Have your say on road deaths

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Police Accident Investigation at the scene of a road traffic incident

Greater Manchester Police is inviting the public to have their say on how police respond to, report and investigate road traffic collisions.

The consultation comes in the wake of an increase in road deaths in the county in the last year and forms part of a national consultation being carried out by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

The review will feed into updating the Road Death Investigation Manual that was last reviewed in 2007.

In Greater Manchester road deaths increased by a shocking 42 per cent in 2011 compared to the previous year equating to 75 deaths and led to road safety being prioritised by GMP.

Increased enforcement of speeding, drink driving and dangerous driving offences in the last six months have been backed up by a hard-hitting safety awareness campaign to help stem the rise in road deaths.

Officers say that the increased level of enforcement will continue into the coming months and urge drivers to heed the messages of their Dicing with Death campaign to belt up, slow down and turn off mobile phones to safeguard their own lives and those of other road users.

Superintendent Craig Thompson from Greater Manchester Police Roads Policing Unit said: “We are working hard to bring down road deaths and serious injuries on the roads but accept that we may not have all the answers.

“People who have views on road safety especially those with first-hand experience of the aftermath of a fatal or serious road traffic collision can help us by giving us an insight into their experience and expectations.

“Through this consultation we want to improve the way we work to prevent, reduce and investigate fatal road collisions and make our roads safer for all road users.”

ACC Sean White, ACPO lead for the investigation of fatal and life changing road collisions said: “Families quite rightly expect their police service to prevent and reduce these collisions from occurring and in the unexpected event that it impacts upon them they are entitled to the best service and support to aid them through such difficult time.

“We are committed to listening to their experiences and views as well as those of partner agencies, and to updating and amending our policy and practices to keep pace with and, where possible, exceed expectations.”

The consultation is open until 7 September 2012 and comments can be made through gmp.police.uk/dicingwithdeath or by writing to the ACPO lead for the investigation of fatal and life changing road collisions across England and Wales, ACC Sean White via Cleveland Police Headquarters, PO Box 70, Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough, TS8 9EH.