The 95 Alive road safety partnership is a group of local authorities, emergency services and other agencies working together throughout North Yorkshire to reduce the number of people killed and injured on the roads of York and North Yorkshire.

Our target

To save 95 lives between 2005 and the end of 2010.

How are we doing? (Press release 08 February 2010)

Ninety one people are alive today who may otherwise have died if casualties had carried on at the rate of four years ago. Fatalities for last year were the lowest since North Yorkshire County Council started keeping records twenty years ago.

But 95 Alive, the York and North Yorkshire road safety partnership, says there is no room for complacency - 47 people died on the roads of York and North Yorkshire in 2009, compared with 52 in 2008 and 80 in 2004 ... the year before 95 Alive was launched.

During 2009 the most common suspected cause of road collisions was loss of control, closely followed by careless or reckless driving, then by a driver failing to look properly.

North Yorkshire County Council's Assistant Director for Highways David Bowe, the chairman of 95 Alive, said:" The aim to save 95 lives was a very ambitious target. To have reached 91 at this stage is heartening.

"Enforcement, Education, and Engineering have been the key elements in working together to deliver the messages, and campaigns have been targeted at all ages from babies in car seats, to children, young drivers and older drivers.

"The most important thing has always been to change behaviour and the way people approach walking, riding and driving on the roads to encourage them to think safety first every time they drive, ride or walk. "

"It cannot be said that these 91 lives have been saved purely because of the work done by the partnership. Road casualty statistics are complicated and can involve a lot of different factors including the economy and the weather . But through 95 Alive a lot of work has been put in by a lot of people to encourage all road users to share the road, take responsibility and stay safe."

Inspector Dave Brown, Head of Roads Policing said :" The public of North Yorkshire and the City of York should be re-assured that the partnership focus on reducing road casualties has borne significant results.

"The approach we have taken has without doubt contributed to reducing the number of people killed and injured on our road network. The ability to utilise finance and resources from a number of organisations has enabled us to be more visible, raise road safety awareness to new levels and increase the detection and prosecution of offenders who cause danger and nuisance across the county.

"We will continue to work together to deliver innovative and effective solutions to improve these figures even further."

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Chris Anderson added: "These figures are very encouraging and I am pleased that North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has played a key part in this achievement.

"We will however, continue to work hard using our resources to reduce road deaths and injuries making the roads safer for the communities of York and North Yorkshire. It would be very gratifying to see the 95 Alive target well and truly exceeded by 2011."

How are we getting our message across?

Education , enforcement and engineering are the key strategies used by the partners. A series of campaigns are being launched this year concentrating on:

• motorcyclists
• older drivers
• child road safety
• seatbelt wearing and
• safe driving.

Campaigns are targeted at specific road users:

• Children, from birth to 11 years. Working through schools and with parents to ensure they travel safely.
• Young People, 12 to 16 years. Coordinating through schools and colleges campaigns that will encourage teenagers to take on board travel awareness and road safety.
• Young Drivers, 17to 25 years, the group most at risk of injury on the roads. Promote safe driving and use education and advertising to challenge behaviour.
• Older Drivers,  50 plus. Informal advice and information to help older people carry on driving for as long as possible safely.
• Motorcyclists Ninety eight motorcyclists were killed or seriously injured on our roads in North Yorkshire last year. The partnership gives out information about where and how crashes have happened and encourages motorcyclists to ride safely and arrive alive. Informal training courses are also on offer.

For more inormation

Visit our new website www.roadwise.co.uk. This site has been launched by 95 Alive to give advice and information about road safety and how to stay safe on the roads in North Yorkshire.