The Special Report in The Bolton News on November 22 made very disappointing reading for those of us with an interest in road safety.
Action is indeed urgently required to improve the death and serious injury rates on Bolton’s roads.
Bolton & District Advanced Motorists were pleased to help the paper’s Drive for Justice in 2011 and we collected signatures at our publicity events in support of tougher sentences for dangerous drivers.
It was good that this initiative was successful but we also need to do all we can to improve standards of driving so that dangerous collisions become much less frequent.
In years gone by the Road Safety Department of Bolton Council had a string of initiatives to promote road safety.
Bolton & District Advanced Motorists collaborated in the big event in Victoria Square which was supported by all the emergency services and was a great success in drawing the crowds and getting local people involved in debating the issues.
We also were partners with the council in running the successful Mature Driver seminars which gave drivers the opportunity to listen to helpful hints and have their driving assessed by an advanced driver.
Unfortunately these programmes have been consigned to history.
We would urge the council and its cabinet member for Transport and Highways, David Chadwick, to bring back these initiatives.
We are a local charity so there would be no cost to the council if we were involved and the other local road safety charities, RoSPA and Brake, would I am sure also lend their support.
For those drivers who wish to improve their driving, our umbrella organisation, IAM RoadSmart, is currently offering 10 per cent off advanced driving courses from now until Christmas.
Details can be found at www.iamroadsmart.com
Gary Whittle
Secretary
Bolton & District Advanced Motorists
Albert Road West
Bolton
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