A TRIAL scheme which could lead to a soaring number of prosecutions against dangerous driving in East Lancashire is set to receive government approval.

The major crackdown, inspired by a scheme in Australia, will aim to cut the number of deaths caused by drink-drivers and speeding motorists.

The pilot project looks set to be approved in the summer and should begin within the next 12 months.

It will include hundreds of new roadside speed cameras, lower speed limits, revolutionary booze buses and random testing for drink drivers.

The booze buses would act as mobile police stations where hundreds of drivers could be tested for drink-driving in problem areas across the county.

There will also be moves to speed up the court system and cut down on red tape to increase the number of prosecutions.

All the cash raised from court costs and fines would be used on road safety projects and advertising campaigns.

Lancashire County Council and the police are planning to base the crackdown on a hugely successful scheme in Australia. Bosses from the county council have presented their case for funding to ministers from the Department of the Environment and the Home Office.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw is believed to have been was particularly impressed with the County Hall presentation.

County Hall officials have travelled to Victoria State to take a look at the scheme.

The Australian project proved a huge success with a dramatic fall in accidents and deaths in the state.

Highways and transport chairman Richard Toon said: "We are fairly optimistic that we will get the backing to go ahead with this project.

"We need to improve road safety in Lancashire and we believe we will be able to transfer the Victoria scheme to the county fairly easily.

"There is no doubt the safety record needs to be improved and clearly the Government is looking at a number of road safety issues.

"We have had a very favourable response from ministers and it is likely that the scheme could go ahead within the next 12 months."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.