Joint Venture to promote Road Safety Awareness

District Officer Jim Quinn and Councillor John Hurst-Knight, Chairman of Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership and member of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority pictured with a Bridgnorth Council refuse collection vehicle|Pictured with the Bridgnorth Fire appliance are back: Connie Baines of Brignorth Town Council, Chris Ammonds of Safety Camera Partnership and Tracy Johnson of Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership; front: Retained Support Officer Dave Jennings, District Officer Jim Quinn and Kerry Rogers of Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership|Placing the new posters on to the local council vehicles|Placing the new posters on to the local council vehicles

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership and the West Mercia Safety Camera Partnership in a joint road safety venture which entails displaying road safety messages on Bridgnorth District Council refuse collections vehicles and town council utility vehicles.

The venture is seen as an important step forward in promoting road safety through hard hitting advertising campaigns and the three organisations involved are delighted that they have been able to work together to make the venture possible.

District Fire Officer Jim Quinn explained:

"Last year Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service attended more than 350 road traffic collisions in which there were 17 deaths and 121 casualties. Much of our time is now spent at road crashes across the county and we want to get the message across to Shropshire motorists that they must take more care on our roads".

Councillor John Hurst-Knight, Chairman of Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership and a member of the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority, also outlined his reasons for backing the campaign:

"This venture will support the Fire Authority's road safety strategy and enhance the work of partner organisations in reducing road deaths and injuries".

Meanwhile, Trevor McAvoy, Project Manager for the Safety Camera Partnership in West Mercia, expressed his pleasure at linking up with the two other organisations on this project.

"We are delighted to be a part of this venture and are grateful for the opportunity to show our support for this campaign. The adverts used have been extremely successful when used elsewhere and the chance to have them emblazoned on additional vehicles is too good to turn down.

"We are confident that they get the road safety message across in a clear and thought provoking way and are hopeful that we will be able to form further partnerships of this sort in the future."

22nd January, 2007