Keep your Distance, Watch your Speed - Only a Fool Breaks the Two Second Rule

Friday 22nd July 2011, will see fire crews across the UK come together to share two key road safety messages with the travelling public; Keep your Distance, Watch your Speed and Only a Fool Breaks the Two Second Rule.

Peter Holland, President of the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA) said,

"22,660 people were reported killed or seriously injured in 2010 on the UK roads. CFOA has co-ordinated this National Road Safety Day on 22nd July 2011 to raise awareness of two key safety messages around speed and keeping a safe distance from other road users”.

Firefighters from John O'Groats to Lands End will be at locations across the UK including service stations, shopping and retail sites, local supermarkets, petrol stations etc talking to the travelling public about Road Safety.

Neil Brown, Head of Road Safety, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said;

“Far too often our fire crews are called out to appalling road traffic collisions which are harrowing both for the members of the public involved as well as our Firefighters.

In 2010 there were almost 7000 (6856) road traffic collisions in Wales. South Wales accounted for 2686 of these incidents.  We want to work with the public to do our best to reduce the number of road safety collisions on our roads across South Wales."

He continued

“The two-second rule is a rule of thumb by which a driver may maintain a safe following distance at any speed. It has been proven that road traffic deaths and injuries can be prevented through promotion of effective road safety interventions such as these”. 

On Friday 22nd July, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS), Road Safety Team, will be working out of Sarn Service’s, Bridgend together with Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service personnel, South Wales Police personnel and Local Authority Road Safety Officer’s.  SWFRS road safety support vehicles and motorcycles will also be on site throughout the day.

The aim of the day will be to share road safety advice with the travelling public and promote the two key road safety messages and actively engage with as many members of the public as possible.