Police give tyres safety advice and other motoring guidance to young drivers
By Denna Bowman
Cumbrian police officers have carried out spot-checks on vehicles driven by young motorists in a bid to cut down on the number of fatal accidents in Penrith.
The young drivers were also shown how to check their own vehicles for essentials like the amount of tread on their tyres – and warned about the consequences of not putting safety first.
The operation, which saw police link up with the fire and health services, came in response to the carnage involving teen and young drivers in the county.
Statistics show people under 25 are the most likely age group to be involved in serious or fatal collisions.
In both Eden and the wider county almost half of all serious or fatal crashes involve at least one driver in this age bracket.
Roads policing sergeant Ben Swinson said it was a “tragic waste of life”.
He added: “This event was aimed at trying to educate young drivers and make them think about the grave consequences of poor driving or driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
“Another extremely important aim of the event was to highlight to young drivers that it is their own responsibility to check their vehicles regularly.
“In the current financial climate many young people may think twice when it comes to spending money replacing worn parts on their cars.
“But it is crucial that they make sure the car is roadworthy as many collisions are caused by easily rectifiable defects.”
Number: Z8037079
Reg: NKF419
