In the coming week, West Yorkshire Police will be supporting the NPCC’s Vulnerable Road
Users week of action. From Monday, 18 September, to Sunday, 24 September, a focus will be put on engaging with those classed as vulnerable road users. They include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, horse riders, older drivers and both younger drivers and passengers.
The Roads Policing Unit will be recording information about all collisions attended during the week of action involving any vulnerable road users. They will also be recording any potential use of vehicles in offences such as stalking or harassment in support of the Force’s Violence Against Women and Girls work. The data collected will help the police and partners in understanding any particular areas of concern.
Sergeant Chris Robinson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “This week is about raising awareness with everyone who uses our road network about what they can do to keep themselves and others safe.
“Drivers of course have a huge part to play in this. Those who can cause the most harm, carry the most responsibility. All drivers should be considering whether they are fit and well to drive every time they get behind the wheel. They also need to make sure they understand the Highway Code and how much space they should be giving other road users like cyclists and horse riders.
“The responsibility does not end with drivers though. Anyone using the road needs to consider whether they can be seen, where they are positioning themselves in the road and what safety equipment they should be wearing. Just as the driver of a car, van or HGV needs to make sure their vehicle is in good working order, so too do owners of pedal cycles and motorcycles.
“The reality is that most of us don’t just fit into one camp. You might not think about how much your vulnerability changes but all of us at some point will be classed as a vulnerable road user as a pedestrian.
“As well as putting a focus on vulnerable road users, we will also be supporting the Force’s work to make West Yorkshire a place where women and girls can feel safe, free from fear and harassment. This is something that our roads policing officers are attune to generally, but during this week of action we will be formally recording all incidents and interactions to help build up understanding of this issue and what we are seeing on our roads.”
During the week of action, officers will be checking for safe behaviour around schools – making sure people are driving at safe speeds, parking considerately, that child passengers are wearing seatbelts and that pedestrians, both adults and children, are crossing the road safely.
West Yorkshire Police is working with partners as part of Vision Zero with the aim to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. It uses the Safe System approach which has five pillars of action: safe road users/behaviours, safe speeds, safe roads, safe vehicles, post-collision response.
