A YEAR has elapsed since the Hereford Times launched its safer driving campaign, started following a massive rise in the number of fatalities on the county’s roads in 2007.

That year, scarcely a week went by without us reporting a fatal accident or serious collision. So, with the aim of doing more than simply reporting the tragedies, we launched our Safer Driving Campaign.

While it is impossible to imagine the suffering of friends and families involved, road casualties affect us all directly or indirectly.

The campaign has highlighted safer driving techniques and the courses available to motorists to improve their skills.

We have also spoken to bereaved parents and worked with the emergency services to identify the causes and effects of unsafe driving.

The good news is that 2008 saw a significant decrease in the number of people killed on the county’s road from 2007’s total of 22.

Paul Hobday, police collisions intelligence officer, said: “There were 16 road deaths in 2008, not including people dying of natural causes at the wheel.

“There has clearly been a decrease and the number of people seriously injured is down as well from 111 in 2007 to 79 last year. That is a noticeable drop, which is good news.”

One of the organisations featured in our campaign is Time and Place. The group was set up in the Forest of Dean and has worked to bring its hard-hitting road safety presentations into Herefordshire.

“I think it has been brilliant,” said Heather Thompson, a county driving instructor who has succeeded in bringing the group’s work to the attention of county youngsters.

“I have had very good feedback from my pupils. It has prompted lots of deep discussions with them about lots of different elements.

“More people are killed on the roads nationally than in wars but it does not make the news to the same degree.”

But Heather is particularly concerned about the high percentage of motorcyclists who died on the county’s roads last year.

“Out of the 16 deaths, five have been motorcyclists. This is alarmingly high, especially when you consider the proportion of motorbikes on the roads compared to cars,” she said.

“We are bringing a new motorcycle element to our presentations.

“You get people going back to motorcycling at a later age – they have not been biking for a few years and it falls apart.”

Another group featured is the Herefordshire branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Chairman Mary Bevan said: “It’s been very good as it’s helped to target younger drivers. Our Drive Alive campaign is aimed at younger drivers and this is especially important as they are our future in all aspects.

“If they are not around because of something that has happened on the roads, the world is going to be in a worst state.”

The Hereford Times will continue to report on the campaign once a month.