Rogue red light runners targeted (From This is The West Country)

Rogue red light runners targeted

9:30am Tuesday 28th April 2009 in News By Alex Cameron

Rogue red light runners targeted

ROGUE red light runners are the target of a new initiative being launched in Somerset.

The driver education scheme has been set up to reduce the number of motorists and motorcyclists driving through red traffic lights in the county.

The Speed Choice programme claims nearly 6,000 drivers a year are fined for jumping the lights at busy junctions.

Now drivers who ignore red lights are being given the option of attending a three-hour long road safety workshop instead of having three penalty points on their licence.

Speed Choice education development manager Richard Fairhurst said: ““Ignoring traffic lights is clearly highly dangerous yet thousands of drivers in Avon and Somerset do it every year.

“The amber traffic light means ‘Stop’. Drivers who put their foot down to try to beat the lights are acting irresponsibly and putting lives at risk.

“That split-second decision to drive through the lights could have life-long consequences.

“Changing driver behaviour is a key factor in helping to reduce collisions and injuries on our roads and education is playing an increasingly important role in our casualty reduction programme.”

Workshops are being held in Taunton and although they will avoid having penalty points on their licence, drivers will have to pay a £60 fee to cover the cost of the session.

Speeding car drivers and motorcyclists are already being given the chance to attend the Speed Choice road safety workshop to avoid penalty points on their licence.

More than 120,000 drivers have attended a Speed Choice workshop in the past six years.

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