Surrey Fire and Rescue Service works with Surrey County Council's road safety team and other partners to help reduce the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
#ComeHomeSafe
We are encouraging you to #ComeHomeSafe this year. We have teamed up with Surrey Police and Surrey Football Association, as we seek to improve road safety behaviours from drivers of all ages. Fire and Police went head-to-head last winter in a football match to raise awareness of road safety, blowing the whistle on drink driving. We are calling on you to nominate your twelfth man to bring you home and making it clear that speeding is three points you could really do without.
Watch our football match video below for some top tips on how to stay safe on Surrey's roads this winter.
Top tips for drivers
Please help yourself and others to stay safe on Surrey's roads by following our top tips for drivers:
- Always wear a seat belt. Not wearing a seat belt can be a fatal decision even on short, familiar journeys.
- Put your phone away, set your sat nav and music before setting off to avoid distraction.
- If you're going out with friends have a designated non-drinking driver or book transport home. You may still be over the alcohol limit the morning after too.
- Always drive within the speed limit and reduce your speed according to the conditions. Make sure you allow enough time for every journey and always stick to the speed limit.
- Never take drugs and drive. This would be a cocktail for disaster as drugs greatly affect reaction times, concentration and may cause confusion.
- Don't try and impress your mates. Having friends in the car can encourage you to take more risks, remember their safety is your responsibility.
- Consider using "P" plates. Using "P" plates after you have passed your test so other road users know there is an inexperienced driver at the wheel. This can encourage them to take extra caution and decrease the risk of being involved in a collision.
Helping younger drivers
Young drivers, aged 17 to 24, are more likely to be involved in a road traffic collision than most other age groups. Nationally, young people hold 8% of car driving licences, but account for 20% of those killed or seriously injured on the roads.
Safe Drive Stay Alive is an award winning road safety campaign that targets this at risk group. Live performances are produced by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, supported by other emergency services as well as members of the public, either having been involved in a serious or fatal collision, or as family members of someone that has died. These live, emotionally engaging, educational performances, comprising live speakers and films, along with follow up resources, aim to positively influence young people's attitudes, both as pre or new drivers and as passengers.
Driving in wet weather
Our advice would be not to travel in heavy rain storms unless absolutely necessary, but if you do have to travel, consider the following:
- Reduce driving speeds and allow additional time to stop safely on wet roads
- Increase your distance from the vehicle in front to improve your ability to see and plan ahead
- Use headlights because rain and spray from other vehicles can make it difficult to see and be seen
- If steering becomes unresponsive, it probably means that water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road - ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually
- Test your brakes at the first safe opportunity if you have driven through deep water as they may be less effective; if they are not fully effective, gently apply light pressure while driving slowly, this will help to dry them out.
Flood water and river fords
- Take particular care before attempting to cross flood water/fords
- Avoid entering river fords during or after periods of rainfall - remember a car can be swept away in as little as two feet of water
- Always pay attention to warning devices, such as depth gauges
- If in any doubt, do not enter the water in a vehicle or on foot - find an alternative route
- Motorists should slow down, cross in lower gears and keep revs up to maintain pressure in the exhaust to prevent water getting into the engine. If water is safe to enter, always test your vehicle brakes on exiting.
