A DRIVE to reduce the number of road accidents across East Lancashire has led to safer streets for motorists and pedestrians.

The number of road casualties across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, have been cut by 17 per cent over the past eight months after traffic police set up a problem solving programme of enforcement, education and engineering.

On some individual roads, such as the A6114 at Burnley, which includes Belverdere Road, Eastern Avenue and Castleton Avenue, the number of casualties has dropped by as much as 56 per cent.

Inspector Dave Shepherd, head of Pennine Division's road policing unit, said: "These statistics are very encouraging and reflect the amount of work carried out by our officers and our other partners who are all committed to reducing the casualty rate.

"While statistics do not tell the whole story, in that one casualty is too many, we should remember that we are talking about 160 people and their respective families who have not had the trauma and upset of being involved in a road smash."

The road policing unit has also helped keep crime down over the past nine months, with 115 arrests made, reported or issued fixed penalties to 1,534 motorists for speeding and reported or issued fixed penalties to 1,135 motorists for failing to wear a seatbelt.

Reported or issued fixed penalties were also handed out to 103 motorists caught using mobile phones and 1,618 motorists for other offences.

Inspector Shepherd said: "We are now planning for the year ahead and will continue to focus on those areas which cause us concern.

"Among other things we will be carrying out more education and enforcement campaigns covering areas like drink driving, speeding and failure to wear seat belts as well as a number of other road policing activities."