Road safety campaign saves more than 90 lives

MORE than 90 lives have been spared by a campaign to cut accidents on North Yorkshire's roads – which has nearly reached its target a year ahead of schedule.

Road safety bosses set out in 2005 to save 95 lives by the end of 2010. According to fatal road crash statistics revealed yesterday, that has almost been achieved.

Comparisons of accident rates show 91 people are alive today who may otherwise have died if the carnage had continued at the pace of four years ago.

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Deaths last year were the lowest since North Yorkshire County Council started keeping records twenty years ago, according 95 Alive, the York and North Yorkshire road safety partnership of local authorities and 999 services.

But campaign organisers have also stressed there is no room for complacency – 47 people were killed on county roads in 2009, compared with 52 in 2008 and 80 in 2004, the year before the campaign was launched.

During 2009, the most common reason for crashes was drivers losing control. Other major factors included careless or reckless driving, and drivers failing to keep a proper look-out.

Campaign Chairman and the county's Assistant Director for Highways, David Bowe, said: "The aim to save 95 lives was a very ambitious target. To have reached 91 at this stage is heartening.

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"It cannot be said that these 91 lives have been saved purely because of the work done by the partnership. Road casualty statistics are complicated."

But 95 Alive had encouraged all road users to share the road, take responsibility and stay safe, he added.

Insp Dave Brown, Head of Roads Policing, said: "The public of North Yorkshire and the City of York should be reassured that the partnership focus on reducing road casualties has borne significant results."

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris Anderson added: "These figures are very encouraging and I am pleased that North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has played a key part in this achievement."