17/03/2015
One hundred and ninety ‘Ride Safely’ information posters are currently being placed on roads around the County, Powys County Council has announced.
Not only do the posters act as a reminder to motorcyclists but they also highlight the presence of motorcyclists to all other road users. Additionally, since 2011, all of the posters also have a grid reference sticker and location marker on the back. It is hoped that if a motorcyclist is involved in a collision or breaks down, they can use the sticker to provide their exact location on unfamiliar roads.
The sticker comprises a 12-figure grid reference, which can be given to the emergency services control rooms, together with a description of the road number and route. These stickers were used to aid the emergency services with 5 collisions in the last financial year.
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06/03/2015
North Wales Police has made their first arrest under new drug driving legislation that came into force this week. At 8pm last night (Thursday March 5) police were called to a damage only road traffic collision on Newry Beach in Holyhead. Officers attended and tested the 19-year-old driver using the new drug-testing equipment.
He was then arrested on suspicion of drug driving and taken to police custody for further tests. He has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries. The new legislation came into force on Monday March 4 and now sets legal limits for how much of a substance – both illegal drugs and prescription medications motorists can have in their system whilst driving.
A new device, which has also been approved, now allows officers to test at the roadside using a swab from inside the driver’s mouth, to see if a motorist has taken cannabis or cocaine.
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02/03/2015
From today (2 March 2015) the drug driving law has changed to make it easier for the police to catch and convict drug drivers. It is now an offence to drive with certain drugs above a specified level in your blood - just as it is with drink driving. Sixteen legal and illegal drugs are covered by the law, including cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
The limits for all illegal drugs are extremely low – taking even a very small amount of an illegal drug could put you over the limit.
The new offence will work alongside the existing offence of driving whilst impaired through drink or drugs.
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04/02/2015
Sixth form pupils from across south Powys have taken part in a road safety education event that was held in Brecon.
The event was held at Brecon’s high school and leisure centre and was organised by Powys County Council’s Road Safety Unit, working in partnership with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Dyfed Powys Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Collision SceneAimed at sixth form pupils aged 16-18 years, the event staged a collision scene where pupils were given the chance to see first-hand what the emergency services do when there is a fatal collision, including scene management and the extrication of ‘drivers’ of vehicles.
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