2/9/2005 - 'Lost Soles' road safety campaign

Shoppers in Carlisle will be reminded about the dangers of driving too fast in an effort to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured every year on Cumbria’s roads.

A poignant campaign to highlight the tragic number of deaths on the road in the North West and Isle of Man is being launched in our region by Safer Roads for Cumbria on Tuesday 6th September at 10.30am.

The ‘lost soles’ campaign features shoes or footprints displayed to represent the 350 killed and 3,713 seriously injured on roads in the North West and Isle of Man in 2004.   In Cumbria 57 people were killed and 377 seriously injured in 2004.   This year 28 people have been killed and 247 seriously injured on the county's roads.

County Councillor Geoff Hodgson, spokesman for community safety said:

"Driving just a few miles per hour over the limit vastly increases the risks of injury if you crash.   The Cumbria Road Safety partnership is committed to reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the county's roads.   Too many people are being hurt on Cumbria's roads every year and this is a great way to encourage drivers to slow down".

Traffic management officer Dickie Watt from Cumbria Constabulary said:

"Unfortunately some road users still think it's acceptable to break speed limits on our roads.   Drivers should be aware that however good a driver they think they are and no matter how good a car they have, the difference between driving at 30 and driving a few miles per hour over the speed limit, will lead to a much longer thinking and braking distance, which could lead to drastic consequences".

This event is just one of the themes Safer Roads for Cumbria is concentrating on as part of the 'It wouldn't kill you' campaign and is being supported by the Fire and Rescue Service, Cumbria Constabulary and Cumbria Safety Cameras.