Road Safety Week of Action to Target Dangerous Driving in Devon and Cornwall

Focused Campaign to Improve Road Safety Begins 17th November

Road users in Devon and Cornwall will see increased police operations and safety campaigns during National Road Safety Week from 17th to 23rd November. Organised by the Vision Zero South West Road Safety Partnership, the week-long effort aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the region’s roads through targeted enforcement, education, and public engagement.

The campaign will address key risk areas, including speed, tyre safety, distracted driving, and drink and drug driving, as part of the partnership’s goal to cut road fatalities and injuries to zero.

Learn2Live: Preparing Young Drivers for the Road

Throughout the week, emergency services will deliver the Learn2Live programme in schools and colleges across Devon and Cornwall. This initiative is designed to educate young drivers, a group consistently overrepresented in collision statistics, and prepare them for safe road use.

Annabelle Priest from Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, who has been closely involved with Learn2Live, said:
“Educating our young road users is absolutely vital if we are to achieve zero road deaths and serious injuries. Young people are the road users of the future, and it’s really important that we prepare them as best we can for that responsibility.”

Cracking Down on the ‘Fatal Five’

Speed remains a key focus during the week, with Speed Detection Officers deployed to locations where collisions have previously occurred or where communities have raised safety concerns. Volunteers from Community Speedwatch will also play a role in monitoring compliance.

Adrian Leisk, Head of Road Safety for Devon and Cornwall Police, emphasised the dangers of speeding:
“Excessive speed gives drivers less time to react and significantly increases the chances of death or serious injury in the event of a collision. The message is very simple – please, please don’t risk it. It’s simply not worth it.”

Police will also use AI cameras to detect seatbelt and mobile phone offences and conduct checks on commercial vehicles to ensure they meet safety standards. Chief Inspector Dean Drury highlighted the importance of these operations, noting the significant risks posed by unsafe driving practices and poorly maintained vehicles.

Vision Zero South West: Aiming for Safer Roads

Vision Zero South West is a collaborative effort by organisations across the region, including Cornwall Council, Devon County Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, and NHS trusts. Together, they are working to reduce fatal and serious collisions by 50% by 2030, with a long-term goal of eliminating them entirely.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, and Chair of Vision Zero, said:
“Last year, 48 people were killed and 702 seriously injured on Devon and Cornwall’s roads. These aren’t just numbers – these are people’s loved ones and family members. I hope our activities during the Road Safety Week of Action will form a blueprint for the future and help raise the profile of road safety in the region.”

Launch of Innovative Projects

The week will also see the launch of new road safety initiatives, including the IMPACT Trauma Centre, part-funded by Vision Zero South West. A launch event, led by the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, will take place at Exeter University on 22nd November.

For more information about Vision Zero South West and its efforts to make roads safer, visit www.visionzerosouthwest.co.uk.