THE Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens has named road safety as a priority as part of a refreshed plan for policing in Avon and Somerset.

Four priorities were set by Ms Mountstevens in 2012, soon after being elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset.

Her Police and Crime Plan has been reviewed and the introduction of road safety as a priority recognises the importance of the issue to local communities.

“Road safety is something which is regularly raised with me when I go out and meet with people and in the mail I receive,” she said.

“It’s an issue which means different things to different people; for some it is drivers speeding near their homes and schools, for others it is people using mobile phones and sometimes it can be the potential for conflict between different road users.

“What is clear to me is that people want to feel safe on and near our roads and I believe it’s right that we should be clearly saying that this is a priority for us.

“Whilst a greater focus on road safety will bring further benefits to our communities, we should acknowledge the work that is already taking place to help keep our roads safe.”

Ms Mountstevens added: “The police are well supported by local residents with Community SpeedWatch schemes, a free Road Smart education course for drivers was launched last year and has had an excellent start and static speed cameras are now back on and supporting mobile speed vans and motorbikes.

“We need to build on this momentum so that all road users are safe and feel safe.” 

In including road safety as a priority reflects the results of a regular crime survey carried out in Avon and Somerset and which ask people what the priorities for Avon and Somerset Police should be. Around four in ten people provided a response which falls under road safety.

Ms Mountstevens will hold the Chief Constable to account on the delivery of four key objectives - supporting practical and evidence-led partnership approaches to road safety initiatives, supporting the development of Community SpeedWatch and road safety volunteers, ensuring high-quality road safety investigations and improving visible policing on our roads.

The Police and Crime Plan sets out Ms Mountstevens’ aims, objectives and priorities in support of her role securing an efficient, effective, and accountable police service and one which is responsive to local needs. 

Her five priorities now are reducing the impact of anti-social behaviour, tackling domestic and sexual abuse, preventing and reducing burglary, improving road safety for all road users, and putting victims first.