ROAD deaths in South Yorkshire nearly doubled last year compared to 2014 \u2013 with the force now looking \u201cat where best we can maximise our resources\u201d to reduce the problem.<\/p>\n
Neil Bowles, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: \u201cWe haven\u2019t got enough officers patrolling the roads to actually stop and check when they see minor aberrations in driving and advise the drivers.<\/p>\n
“That just doesn\u2019t happen anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
The force said officers will be receiving \u201cadditional training\u201d in the area.<\/p>\n
A total of 48 people died following collisions during 2015 \u2013 a marked increase from the previous year when 26 people lost their lives.<\/p>\n
Chief Inspector Glen Suttenwood, head of roads policing for South Yorkshire and Humberside, said: \u201cWe\u2019ve looked at where best we can maximise our resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to link in with local policing teams to focus on certain roads but it goes further than that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to develop an education programme in schools and engage children and young people to promote and raise awareness of the dangers that are associated with our roads.\u201d<\/p>\n
Operation Illuminate will also include campaigns that target key areas, such as young drivers and drug driving.<\/p>\n
Mr Bowles added: \u201cThe number of actual collisions hasn\u2019t increased, it\u2019s the seriousness of the injuries caused that has, which also bucks the trend that cars are far safer than they used to be. It\u2019s just down to driver error.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish we could have more roads policing officers but if you increase that department you decrease another department. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Unfortunately it\u2019s not just roads policing officers that can make a difference \u2013 it\u2019s the patrol officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need more officers to be proactive in their time to stop cars and educate drivers. And members just haven\u2019t got the time to do that anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Bowles said he was hopeful the campaign would make a difference. He added: \u201cSomething needs to happen to educate the drivers to drive more safely. Road safety measures have been put in place, roads have been engineered to be more safe, speed cameras are out on black spots to slow people down. It\u2019s got to be that one-to-one education of drivers from police, I think, that\u2019s going to make the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n