Winter 2017 - Issue 3
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Dorset Road Safe Winter 2017 - Issue 3 In this issue: Gordon Ramsay documentary Summer drink drive campaign www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk Introduction Welcome to the third edition of the Dorset Road Safe newsletter. The newsletter seeks to raise general awareness of examples of fantastic partnership working, geared towards improving road safety across the county, whilst encouraging Dorset residents to take advantage of the many schemes available for all road user groups that can increase your personal safety and that of others when using the road network. Issues will be published on a quarterly basis. Stay safe on our roads! Dorset Road Safe is an organisation made up of police and partner agencies who come together for the shared purpose of reducing the number of casualties on our roads. Our efforts are informed by statistical data, best practice and lessons learned to ensure we have a sound evidence base for our work. We focus on targeting the most vulnerable groups on our roads and overcoming the greatest risks to road safety through collaborative initiatives. We are committed to making strides towards our shared target of bringing about a 40 per cent reduction in those killed and seriously injured on Dorset roads by 2020. Working together is integral to developing innovative solutions that directly address the causal factors behind road fatalities. Our six strategic priorities are at the heart of all education, enforcement and engineering efforts carried out to improve safety on the roads. Message from... Martin Baker, Chair of Dorset Road Safe Tactical Group Around 200 people are injured on our local roads each month. Across Dorset, road casualties cost the local economy around £160 million a year, at least £5 million of which directly impacts on NHS resources. Crashes can have enormous consequences for those involved, their friends and families. The majority are almost entirely preventable. Dorset Road Safe’s vision is “to improve road safety” across the Partnership area. Road deaths should not be an acceptable or inevitable consequence of travel on the local network and all road users must work together to address the problem. 6 Strategic Priorities • Better road safety education and • Rural road KSIs training for children, learner, older and • Motorcycle casualties young drivers • Pedestrian and cyclist casualties • Careless or dangerous road user behaviour • Illegal and inappropriate speed www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk Updates Education Enforcement www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk Casualties for the whole of Dorset Please note - this data is only valid on the day of print - data is subject to change. KSI - killed or seriously injured www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk Martyn Underhill blog Lowering the drink drive limit In Scotland, since lowering the legal limit the Earlier this year, I wrote to the Secretary of State number of drink driving offences has fallen and for Transport to formally express my concern that more importantly, attitudes have shifted. Last without justification or clear rationale, we have Christmas, Dorset Police conducted a survey the highest drink drive threshold in Europe. on drink driving. 26% of local respondents said In spite of calls from the Local they would have a drink before driving, Government Authority and others compared to just 18% of Scots. for the limit to be reduced, the Government remains In England and Wales, we unmoved on the issue. haven’t achieved any consistent reduction in drink A Department for Transport drive related deaths since spokesman said that 2010. Our roads are among rigorous enforcement the safest in Europe, but and severe penalties for that doesn’t mean that we drink driving were more should turn a blind eye to effective than changing the opportunities to make them drink drive limit. When both even safer. would seemingly provide the strongest deterrent, I question Road safety features heavily the ‘either/ or’ approach. in my new Police & Crime Plan for Dorset and I will continue to lobby From speaking with local residents throughout the Government to lower the drink drive limit my time as PCC, it’s clear that nobody to finally send a clear message to drivers conclusively knows how much they can legally that the only safe amount to drink and drive drink: a glass of wine, glass and a half, a pint is none. Visit www.dorsetpoliceplan.com to or two? Under the current rules, too much is left read my correspondence with the Department open to interpretation, even though we know that for Transport in full and for other road safety any level of blood alcohol impairs driving. updates. A lower alcohol limit, where one drink could cost you your licence, would more effectively deter motorists from drinking at all before getting behind the wheel. Too many motorists take decisions to ‘risk it’ with a misplaced confidence. It’s time that we stop playing Russian roulette Martyn