We all deserve to feel safe on our roads

Road safety is something that effects every single one of us in Devon & Cornwall. Whether you’re a driver, motorcyclist, horse rider, cyclist or a pedestrian – everyone has a right to feel safe and secure when using our road network.

Everywhere I travel across the South West, road safety is raised as a priority by communities, businesses and residents – and that is why I chair the Vision Zero South West Road Safety Partnership.

You’re probably familiar with it already, but if you’re not Vision Zero South West is a collaboration between all the authorities and organisations across Devon and Cornwall – as well as some bodies – who have a vested interest in road safety and the wider road network in our region. This includes my office, all four local authorities, the emergency services, air ambulances, National Highways, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) and more.

Importantly, as a member of the Vision Zero partnership, each organisation has committed to reducing the number of fatal and serious collisions on Devon and Cornwall’s roads by 50% by 2030 – and eventually, to zero.

Next week (November 17-23) is Brake’s National Road Safety Week and Vision Zero South West is marking the occasion with a Week of Action which will bring together every single one of our partners in a series of events and operations.

Each day is themed around the five pillars of the Road Safety Safe System – safe road users, safe speeds, safe roads, safe vehicles and post-crash care.

The week starts on a sombre but important note, with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. We must never forget those who have lost their lives on our roads – it’s the driving factor behind our partnership and combined vision.

Throughout the week, emergency services will be delivering the fantastic Learn2Live programme to schools and colleges around the Devon and Cornwall, which aims to ensure that young people are given the very best start to their time behind the wheel.

Keep your eyes out on social media during the week as we will be putting out a whole host of videos, messages and important links promoting safety and training opportunities available to all road users – most of it completely free. 

There will be increased engagement and education throughout the region during the week – and there’s even the launch of some brand new, groundbreaking projects which we hope will make a huge difference in achieving our collective goal.

From an enforcement point of view, Devon & Cornwall’s roads policing team will be conducting several high-visibility operations with a view to keeping everyone safe on our roads. These operations – which will target issues such as tyre safety, drink and drug driving, distraction and commercial vehicles to name just a few - will take place throughout the region in areas where there is a history of collisions or where local communities have raised significant concerns.

As with all targeted operations like this, if you are not doing anything wrong you will have nothing to worry about. However, if you are someone who thinks replacing a bald tyre can wait a few weeks, or someone who uses their phone while driving or who doesn’t think they need to follow the rules of the road, beware - officers will be out in force throughout the week.

Remember, if you’re caught committing a road traffic offence, it could cost you your license and potentially your job. This is especially true for new drivers who, if caught using a phone behind the wheel for example, could receive six penalty points and consequently have their new license revoked.

Drink and drug driving are never OK and I make no apology for stepping up operations to catch those who choose to make this careless and selfish decision. The consequences can be tragic – both for the driver and any potential victims, their friends and families.

The message is very simple - please, please don’t risk it. It’s simply not worth it.