A special display will graphically illustrate the number of people killed and injured on Merseyside’s roads.
More than 500 pairs of shoes will mark the ‘Lost Soles’ who have had their lives devastated by avoidable incidents on Merseyside’s roads on Wednesday 24 October 2012 on Church Street in the city centre between 10am – 3pm.
Merseyside local authorities’ road safety teams, together with Merseyside Police and Fire and Rescue Service have launched a poignant campaign, using shoes to represent the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads across Merseyside in 2011.
‘Lost Soles’ is aimed at reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the road by highlighting the consequences of reckless driving or speeding; driving without due care and attention and being a passenger in any vehicle not using a seat belt. Cyclists and pedestrians also need to be aware of their environment and pay attention at all times to avoid injury.
Councillor Tim Moore, Cabinet Member for Transport and Climate Change at Liverpool City Council said: “We are proud to support this campaign and raise awareness of how we should all take responsibility for our safety on the roads. There are many simple steps that we can all take just to ensure our safety, such as making sure you have enough time for your journey; never using your mobile phone while driving and always wearing your seatbelt.”
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Watch Manager John Cousins, said: “We rescue more people from road traffic collisions than fires each year. Our firefighters have held a series of rescue demonstrations on the streets of Merseyside this year to raise awareness about road traffic collisions.
“We hope the ‘Lost Soles’ campaign will make people really think about devastating impact that road accidents can have on people’s lives and hopefully it will encourage people to act responsibly when driving.”
Gill Roberts of the Merseyside Road Safety Officers’ Group, added: “We want the sentiment of the ‘Lost Soles’ campaign to really bring home the message that we are all responsible for our own and others’ road safety.
“It makes us think that if someone we loved were killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision, how could their shoes ever be filled? A simple action like driving at an appropriate speed for the traffic or environment you are travelling in can help keep you, your loved ones and other road users safe on our roads.”
