West Country (E) Road safety

A new safety campaign has launched in Bristol to remind drivers to look out for lollipop people. A report by School Crossing Patrols has found an increasing number of motorists are failing to stop at crossings. The city's Mayor George Ferguson is supporting the initiative.

Pupils from St John's C of E Academy in Coleford, Gloucestershire have been monitoring the speed of motorists near their school.

The pupils from Year 5 and 6 spent an hour at the roadside, supported by Police, the local Street Warden and representatives of Two Rivers Housing.

The youngsters asked several drivers to pull over and talked to them about their speed. They asked them to consider slowing down and handed out mock tickets as a reminder.

Julie Griffiths, Deputy Headteacher at St John’s Academy, said: “The children took their responsibility very seriously. They couldn't wait to tell me that one driver was travelling at 37mph and another at 45mph!

This is a message to all of us to slow down when driving. Thank you to everyone involved in the project.”

A woman whose 13-year-old daughter was killed by a speeding driver says she hopes her death can be a warning to others. Amy Hofmeister died while cycling in Taunton three years ago. Now her mother Jane's campaign has won charitable status and she wants her message to go nationwide.

Leonard Jones was racing his girlfriend home from the pub when the crash happened. He was jailed for seven years. His girlfriend Leanne Burnell, who encouraged him, was sentenced to three and a half years.

Children concerned about road safety have a made a film to raise awareness. Pupils at Ashley Down Primary School in Bristol made the film to help launch a national road safety scheme headed by the Department for Transport, Aardman Animations and the RAC.

People in Bristol will be able to ask Mayor George Ferguson and Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens questions about road safety at a summit today.

The reactivation of speed cameras in the city is expected to be one of the issues discussed. The event takes place at City Hall at 4pm.

Mayor George Ferguson said: "The road safety summit will bring together everyone who has an interest in making our streets safer – not just council officers and the police – but community groups, young people and special interest campaigners."

A road safety charity says it wants tougher penalties for drivers caught using their mobile phone behind the wheel. The offence carries a penalty of 3 points and a £100 pound fine.

New figures show 30,000 drivers in the South West have been caught. The charity Brake says stricter rules must be put in place.

Laura Makin-Isherwood reports.

Families and members of the emergency services gathered in Bath yesterday to commemorate those who have died in other road accidents.

The services were organised by 'Road Peace', who say that more than 60 people have died on the roads in the Avon and Somerset area in the last year.

Jane Solomons reports.

It's Road Safety Week in the West Country.

As well as warnings about drink-driving, students in Bristol have been taught the dangers of using mobile phones at the wheel.

30,000 drivers in the South West have points on their licences for the offence. But Joe Burns from road safety charity, Brake says they want tougher penalties.

Drivers across our region are being told to avoid the dangers of using a mobile phone while on the road.

The 'Brake' charity says that more than 30 thousand drives in the South West have points on their licence for using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Today marks the start of 'Road Safety Week' across the UK.

Police in Dorset are looking out for drivers who are speeding or using mobile phones today.

The crackdown is taking place on the A30 in Sherborne and Shaftesbury as part of United Nations Global Road Safety Week.

Officers will also be giving advice to shoppers and schoolchildren. They'll be focusing on how to keep pedestrians safe.