A pack containing information on the consequences of speeding for companies and company drivers is being sent out by the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership to businesses with vehicle fleets in South Ayrshire.

The Partnership is inviting around 120 local firms to contribute to road safety on Ayrshire roads by using the material in the packs to ensure that all employees understand their responsibilities as drivers and keep within the speed limits that apply to their vehicles.  The packs contain leaflets, dashboard speed limit stickers, speed limit posters for notice-boards and sample vehicle log sheets.

Councillor Douglas Campbell, Chair of the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership said: “While speeding may rarely be the sole cause of a crash, it is reckoned to be a significant factor in around a third of all crashes involving death or serious injuries. 

“Quite apart from the cost to life and limb, the effect of such crashes on other road users can be considerable – entailing road closures, delays and long detours.  For a business, speeding can have other negative consequences such as increased fuel consumption, higher insurance premiums and drivers losing licences.

Councillor Hugh Hunter, Convener of the South Ayrshire Council Community Safety Committee said “We are keen to encourage local companies to promote good driving practices and to make it unacceptable for their drivers to speed. It is really all about education – for example, understanding the speed limits is particularly important for drivers of light commercial vehicles which have lower limits than those applying to cars.”

The packs were produced by the Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership, whose project  manager, Gladys Cadden, commented:  “We are delighted to support the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership in this initiative. Our aim is to deter drivers from becoming speeders in the first place.”

June 2006