New fund set up by Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust to help make roads safer

A NEW fund has been set up to help communities make their roads safer.

The Road Safety Fund is administered by the Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust.

It aims to help communities reduce accidents and casualties across the force area and improve education and training for children, learners and inexperienced drivers.

The fund was set up from the fees paid by drivers who attend the national Speed Awareness Course after being found to be driving over the speed limit.

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A proportion of the £80 fee is passed on to Avon and Somerset Police to cover the costs of the speed enforcement unit, ensuring it is self-funding.

During 2012 there was a small surplus after the running costs were met, which the force has built up into the Road Safety Fund.

It has pledged that any future surplus will continue to be paid into the Road Safety Fund to be used to improve safety on the local roads affected by speeding drivers.

One of its first grants has been pledged to The Create Centre in Bristol, which runs life skills courses taking young people through a recreated street scene with potential hazards.

Gemma Graville, of the Lifeskills Centre, said: “Delivering safety education to those from disadvantaged backgrounds has always been a priority for Lifeskills.

“To enable as many people as possible to benefit we have always provided our services either for free or at a subsidised rate.

“Funding from the Police Community Trust will help us to continue this service and will ensure that we are providing those most in need with vital road safety education.”

Trust chairwoman Bea Salter said: "This new fund is very exciting for the communities of the Avon and Somerset policing area, as it will assist in making our local roads even safer."

The trust hopes to support even more local projects and is encouraging people to complete grant requests through the website at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/pct