Several of the island’s travel groups, along with Bailiwick Law Enforcement, came together at car repair specialist Euromarque to reinforce the importance of regular checks of vehicles in order to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries on the island’s roads.
Police will be carrying out spot checks on drivers as part of the initiative throughout next week.
The theme for this year’s Road Safety Week is ‘Safe Vehicles Save Lives’, and Guernsey Road Users Network chairwoman Jennifer Merrett said the group was fully supportive of the message being pushed by UK road safety charity Brake.
‘Brake’s vision is a world where no one is killed or hurt on a road and we can all move in a safe and healthy way, whoever we are and however we travel,’ she said.
She was pleased this year’s campaign had support from police in the form of spot checks, saying the checks aligned with the week’s theme.
‘It is good to know that they are willing to educate and engage with our community in recognising and ensuring the importance that vehicles are fit to be driven on the public highway, be that a driver of a car or a heavy goods vehicle, or a rider on a bicycle, moped or motorbike.’
She added making sure brakes and lights worked, as well as checking whether tyres had enough tread, were all steps that made vehicles safer, and could help safe lives and injuries.
Euromarque managing director Paul Le Breton said one of the more serious issues his team occasionally dealt with was the corrosion of brakes, suspensions and subframes of vehicles.
‘It’s often out of sight, so it’s hidden until it becomes a problem. It’s not something that’s overly common, but because of where we live – on an island surrounded by salty water – it’s the sort of thing that can become an issue if people aren’t regularly inspecting their vehicles.’
PC Mat Du Port said the police were ‘fully supportive’ of the aims of Road Safety Week.
‘The simple fact is, if you are regularly maintaining your vehicle, you’re less likely to be in a collision, and this campaign is all about reducing the likelihood of deaths and serious injury.
‘Vehicles which haven’t been maintained, vehicles which haven’t had a yearly service, those are the ones we tend to see involved in the more serious collisions we attend.’
Bicycle safety is also playing a key role in the campaign.
Matt Joyce, owner of shop Wheels & Co., said maintenance of bikes was important all year round, but especially over the winter months as days got shorter, colder and wetter.
‘Checking your brakes is key, brake pads can wear down, and the wear on e-bikes happens quicker,’ he said.
‘By checking things over regularly you can also get on top of any issues before they become serious, which is beneficial in the long run.’
Wheels & Co. is one of several cycle businesses, including Ian Brown’s, Cycleworld and Adventure Cycles, offering discounts on a range of products next week as part of Road Safety Week.
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