Rural road collisions still a cause for concern

CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council is launching a rural road safety scheme to encourage motorists to drive more safely.

Figures show that nearly 120 people have been seriously injured and 26 were killed on rural roads in the county in the last two years.

Some 125 serious collisions were recorded between 2016 and 2018 with 23% involving young drivers between the ages of 17 and 24.

Recent statistics published from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents also showed that human error was a factor in 95% of all the road accidents.

Workshops are now being planned and will offer residents and motorists who travel along the A476 from Llanelli to Cross Hands to Ffairfach advice and information on safer travel.

In the last three years there have been 23 recorded personal injury collisions along that stretch including one fatality and five serious injuries.

Drivers who attend the workshops will also be offered a voluntary driving session with a qualified instructor.

The council’s executive board member for transport, Cllr Hazel Evans said: “A lot of work has already been done to improve the county’s road network via various road safety schemes and through educational and training initiatives, but collisions continue to occur on our rural roads. This funding will help us engage with local communities to further improve road safety, by providing valuable advice and information to residents to make them safer on our rural roads.”

The project will be delivered in partnership with Dyfed Powys Police, GoSafe, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Carmarthen and West Wales Advanced Motorists IAM, South Wales RoSPA and a pool of Advanced Driving Instructors.

Dates and times of engagement events which start on Oct 7 can be found on our website https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/travel-roads-parking/road-safety/rural-roads/#.XYnqzGaQxPY