Firefighters aim to drive down number of road casualties

Firefighters will be out and about in communities across Cumbria on Friday (6 July) promoting road safety. Cumbria County Council's Fire and Rescue Service is taking part in National Road Safety Day - a UK-wide initiative created by the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA).

Nationally 25 per cent of non-fire related call-outs are to road traffic collisions making road safety a top priority for fire and rescue services.

On Friday local crews will engaging with members of the public at a variety of locations including; shops, supermarkets or shopping centre car parks, town centres, petrol stations, motorway services and schools to pass on some key road safety messages – including “Only a fool breaks the two second rule”.

John McVay, head of community risk management at Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said:

"Every day fire and rescue services across the country attend horrific incidents on the roads, so that's why we're supporting National Road Safety Day.

"Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is now heavily involved in activities to make our roads safer through educating people of all ages so we're looking forward to talking to people around the county."

Since 2007 Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has carried out 718 road awareness sessions delivered to over 16,500 young people in more than 200 Cumbrian schools, colleges and other establishments.

Lee Howell, CFOA President said: "I am delighted that CFOA is leading on this important road safety initiative. Despite the success over the recent years in reducing the number of RTC’s, there are still an average of five deaths and 65 serious injuries on the UK roads each day.”

Fire crews will be getting involved in the following road safety activities in Cumbria on Friday.

Kendal area:
- Milnthorpe fire crews are taking a crashed car to Burton services with big posters saying 'This could be you'
- Kendal Fire Crews are doing leaflets & evaluations at Asda in Kendal
- Tebay service station North & South will have fire crews from Shap fire station

Carlisle:
- Fire Service personnel and Police will be in Brampton town centre with leaflets, displays and carrying out driver engagement
- Carlisle Fire Crews will be at Asda Supermarket - handing out Leaflets and carrying out driver engagement

Eden:
- Penrith fire crews will be at Rheghed Centre carpark handing out leaflets and carrying out driver engagement

Barrow:
- On Friday night (06/07/2012) crews from Barrow will be undertaking a live RTC demonstration on Hollywood park aimed at the young driver market, the road policing unit will also be attending the session in one of their response cars, along with an ambulance and A&E staff.

Workington/Whitehaven:
- Workington and Whitehaven crews will be at their local supermarkets - handing out leaflets and carrying out driver engagement