13/07/2016
Officers in Gwent have been out and about using a roadside drug test called a 'DrugWipe' which uses a saliva sample to test for the likes of Cannabis and Cocaine.
The test shows a valid reading within as little as 8 minutes and if positive officers will take the motorist to a police station for a blood test, which will be used in any prosecution.
From their introduction back in May 2015 officers across Gwent have recorded 279 positive 'DrugWipe' tests to date (11th July 2016). So far, 97 drivers have been disqualified for being on drugs with a total disqualification period of 157 years and 2 months, with 109 drivers still waiting on test and court results.
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04/07/2016
New automatic 20mph speed limit signs have been installed to warn motorists travelling through Capel Bangor on the A44 that youngsters are heading to or leaving the village primary school.
Penllwyn Primary School is located just off the A44, which has been named the most dangerous road in Wales for the last three years and the fourth most dangerous in the UK.
After years of waiting for road safety measures, new signs have been installed which change from a 40mph limit warning to a 20mph limit at school run times. Parents, staff and children at the school are said to be delighted.
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01/06/2016
A young driver from Cwmbran is the lucky winner of £250 from Pass Plus Cymru after taking part in the scheme to improve her driving skills. Eighteen year old Lauren Dockree from Croesyceiliog passed her driving test in 2015 and took the Pass Plus course to gain additional experience.
The course is available to drivers aged 17 – 25 in Wales and is designed to help young drivers to be safer on the roads. It focusses on driving techniques such as driving at night, on the motorway, through country lanes or busy towns.
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26/05/2016
Police Officers in Newport have made five arrests in just one evening by using a roadside device called a 'DrugWipe'.
It can test a saliva sample for drugs like Cannabis and Cocaine within as little as 8 minutes.
A positive test is indicated by the appearance of red lines on the device, similar to a pregnancy test.
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18/04/2016
Drivers in the county are being encouraged by Powys County Council to carry a card that contains potentially life-saving information in the event of a collision. The council’s Road Safety Unit want drivers to be part of its latest initiative called the ‘Yellow Triangle’ scheme. The scheme has two elements, a ‘Your Details’ card and a yellow triangle sticker.
The ‘Your Details’ card, to be completed by the driver, will give information about their next of kin, medical conditions, allergies and medications which emergency services can use in the event of an emergency.
The yellow triangle sticker will accompany the card, which must be displayed in the bottom left-hand corner inside the windscreen and out of the driver’s field of view.
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24/03/2016
A joint operation between North Wales Police and the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to check that Driving Instructors were qualified and registered with the DVSA was carried out in the Bangor area yesterday (Wednesday 23rd March).
Driving School CarDuring a series of roadside checks, vehicles displaying L-plates or driving school logos were stopped and instructor accreditations were checked.
One man was arrested on suspicion of fraud and taking payments as an Instructor without the appropriate qualifications and authority from the DVSA. He has since been cautioned.
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16/02/2016
Narrow streets and residents double parking has impact on emergency services' ability to access incidents
In the 2011 census, it stated there were 12 cars per 10 households in South Wales and this increase since 2001 has had an impact on the accessibility of some of the narrower South Wales streets for emergency services vehicles, especially the fire appliances of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS).
To raise awareness of the issue in areas such as Blaenavon, where there have been previous issues with appliances struggling to access streets and incidents, SWFRS alongside Gwent Police and Blaenavon Town Council, will be sharing information on how residents can park safely, as well as allow enough room for an emergency vehicle to pass.
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10/02/2016
A website aimed at helping older people adapt to changes in their driving to stay safe on the road, has been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
www.olderdrivers.org.uk has been set up by the safety charity, with funding from the Department for Transport, to provide advice and information for older drivers in a bid to help them to drive safely for longer.
The website gives tips on how people can update their driving skills and knowledge to maintain their freedom and independence on the road, as well as advice for families or friends who are concerned about a loved one’s driving. It will help drivers to:
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10/02/2016
Driving refresher workshops are now available free of charge for senior drivers in Powys, the county council has announced.
Powys County CouncilMature Motoring workshops are two-hour informal courses developed and delivered by Powys County Council’s Road Safety Unit, thanks to Welsh Government funding. The workshops are aimed at drivers aged 65 years and older.
The workshops focus on issues such as driving licence requirements, the effects of medication, personal safety while driving, winter driving, the dangers of drink driving and not wearing seatbelts.
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25/01/2016
Some 88 motorists were found to be exceeding the 20mph speed limit outside a Carmarthenshire school during a recent week-long road safety campaign. The joint Road Safety Partnership campaign was held outside Llechyfedach School, Upper Tumble from 11-15 January.
The campaign was run by Carmarthenshire Roads Policing Unit, GoSafe Safety Camera Partnership and Cross Hands Neighbourhood Policing Team, who spent the week outside the school at key times. Officers provided a visible presence outside the school and carried out preventative measures along with enforcement and education to motorists.
Carmarthenshire Roads Policing Sergeant Ian Price said: “This was a successful operation focussing on casualty reduction where road safety issues were dealt with positively providing the community and parents with confidence that school children of the area can walk to and from school safer in the knowledge that positive action has been taken to educate motorists. Similar campaigns are planned within Carmarthenshire over the next few weeks.”
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