Police to increase visibility on accident-ridden stretch of A66

This is part of an international traffic safety initiative called Vision Zero, which aims to see no one killed or seriously injured within the road transport network.

Cumbria Road Safety Partnership identified a section of the A66, from junction 40 to Kirkby Thore, as an area to prioritise.

This came from analysis they undertook via its road harm index map which collates collision data from the last five years.Partner agencies, including Cumbria Fire AND Rescue Service and the Highways Agency, have agreed to provide a high visibility presence in a ‘guardianship’ role aimed at improving driver behaviour and, in doing so, positively impacting the number of fatal and serious collisions.Work is already ongoing on the A66 to reduce the likelihood of collisions resulting in serious injuries or deaths, including the deployment of a safety camera van in the area, according to Cumbria police.In the two months from April 20 to June 20, the van has been deployed 98 times on the A66 east of Penrith, resulting in 682 notices of intended prosecution.

Of these, 30 were for speeds in excess of 95mph, with the highest two being 133mph and 134mph.Sergeant Jack Stabler of Cumbria Police said: “Significantly reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads, with the aim of reducing that figure to zero, is not just a priority for the police but a priority for all organisations in the road safety partnership and should be a goal for everyone across the county.“Such an ambitious goal requires new thinking and new ways of working, which is why I’m so pleased partner agencies have taken this step beyond its usual way of working, in support of saving lives on our roads.”Cumbria’s Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Mike Johnson, said: “This pilot is exactly the type of innovation that we need to help reduce the number of people being killed or seriously injured on our county’s roads and to achieve Vision Zero.“The Cumbria Road Safety Partnership are already taking steps to reduce the likelihood of significant incidents and all partners are passionate about keeping our roads as safe as possible for everyone from motorists to pedestrians, but it is a community effort.”