Blind spot campaign takes to the roads

 

Cheshire Police have gone out across the county with a rural road safety campaign which seeks to raise awareness to tractor drivers about their blind spot but also highlights the dangers to other road users when trying to overtake agricultural vehicles on country lanes. ‘Am I in Your Blind Spot?’ was initially launched at the Cheshire Show this year, where officers were able to engage with the farming community and distribute free ‘blind spot’ mirrors to farmers to support the campaign launch. The mirrors are based on a new design to facilitate tractor drivers who are carrying heavy loaded trailers and who may find it difficult to see traffic approaching from the rear.

Following a series of fatal motorcycle collisions on rural roads with agricultural vehicles over the recent months - a small amount but still fatals - Cheshire Police has released ‘blind spot’ video footage on YouTube which highlights the dangers of tractor drivers making left or right turns on rural roads and how this can result in road collisions with other road users.

Sergeant Rick Weaver - Road Policing, who is leading the campaign, said that "We recognised the need for a campaign that would focus on rural road safety. Following some research, I was able to source a ‘blind spot’ mirror that could be fitted to any existing tractor mirror. This affords the tractor driver extended views to the rear and more importantly a clear view behind when negotiating a right turn into farm entrances or fields.

"We are in the process of handing out free tractor mirrors for local farmers. If you want to mail me at richard.weaver@cheshire.pnn.police.uk with your details, we can get one out for you to trial."

Cheshire Police will be taking ‘Am I in Your Blind Spot’ workshops out locally to agricultural students from September. If you are a college who is interested in receiving the workshops or a farmer who would like to attend a workshop in their local area, you can email sharon.boddy@cheshire.pnn.police.uk for more information.

For more information on tractor road safety, you can visit www.cheshire.police.uk.