When we are driving we must remember that there are other road users. Each and every road user has the right to feel secure on the roads and arrive safely at their destination without having to deal with the disrespectful and selfish behaviour of other road users. Such behaviour causes stress and anxiety which can in turn lead to motoring offences being committed with fatal consequences. Whilst the following images and case studies may seem funny they are actually very serious. Actions similar to those outlined below have resulted in people being injured or dying on the region’s roads.
Road Respect and Road Respect Charter

This offence is very severe and is responsible for many deaths on the roads every year. Speeding does matter, particularly to people like Alison who lost her partner, and to Kirsty who lost her brother. If you were given the choice of being hit by a car at 30 mph (and most likely surviving) or being hit at 40 mph (and most likely dying) Which would you choose? The difference between life and death really is that small when it comes to speeding. Please think about this when you are on the roads and please obey the speed limits -They are there for a reason.

Kirsty Cameron's brother, David was killed by a speeding motorist. This motorist is now serving a prison sentence because his speeding cost a little boy his life. When compared to this case, a fine of £60 serves as only a token reminder that speeding is breaking the law. But it is a criminal offence and it is offensive to Kirsty and her family when motorists break the speed limit.

If you are caught speeding, the very least you can expect to receive is a fine of £60 and 3 penalty points on your license. But this could easily extend to thousands of pounds, a driving ban or even a custodial prison sentence in the most extreme cases.

The photos on this page show a speeding motorist who was caught twice in less than 20 minutes on the same stretch of road! On the first occasion the motorist was travelling at almost double the 30 mph speed limit. This sort of speed would mean certain death for a pedestrian. Such driving behaviour is anti-social and disrespectful, not to mention incredibly dangerous. The motorist received 7 penalty points and was made to pay £700 in fines and costs.

Speeding is simply not worth the cost, not worth losing your licence and not worth the risk.

Using a mobile phone whist driving is both dangerous and illegal and in 2003 it became an offence to use a mobile phone whilst driving a car. This offence currently incurs a fine of £30. However, such is the strength of evidence of how dangerous and distracting it can be – that legislation is currently underway to increase the fine to £60 with the further addition of 3 penalty points to your licence.

Drink Driving is very dangerous and has caused many deaths on the roads. But the fact is that mobile phone usage whilst driving has also resulted in unnecessary deaths. When you use a mobile phone your concentration is impaired and control of your vehicle is reduced. In Northumbria, Alan Milbanke was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. He caused a collision whilst using his mobile phone – which resulted in the death of a fellow road user, Derek Davies. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

It is dangerous and illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving.