Police today issued a warning for pedestrians and motorists to slow down and take extra care on Cumbria’s roads to help reduce injury numbers.
Twenty five pedestrians were injured on West Cumbrian roads between January and June this year, six of these resulted in serious injury and two people have been killed.
Superintendent Andy Towler, Chair of West Cumbria CRASH group, said: “The number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured on our roads is a real concern for us so we are urging everyone to slow down and take extra care.
“It is deeply saddening that this year alone two pedestrians have died after being involved in collisions in West Cumbria and just last month a mother and her two children were seriously injured while crossing the road in Maryport. So we are issuing a warning to all that whether you are travelling by car or on foot leave extra time for your journey and be vigilant of other road users. Give yourself the time to look properly for hazards and others on the road to ensure you and those around you arrive safe. Concentrate at all times when on the road - don’t let a momentary lapse in concentration ruin your life.
“Many such crashes occur as a result of pedestrians in a rush not taking the time to look properly, failing to judge a vehicle’s path or speed and children playing on the road or running out behind parked cars, vans or buses. So we are advising all pedestrians take extra care – particularly when crossing the road. Never walk onto the road assuming oncoming vehicles and drivers have seen you, and do not rush through gaps in traffic as vehicles speeds are difficult to determine - particularly with the reduced visibility which sets in at this time of year as the darker nights draw in.
“Drivers also have their part to play, as driving carelessly, aggressively or in a hurry is also a major contributory factor. Always drive more cautiously in residential areas, expect pedestrians to be crossing the road, be prepared for children who could dart out onto the road unexpectedly and adjust the manner of driving accordingly.
“Of the twenty five pedestrians injured so far this year 12 have been children so we are also urging parents and guardians to teach their youngsters how to cross a road safely to ensure that any risks are minimised. We work closely with Cumbria County Council in schools to ensure pupils are given the necessary skills to cope with the road environment. This includes practical tuition on how to cross the road, identifying the safest routes on a journey and dangers along the way. However we know children mimic their parents when it comes to road safety so we are asking parents and guardians to lead by example and reinforce the message at home. By working together we can reduce the number of people killed or injured on roads in West Cumbria.”
More information on road safety can be found by logging on to: www.cumbria.police.uk