Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

£3.5 million has been allocated for road safety projects.
Regretably, Wiltshire is not one of the 'winners' in this scheme. The biggest single Road Safety Partnership Grant will go to Staffordshire County Council, which will get up to £854k to improve safety for motorcyclists by raising other motorists’ awareness, tackling hazards such as diesel spills and mud on the road and pre-rider education for young people from the age of 13 as well as some minor changes to roads. The new Cheshire East Council is also focusing on motorcyclists and will get almost £600k to lead a project aiming to reduce casualties among bikers on the A537.

Derbyshire County Council will use its grant of up to £200k on a system to analyse patterns of motorcycling and to target social marketing towards riders. A Warwickshire County Council pilot programme is to to be expanded to include more than 1,300 powered two wheeler riders across the West Mercia Police area. A £66k grant will be used to extend ‘Take Control’ training.

A further £849k has been awarded to Lancashire County Council to test in-vehicle systems, which warn drivers when they are approaching sharp bends or speeding. The Unity Partnership, working on behalf of Oldham Borough, will get £480k for safety education for adults with the aim of helping them pass on key messages to children.

The London Borough of Hounslow is to get £284k for a tailored road safety programme for the Somali community and Bristol City Council, which has been awarded £49k, will work with the University of the West of England in evaluating the effectiveness of social marketing aimed at young drivers in deprived areas.