Emergency services convoy to highlight road safety in UK

It comes after a spate of crashes across the south-west of England, which have resulted in numerous deaths and serious injuries over the past few weeks.

Devon and Cornwall Police vehicles, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service engines, ambulances, National Highways vehicles, and emergency service motorbikes will travel together along the A38 from Plymouth to the Devon Air Ambulance base at Exeter Airport.

The convoy will formally launch the national road safety road trip organised by the charity Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death).

Every road collision is avoidable

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Vision Zero believes that every tragic death on our roads is avoidable and we’re determined to do everything within our power to make this vision a reality. We can only do this by working together in close-knit partnership with the other agencies who also see the dreadful and far-reaching effects of these collisions.”

Superintendent Adrian Leisk of the roads policing team added: “Sadly we still see far too many people being killed or seriously injured on our road network across Devon and Cornwall and while the numbers are reducing, there is still much more work needed to educate road users in staying safe.

“It is estimated the cost to public services of a fatal collision is around £2.2 million but the far greater cost is the impact that loss of life has on families and loved ones of the deceased – a message colleagues had to deliver many times last year after 55 people sadly lost their lives on our roads.”

Recently, both Devon Air Ambulance aircraft were deployed to the scene of a mass shooting in Plymouth, UK, on 12 August.