A summer-long campaign is underway in a drive for greater safety on Tameside’s roads.

It comes following last week’s Tameside Road Safety Awareness Week, launched in response to residents’ growing concerns about careless driving.

Staged with Greater Manchester Police it ran all last week to encourage responsible motoring, but also with the power to issue fines and breath tests if  necessary.

Following on from a similar week of action last October it also marks the start of a summer-long campaign which will be promoted using road banners and social media as part of a collaborative effort with the police to reduce incidents as part of a joint community safety partnership strategy.

Measures include community engagement sessions at schools with advice on how to park considerately and camera checks in the borough’s speeding hotspots.

Any fines, traffic offence reports or vehicle seizures will be publicised on social media along with general progress updates.

Cllr Brenda Warrington, Tameside Council’s executive leader, said: “Road safety is regularly raised as both a community and community safety partnership issue.

“By staging this latest road safety awareness week I hope it proves to people that the council and the police take their concerns very seriously.

“Since the first lockdown last year there has been an increase in reports of speeding and poor driver behaviour and we would urge all motorists to abide by the laws and take responsibility to keep people safe.

“Most drivers use the roads properly. Sadly, however, a small minority can be very inconsiderate and it’s them we’ll be focusing on.”

Chief Inspector Lee Broadstock added: “Road Safety issues have always been a community area for concern across Tameside and sadly we have also seen a number of recent high-profile tragic road safety related deaths in the borough.

“As a result of hearing these concerns we dedicated our full neighbourhoods resources with further support from our central roads traffic team to road safety issues, and the areas targeted were those that have been highlighted from data and from community feedback as the locations of most concern."

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