— Safer roads —
By investing in prevention and enforcement to reduce further casualties on our roads.
Part three of Darryl Preston’s six-point plan to continue #WeCutCrime in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Safer roads
Having had to deal with fatal road collisions when I was a police officer, I am acutely aware of the devastating impact this has on families, friends and local communities.
Indeed, I dealt with far too many serious injury and fatal incidents on our roads – and having to deliver that message to loved ones was, for me, the hardest job in policing
They used to be called road traffic accidents – but of course most are not: they are avoidable by all of us taking personal responsibility and driving safely.
Talking to residents, road safety is a significant concern in our villages, towns and cities and that is why I made this a priority when elected in 2021. I have made available significant resources to our road safety partnership – Vision Zero – and to the Chief Constable for additional enforcement. As a result, serious injury and fatal collisions on our roads have fallen year on year since 2021 – but more still needs to be done.
Partnership working is the key
to tackling speeding and road fatalities
It is clear we need even more preventative actions. We need to be more data lead and utilise the information we collate from collisions to inform our decisions.
At the same time, we need to continue surveying our roads, making sure they are safe through technical solutions such as speed reduction and better road design
I know that Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council are working very hard on this. They have my full support and I am determined to make sure we continue to make our roads safer.
Listening to local concerns
Not only will I continue to work with all the partners involved in road safety, I will also be listening to what residents have to say. People know their communities better than anyone and I will put forward their ideas:
- Campaigns to reduce speeding, dangerous and drink / drugs driving.
- Community Speedwatch groups.
- And, in consultation with and agreement of local communities, reducing speed limits in residential areas to 20 mph where there is a good case to do so.
However, we do also need robust enforcement of our road traffic laws by the police – catching those who break the law and deterring others.
Road safety really matters to me
My plan if re-elected, is
1. Continue to support the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership.
2. Continue to make resources available to the Chief Constable to ensure casualty reduction and enforcement of road traffic laws.
3. Continue to drive the use of innovative technology, data analysis and artificial intelligence to prevent accidents from happening.
4. Continue to listen to local communities and support local campaigns to reduce speeding and dangerous parking.
5. Continue to support the lowering of speed limits in residential areas but also in between villages where there is a good case to do so and is supported by local residents.
6. Continue to invest in local road safety schemes through as safer communities fund.
Darryl Preston is the Conservative candidate in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner election on 2nd May 2024. There's more about Darryl on the About Darryl Preston page.