MAWWFRS works with Dyfed-Powys Police on new road safety scheme

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s ‘Revolutions Course’ will form part of Dyfed-Powys Police’s 4 part new road safety scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme, titled ‘Revolutions Course’ from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS), has been designed to meet the Welsh Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2020 objective which calls for a reduction of 16 – 24 year olds killed and seriously injured on Welsh roads. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Together, with Dyfed-Powys Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service, MAWWFRS will focus on reducing speed and anti-social driving by hosting events with vulnerable young people who may be susceptible to being involved in such incidents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It aims to have a positive impact on one or more of the Fatal Five contributory factors to road incidents – drink and drugs, speed, carelessness, poor use of seat belts and using mobile phones at the wheel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The expected outcome will be to raise awareness and change fundamental attitudes and behaviours in relation to anti-social and dangerous driving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

MAWWFRS Corportae Head of Prevention and Protection, Mydrian Harries said, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service often see the tragic consequences of road traffic collisions involving young drivers within our Counties. We know that young persons under the age of 25 account for 23% of all road traffic accidents in Wales, with a fifth of these resulting in death or serious injury, while young drivers make up 37% of drivers tested positive for alcohol after a road traffic collision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These figures alone make it incumbent upon us to continue our road safety education programmes by working with young people and improving their driving attitudes and behaviours. Working closely with colleagues from Dyfed Powys Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service, we are confident that our new high impact Revolutions course will engrain a long lasting road safety message with young drivers making a positive difference to their lives as well as contributing to safer roads within our Communities”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All of the initiatives are being funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Salmon said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I want my Road to Safety programme to protect all road users; these first initiatives focus on those who are most at risk on roads across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.
“Too many people die or are badly hurt on our roads; working with trusted expert partners I want to make Dyfed-Powys a safer place.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One scheme, from Performance in Education, is a programme of bilingual multi-media performances and workshops for all secondary schools across Dyfed-Powys. It aims to improve road safety behaviour and attitudes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Another, from Dyfed-Powys Police, will produce research which will lead to new schemes to keep young drivers safe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The third is from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. It will see emergency service partners reduce speed and anti-social driving by working directly with young people likely to get involved in such incidents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The fourth, from Dyfed-Powys Police, will produce research which will lead to new schemes to keep older drivers safe”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For more information on MAWWFRS Road Safety Strategy please visit: www.mawwfire.gov.uk​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​