Firefighter shares his story as part of new road safety campaign

A Firefigher from Greater Manchester has teamed up with a police officer and the parents of a young man who was killed in a road traffic collision for a new campaign launched by the Greater Manchester Safer Roads Partnership.

Limits Saves Lives is a hard-hitting campaign, led by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and supported by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP), which aims to highlight the devastating impact that speeding can have on people’s lives.

On average, 681 people have been killed or seriously injured on Greater Manchester’s roads each year over the last five years. Last year, 67 people died – the highest number over the five-year period.  

The campaign features a reconstruction video based on a real collision and interviews with bereaved parents, Dee and Dean Wilson, who speak about the devastation of losing their 21-year-old son Matt to a road traffic collision in 2011.

Firefighter Scott Barry-Godsell, who is based at Ashton Community Fire Station, filmed a video for the campaign and talked about his experience of dealing with a fatal collision involving a young man.

Firefighters are called to hundreds of serious road traffic collisions each year and unfortunately witness people suffering life-changing injuries, or worse, all too often.

Scott said: “No drink for the road is what we say. The smallest amount of alcohol can have a massive impact on the decisions you make, a split-second decision can have a lifetime of consequences.”  

Firefighter Scott Barry-Godsell taking part in media interviews as part of the campaign

The campaign also features GMP Family Liaison PC John Durham who has had to break the devastating news of a loved ones’ death to families.

In Greater Manchester, up to 40% of car journeys have been recorded to be over the speed limit and speeding over the limit kills or seriously injuries 21% of people involved in crashes in Greater Manchester. Of all reported collisions in Greater Manchester, 80% of all fatal collisions involve a male driver.

The campaign, launched on Monday 15 September, aims to demonstrate the serious consequences of dangerous driving, and ultimately change behaviours.

With more road trips expected with the return to school and the workplace from mid-September, drivers are encouraged to think differently when getting behind the wheel.

Collisions are often avoidable and can happen as a result of people not being fit for the road. Don’t be tempted to drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs or medication that can cause drowsiness.

For more road safety information and advice, visit the GMFRS road safety page.

To find out more about the campaign, read the TfGM press release.

15/09/2021 16:03 PM