Free gear up for grabs during road safety drive

The gear being dished out for free also includes stickers and key rings with safety advice, and is part of Derbyshire police’s Operation Lifeguard.

From today (Monday, November 19), officers from Safer Neighbourhood Teams across the Derbyshire Dales will be visiting schools during drop-off and pick-up times to talk to parents about issues on the roads.

Those include the importance of fitting booster seats correctly, the dangers of speeding or using a mobile phone at the wheel and safety issues around driving when pregnant.

Sgt Colin Buxton said: “Operation Lifeguard will focus on a wide range of road safety issues and we will be targeting motorists who are breaking the law with acts like using a mobile or not wearing a seatbelt.

“But the campaign is as much about education as it is enforcement. That’s why we will be visiting schools and talking to parents and children about road safety, to help to make Derbyshire’s roads as safe as possible.

“We also have a wide range of leaflets and free items like ice scrapers, key rings and high visibility bags for children to wear so they can be easily seen by motorists now the nights are getting darker.”

The free items have been given to police by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Operation Lifeguard is a long-term campaign aimed at cutting the number of road collisions on the county’s roads. This week, the focus will be on targeting the ‘fatal four’ factors that increase the risk of road collisions – speeding, using a mobile while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

The operation coincides with the national charity BRAKE’s annual road safety campaign.

Throughout the week, Derbyshire police will be at locations across the county looking out for motorists committing one of the fatal four factors. There will also be an awareness event at East Midlands Designer Outlet on Wednesday, November 21, touching on winter driving, eyesight requirements and vehicle roadworthiness.

A virtual surgery will be held online at www.derbyshire.police.uk from 7pm on Wednesday. Members of the public will be able to talk to roads policing officers about safety issues and concerns.

For more information, keep visiting the Derbyshire police website throughout the Operation Lifeguard week.