Dorset Road Safe Some See, We See Campaign

Dorset Police are working with partner organisations to launch a campaign to improve safety for vulnerable road users.

Starting today, 6 September 2023 and running until the end of the month, members of the Dorset Road Safety Partnership will be working closely together to highlight the vulnerability of pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter users, horse riders, motorcyclists and drivers; and to influence positive behavioural changes to improve road safety.

This work is being complimented by a social media campaign, which features a series of thought-provoking graphics that speak to everyone who uses the road; reminding people of their responsibility in reducing the risk they may pose to others.

The partnership, comprised of Dorset Police, Dorset County Council, BCP Council, and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, have opted to extend a National Police Chief Council (NPCC) Campaign which focuses on improving safety for vulnerable road users, who may be more likely to be involved in an incident or collision on the road.

To influence positive behaviour changes, the organisations are delivering a number of practical sessions and activities, handing out information and advice through a planned programme of free educational events.

The series of events kicked off on Tuesday 5 September, with an Older Drivers event which took place at St Aldhelm’s Church in Weymouth. This event was aimed at older drivers and friends and family of older drivers, and included a presentation followed by optional interactive activities such as blood pressure checks, opticians checks and mature driver modules.

The sessions aimed to support and engage with older drivers in order to:

• Provide those who wish to continue driving with practical and informative advice on ‘driving safely for longer’.
• Inform older drivers about the risks they face and ways to reduce them with tips on hazard perception.
• Help to identify when the time has come to retire from driving and offer relevant advice
• To give advice to family and friends
• Have the opportunity to engage with some practical reaction testing games and tasks

Education Operations Manager at Dorset Police, Laressa Robinson, said: “To make sure that our roads are safe for all to use, it’s essential that everyone takes more time to look out for other road users – road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

“Throughout September, we’re working with partners across Dorset to run a series of engagement events, aimed at providing road safety education for people of all ages.

“The ‘Some See, We See’ campaign we’re launching today is a great opportunity to show how partnership working and communication can make a real difference to improving road safety in Dorset.

“Our aim is to achieve the challenging target of a 50 per cent reduction in death and serious injury on our roads by 2030, and we believe that working together will help us to achieve this." 

Alongside Dorset Police’s mascots PC Juliet and PD Bravo, the Dorset Road Safe team will be delivering interactive and engaging road safety education sessions in various locations throughout the remainder of September.

The planned activities, which support the Dorset Road Safe vision to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Dorset roads, will provide essential skills, knowledge and equipment to help residents, families and young people to walk, cycle and scoot safely.