’s roads last year were the result of a crash that involved a young driver

Driving for work - almost a quarter of the people killed or badly hurt on Derbyshire roads last year were driving for work or commuting.

Drink driving - one in 25 of the crashes on the county’s roads last year involved someone who was driving over the limit or refused to be breath tested

Children - forty five of the people killed or badly hurt on Derbyshire roads last year were aged 15 years or under.

Partnership chairman Mike Ashworth said: “We’re committed to working together to make 2010 a better year for road users.

“We keep a close watch on what’s happening on our roads and will be targeting those groups most at risk. Bad driving, speed and alcohol still play a big part in the numbers of people killed or injured on our roads. We all need to do our part to make sure only safe and fit drivers use our roads.”

The number of less serious injuries on Derbyshire roads dropped from 3690 in 2008 to 3495 in 2009 – but the number of people killed or badly hurt rose from 538 to 566 during the same period.

The partnership’s work programme for 2010/11 will include:

  • speed, seatbelt and mobile phone checks by Derbyshire police

  • help for Derbyshire businesses developing driving for work policies

  • discounts for 17-25 year olds who enrol on advanced driver training

  • free child car seat checks

  • Bike Plus and CBT Plus – cut-price training courses which allow new and qualified motorcyclists to develop their skills

  • road safety workshops for sixth formers and college students

  • drink-drive crackdowns by Derbyshire police.