Excessive speed 'is one of the main causes of accidents'

Date: 24/8/2010

Excessive speed, not wearing a seatbelt and driving under the influence of drink or drugs are the three major causes of serious and fatal road accidents.

That is according to Acting Chief Inspector Ken Cook of Durham Police, who spoke to the Hartlepool Mail during the unit's road safety campaign this week.

Traffic officers will be urging road users to drive safely as part of a Europe-wide initiative to reduce the number of casualties on the roads.

Inspector Cook said losing a loved one in a car accident can be even more difficult to deal with if the collision was caused by speeding.

"We would urge all motorists to drive in a manner which ensures not only their own safety, but that of all other road users," he stated.

Recently, Dr Anthony Beresford of Cardiff Business School told WalesOnline the road safety message is getting through to the majority of Welsh people, after it was revealed the number of overall road casualties in the country has dropped 18 per cent since 2006.

Posted by Sarah Bailey