Commissioner shows support for National Safe Speeds Day

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, has shown support for the work of Cheshire Constabulary in response to National Safe Speeds Day (19 October).

Officers carried out additional speed checks across the county as part of Project EDWARD (Everyday Without A Road Death).

Project EDWARD is a platform dedicated to promoting and showcasing best practice in UK road safety and is supported by the government, emergency services, highways agencies and businesses across the country.

17-21 October marks Project EDWARDS’s week of action, which sees educational webinars and social media campaigns offered to the public as well as targeted operations carried out by police forces. From 7am on Wednesday 19 October, for 24 hours, Cheshire Constabulary officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and speed vans carried out additional speed checks with specialist support from the Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit and Motorcycle Unit.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, John Dwyer, said:

“The work that Project EDWARD does for road users, not only in Cheshire, but across the country, is invaluable. Making Cheshire’s roads safer is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan and I am so grateful to the Constabulary for joining the week of action and for their hard work in keeping our county safe from those who use the roads to drive dangerously.”

Chief Inspector for Cheshire Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit, John Forshaw, said:

“From 7am for 24 hours on Wednesday 19 October our officers, PCSOs, Roads and Crime Unit, our Bike Cops and speed vans were out across the county carrying out additional speed checks, for National Safe Speeds Day.

“This wasn’t a case of 'the police having nothing better to do' as we so often hear - the consequences of speeding can be life changing, or even fatal - and is a matter which really matters to our communities.

“We will continue to work hard to make Cheshire’s roads even safer.”

John Dwyer added:

“I would like to thank the Constabulary and every officer involved in the additional speed checks for joining Project EDWARD’s week of action and for their commitment to the priority of making Cheshire’s roads safer.

“Combining the work of organisations like Project EDWARD, action days by the Constabulary and schemes such as my acoustic camera pilot will go along way to making our county even safer for every road user, however they choose to travel.”

By working alongside Cheshire East Council and Cheshire Constabulary, the Commissioner has recently launched an acoustic camera pilot on the A34, following concerns from local residents surrounding anti-social behaviour and noisy car meets.

The camera will be able to record noise above an acceptable level and identify the responsible vehicles, giving the police and council key information about the worst offenders and enabling enforcement action to be taken against them.

To find out more about Project EDWARD and the Week of Action, visit their website: 

http://www.projectedward.org/pe2022/week-of-action/

For more information on the Commissioner’s acoustic camera pilot, visit: 

www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2022/10/noise-camera-trial-on-a34-following-anti-social-behaviour-concerns/