Government Urged To Provide Better Support To Drivers In Countryside Areas

Serious injury experts representing people whose lives have been turned upside down by road traffic collisions on rural routes have welcomed new calls for the Government to take action to improve safety in such areas.

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs is meeting with ministers to discuss how new measures can be introduced with a view to reducing the number of people killed on roads in the countryside across England and Wales.

Among the proposals reportedly put forward are specific training for rural drivers and hazard awareness courses.

It is thought that around two-thirds of fatal road accidents occur on rural roads, while recent figures have revealed that the number of road deaths in Britain increased in 2011.

Stephen Nye, a Partner at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office, specialises in providing legal support to victims left seriously injured as a result of road traffic collisions, as well as the families of people killed in such incidents.

Commenting on the new campaign, he said: “We have been involved in a number of cases in which people have been left devastated by the huge impact of road traffic incidents, including those on rural roads.

“With new figures showing that there was just under 2,000 road deaths in Britain, it is vital that a significant effort is made to ensure that this figure falls in the coming months.

“Targeted, specific road safety could play a huge role, particular in rural areas where advice can play such an important role in keeping road users safe. We hope that the Government carefully consider the ideas put forward and examine how they can take major steps towards making the roads safer for everyone.”