Underhill with people’s lives. Police & Crime Commissioner www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk News Dorset Police name those caught drink “The increase demonstrates Dorset Police’s driving during summer campaign proactive approach to removing these drivers from our roads. A total of 38 people have been convicted of drink driving related offences during June by Dorset “I am disappointed that there are still motorists in Police as part of a summer crackdown. Dorset who clearly think they are above the law and are willing to risk getting behind the wheel or A total of 607 breath tests were carried out by on their bike after drinking alcohol. officers during the summer campaign, which ran between 1 June 2017 and 30 June 2017, “Too many people fail to consider the devastation compared to 427 breath tests during the same that drink and drug driving can cause. Alcohol time the previous year. During June 2016, 43 impairs many of the functions necessary people were charged with drink driving related for safe driving – slowing reactions offences. and significantly reducing spatial awareness. Drink driving poses a As in previous years, the summer significant threat to other road drink-drive campaign saw officers users and we aim to send out the breathalysing all drivers involved message that these offences will in collisions, stopped while simply not be tolerated. Having a committing a moving road traffic second drink doubles the risk of offence and anyone suspected a driver being involved in a fatal of driving under the influence of collision, for example. alcohol. “There are many consequences of Dorset Police announced in May that drink-driving. You risk being caught by anyone charged with a drink driving related the police, appearing in court, losing your licence offence in Dorset during June would have their and potentially your job. You risk being involved name and photograph published by Dorset in a collision which could result in serious or even Police. Of the 38 people convicted, 33 were men fatal injuries. You also put innocent lives at risk.” and five were women with the average age being 38. If someone is caught drink driving, they will face a minimum 12 month driving ban, a criminal Each year over 100 people in Dorset still become record, up to six months in prison and a fine of up casualties in collisions where drink or drugs were to £5,000. an impairing factor. Chief Inspector Leisk continued: “I urge anyone Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, of the Alliance who suspects someone is driving under Roads Policing Unit, said: “This campaign also the influence of alcohol or drugs to call 999 saw officers targeting known suspected drink immediately so police can intercept or call 101 or drivers following information provided to us by Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 with non-urgent the public. information.” www.dorsetroadsafe.org.uk News Disqualified for 24 months. Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on 5 July 2017 11. Elliot Dale, aged 57, of Colyton in Devon. Fined £400, costs £85, victim surcharge £40. Disqualified for 12 months. Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on 19 July 2017 12. Emily Jade Moore, aged 20 and of Bournemouth. Conditional discharge for 12 months with rehabilitation activity requirement, 80 hours unpaid work, costs £85, victim surcharge £85. Disqualified for 29 months. Poole Magistrates’ Court on 14 July 2017 13. Holly Anne Rose McKenzie, aged 25 and of Poole. Fined £200, costs £85, victim surcharge £30. Disqualified for 12 months. Poole Magistrates’ Court on 18 July 2017 14. James Joseph Herbert Mirco, aged 34 and of Bournemouth. Fined £300, costs £85, victim surcharge £70. Disqualified for 36 Those convicted of drink driving or failing to provide a specimen months. Poole Magistrates’ Court on 18 July 2017 for analysis received the following sentences: 15. Keith David Parvin, aged 34 and of Sherborne. Disqualified for 1. Aaron Hicks, aged 18 and of Salisbury in Wiltshire. Fined £175, 40 months. Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on 10 July 2017 costs £85, victim surcharge £30. Disqualified for 17 months. Poole Magistrates’ Court on July 11 2017 16. Lee Charles Westwood, aged 49 and of Bournemouth. Fined £500, costs £85, victim surcharge £50. Disqualified for 12 months. 2. Adrian O’Neill, aged 32 and of Calne in Wiltshire. Fined £400, Poole Magistrates’ Court on 14 July 2017 costs £85 and victim surcharge £40. Disqualified for 36 months. Poole Magistrates’ Court on 6 July 2017 17. Mark Alwyn Sanders, aged 48 and of Christchurch. Four week sentence imposed concurrent to existing sentence. Disqualified 3. Amelia Bocock, aged 26 and of Bournemouth. Fined £461, for 12 months. Poole Magistrates’ Court on 18 July 2017 costs £85, victim surcharge £46. Disqualified for 12 months. Poole Magistrates’ Court on 7 July 2017 18. Mark Savage, aged 40 and of Weymouth. Community order for 12 months, rehabilitation activity requirement, costs £85, victim 4. Anand Akshay, aged 22, of Hounslow in Middlesex.