Fewer Deaths on Hart’s Roads

THE Hart road death figures for 2008, which indicate a large drop on the previous year, have been welcomed by Cllr Colin Ive, Chairman of Hart Road Safety Council.

Cllr Ive reported that between mid- September 2007 and mid-September 2008 there were no fatalities at all. Since then sadly there had been two.

Said Cllr Ive: “This significant reduction will be welcomed by all Hart residents-whilst at the same time our sympathies should be with the families who have suffered.”

He listed six road safety messages that would help to keep deaths down.

Children should be taught how to cross the road safely, all cycles should be roadworthy with lights at night and helmets should be worn as a habit.

Seat belt wearing should be encouraged for car passengers and hand held mobile phones should be switched off and not used when driving.

He warned of hazards on rural roads including trees and asked drivers to continue to look out for motorcycles.

“Don’t believe that accidents always happen to other people,” he warned. One could be waiting round the corner for you right now.”

Whether people walked away or were carried away from accidents often depended on what people had done to prepare for them.

Winner of the road safety competition in the Hart Brake road safety magazine last summer was Mr James Fowler of Fleet.