Safety on our roads 

Last year, an average of two people per day were seriously injured or killed on Avon and Somerset roads. Tragically, there were 44 fatalities.

This year, at the time of writing, 34 lives have already been lost.

Behind each statistic is a person – someone loved, and a family whose lives will never be the same again.

Road safety is one of the top issues that people raise with me, in person, in meetings and through emails. I hear directly from many communities, from the outstanding volunteers in our Community Watch Schemes, and from the families and friends who have lost loved ones. Their stories stay with me, as a constant reminder that all of us who use the roads have a responsibility.

Motorcyclists, or bikers, are among the most vulnerable of our road users.  Shockingly, 39% of fatal or serious injury collisions in our region last year involved two-wheeled vehicles, from motorcycles to e-scooters, despite being less than 2% of UK drivers.

Throughout June, Avon and Somerset Police ran a proactive operation to engage this community. The campaign included patrols of high-risk routes and rural roads, the seizure of illegal e-bikes or e-scooters, and targeted enforcement, as well as providing advice and education.

I also shared advice about motorcycle safety, aimed at both bikers and other drivers on our roads – because education is a key part of prevention. Careless driving, whether by car drivers or bikers, is one of the leading causes of serious injury and death on our roads.

Too often, the collisions that cause the greatest harm come down to a lack of awareness or a moment of inattention. This may be the distraction of looking at a mobile phone or the failure to check rear-view or wing mirrors.

Other common causes of deaths or serious injuries on the roads include not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, or aggressive and inconsiderate actions like tailgating. All of these are a risk to life.

The awful truth is, so many of the tragedies on our roads are preventable.

That includes drink or drug driving; a contributing factor to around a quarter of fatal collisions on Avon and Somerset roads last year. It’s an entirely avoidable crime. Despite this, Avon and Somerset Police officers made almost one arrest for every four vehicles stopped during ‘Operation Limit’, when they conducted roadside tests for drink and drug driving throughout the World Cup tournament.

Roads policing operations run all year-round, not just in the summer, but this is not just a policing issue. It is a shared responsibility. The police are responsible for enforcement, but it is far better to focus on prevention.

We all want to get home safely. We all want our loved ones to get home safely. So, please remember when you’re using the roads to show care for those around you – and for yourself.  We all have a duty to do what we can to save lives, prevent tragedy and make our roads safer.