Local residents both in Westhill and Sauchen have raised concerns over the last few weeks about driving standards on the A944, in particular on the stretch from Dunecht to Millbank after a spate of accidents. Aberdeenshire Council and Police Scotland have been working in partnership to look at road surfaces and other issues. I am pleased that Aberdeenshire Council are to look at re-surfacing part of the road just east of the junction at Lyne of Linton. This follows on from resurfacing done last year when I raised the safety of that junction at the time. I have also asked Police Scotland to consider temporary warning signs as a reminder to drivers. The A944 is an extremely busy road and residents have reported some pretty poor and downright dangerous driving on a daily basis.

As the weather improves and more bikes are back on the road, Operation Zenith’s newletter is full of timely information. Note the date Thursday 5th June when Grampian Transport Museum will be the venue for a  motorcycling safety evening. Full details are in the newsletter:

Zenith

A thought-provoking road safety show attended by all S5 school pupils in the north-east of Scotland is returning for its ninth year.

Safe Drive Stay Alive is a hard-hitting stage show featuring real life testimony from members of the emergency services who regularly deal with road collisions, and from members of the public whose lives have been affected by road collisions in an extreme and profound way.

School pupils from Aberdeen City, Shire and Moray, of an age when they are becoming old enough to learn to drive, will be bussed to the Aberdeen Ballroom to see the show from Monday 4 November to Thursday 7 November.

A free evening show for the public is also held at the Beach Ballroom on Wednesday 6 November from 7.15pm.

The evening show is open to anybody to come along, see Safe Drive Stay Alive and learn more about the road safety issues affecting youngsters in the north-east of Scotland.

As well as appearances from members of the emergency services who regularly attend the traumatic scenes of road traffic collisions, the show also features testimony from a father who lost his daughter in a road traffic collision.

By combining real life testimony with an emotive film, the stage show leaves the audience with little doubt over how a mistake or lapse in concentration can change lives forever.

In the past five years 150 people have been killed in 134 road traffic collisions in Grampian, and 42 of those were aged between 17 and 25.

Chair of Aberdeenshire Community Safety Executive, William Munro, is appealing for parents, youngsters no longer at school and anybody using the north-east roads, to come along and see the show.

He said: “Safe Drive Stay Alive is primarily targeted at all S5 pupils in Grampian, to make sure that when they get behind the wheel for the first time, they are aware of the responsibility they are taking on and the issues which could affect their safety and that of their passengers.

“It is also important that parents take on that road safety message and are reinforcing it with their teenagers at home. This show is not just for youngsters, but delivers a powerful reminder to anybody using roads in the north-east of Scotland about how easy it is to get distracted or make a mistake, and what a devastating impact it can have on the lives of a whole range of people.”

David Rout, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Local Senior Officer for Aberdeenshire and Moray, said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is committed to contributing to maximise casualty reduction across north east road network by working together with our partners. Safe Drive Stay Alive is an excellent example of educating our young people in keeping safe on our roads and would encourage people to attend the event”.

Exxonmobil Community Affairs Manager, Ian Hackers, said: “We are pleased to have been a sponsor of the Safe Drive Stay Alive programme in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray since its beginning in 2004. By the end of 2013 more than 180,000 young people throughout the UK will have attended an ExxonMobil-sponsored road show. We also welcome the opportunity to work closely with the various agencies involved in the safe drive partnership.  Safe Drive Stay Alive presents an opportunity to make a real difference to young people as they start their driving careers.”

Safe Drive Stay Alive is a partnership between Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, Moray Council, Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Grampian and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The road safety show is sponsored by ExxonMobil and Petrofac.

Steve Bullock, SVP HSSEIA, Petrofac Offshore Projects & Operations said: “Petrofac is pleased to sponsor the Safe Drive Stay Alive campaign for the fifth year running. Driving safety is a big concern for our community and for Petrofac nothing is more important than safety. The live production is a unique way of engaging young people in such an important issue and we’re proud to be part of it.”

Major changes within two of the partner agencies over the last year, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, has had no impact on the running of this year’s Safe Drive Stay Alive campaign.

For more information about the evening session, contact Kate Rigby on 01467 628439 or email kate.rigby@aberdeenshire.gov.uk, or just come along on the night.

More information on Safe Drive Stay Alive can be found on our Facebook page: Safe Drive Stay Alive (Grampian).

Are you interested in ensuring the safety of our school children? If so, check out the following vacancy based at Crombie Primary School. Full details below:

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/vacancies/detail.asp?refno=ABS016407

An event to raise awareness of antisocial driving and the effect it can have on people’s lives will be held in Westhill on Tuesday 27th November.

A Community Partnership Project, “Crash Live” has been organised in response to local concerns about the standard of driving in and around Westhill.

It will include a staged road traffic accident with volunteers in the role of victims, displaying how the emergency services deal with such a scene.

This is the second such event to be held, with Grampian Police, the Scottish Ambulance Service and Grampian Fire and Rescue all taking part.

The emergency services will showcase the role they play in dealing with road accidents, with each giving a ten minute presentation.

Grampian Police will speak about driver attitudes, and the demonstration will show how the fire and rescue service cut free people trapped in their vehicles.

Westhill Local Police Constable, Neil Benvie, said: “We have had a number of complaints recently regarding antisocial driving and speeding in local communities by a wide cross section of motorists.

“We hope that by organising a partnership event and showcasing the role emergency services have to play that we’ll raise awareness of the issues and challenge attitudes.

“Anyone who is concerned about anti-social driving and the number of road casualties in local communities will hopefully find this a useful and interesting event.”

Anyone interested in a career with Grampian Police or as a retained firefighter with Grampian Fire and Rescue Service is also invited to come along.

“Crash Live” will take place at the Holiday Inn, Westhill, from 6.30pm on Tuesday 27, November.

Then come along to the Bennachie Leisure Centre, Insch on Monday 8th October 2012 at 1830 hrs and see how the emergency services deal with a road accident.

Let’s raise awareness of anti-social driving and help reduce the number of road casualties in our communities.

There will be a short road safety presentation followed by a staged crash showing how the emergency services deal with a serious road collision. There will follow an informal question and answer session over coffee and if you are interested in becoming a retained fire fighter or a special constable, the chance to speak to serving officers.

This event is a Community Safety Partnership initiative supported by Grampian Police, Grampian Fire & Rescue, Scottish Ambulance Service and Aberdeenshire Council.