Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 21/05/2010 15:44

Cornwall Council Road Safety and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service will be attending Cornwall’s first Emergency Service Road Awareness Day (ESRAD) this Sunday. The event, which is taking place in Saltash, will give members of the public a chance to meet Emergency Service personnel, as well as witness live demonstrations throughout the day in a bid to raise awareness of the issues and dangers faced on Cornwall’s roads.

ESRAD will see 42 Emergency and supporting Services come together including Cornwall Air Ambulance, Devon and Cornwall Police and Westcountry Ambulance Service.

Darren Berrey, Cornwall Council’s Community Fire Safety Officer (Road Safety) and ESRAD Event Organiser says: “ESRAD promises to be a fantastic day out, offering something exciting and interesting for all the family. I am really pleased that so many partners, working in so many different organisations, charities and authorities, have come together to seize this worthwhile opportunity to work towards a common goal of reducing road casualties and collisions in Cornwall.”

The event is being held in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance and all proceeds, and any contributions made on the day, will assist them in the vital, life saving work that they carry out across the County.

Paula Wellings, Cornwall Council Casualty Reduction Manager, says: “We are pleased to be attending ESRAD; the Emergency Services perform a vital role in dealing with road traffic collisions. Worthwhile events such as this play a key part in raising public awareness of the issues facing road users in Cornwall, and in conjunction with the focused activities and initiatives which many of the partners carry out throughout the year, we hope to reduce the number of people being needlessly injured in road traffic collisions.”

28 motorcycle clubs have confirmed that they will be attending the event, riding in as part of the ESRAD rally. There will be an entertainment area which has been specifically put together with bikers in mind, involving trade stalls, live music, and parking for over 4000 bikes.

Cornwall Council cabinet member for transportation and highways, Graeme Hicks says: “We are delighted to be participating in, and supporting, this worthwhile event. It is our aim to work together to make driving and riding in Cornwall as safe and enjoyable as possible for all.”

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/esrad

Notes to editors:

For further information regarding ESRAD please contact Darren Berrey on 07976 462719.

· Exhibitors attending ESRAD 2010 include:

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service

Westcountry Ambulance Service

Cornwall Air Ambulance

St Johns Ambulance

Devon and Cornwall Police

Cornwall Council Road Safety

British Red Cross

Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership

RNAS Culdrose

Dartmoor Rescue Group

NHS Blood Transfusion Service

Royal National Lifeboat Institute

· Entertainment available throughout the day to include:

Music stage

Family fun areas

Bar and refreshments

· In 2009 in Cornwall there were 1497 reported collisions involving personal injury. 23 people were killed and 2088 injured.