Firefighters driven to issue road safety alert

FIREFIGHTERS in West Yorkshire are urging drivers to take extra care behind the wheel after revealing they are rescuing twice as many people from vehicles involved in crashes as they have been from fires.

This January alone, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been called to five fatal road traffic accidents and, during the month, in total they have been called to more than 70 crashes on the roads.

Last year, the county’s firefighters rescued about twice as many people from road accidents as they did from fires.

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The brigade’s assistant chief fire officer and director of fire safety, Craig McIntosh, said: “Attending road traffic collisions is now a major part of a firefighter’s job.

“Sadly, many of the road traffic collisions we have attended could have been prevented.

“As front-line responders, our officers see first-hand the devastation and injuries caused by road traffic collisions.

“It’s really important that drivers take extra care when driving, especially during severe weather conditions.”

The fire service yesterday urged drivers to:

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Slow down and check stopping distances as severe weather can reduce visibility and make driving more hazardous.

Take breaks if they are tired.

Get taxis or catch buses home if they have been out drinking.

Keep speeds down during winter months, as tyres have far less grip when they are wet than when they are dry.

Keep ice scrapers, de-icer, torch, first-aid kits and blankets close at hand during the winter months.

Never use mobile phones while driving.

Always wear seatbelts.

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Statistics from the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have shown that firefighters attended 72 road traffic accidents up to January 30.

Firefighters rescued 173 people from fires and 330 people from road traffic accidents in West Yorkshire last year, the service revealed yesterday.