POLICE are turning to their Australian counterparts in a bid to cut the number of accidents on the district's roads.

Officers hope a scheme piloted in Victoria, Australia, can be adopted to make drivers more aware of their actions when behind the steering wheel in Lancashire.

Consisting of a series of measures ranging from better motoring classes to court crackdowns on dangerous driving, police chiefs plan to adopt the scheme to meet the area's needs.

Sergeant Brian Roberts explained: "The scheme would have a number of edges which, when all are implemented, would make the area's roads a lot safer.

"We would target traffic blackspots and make sure new roads were built with safety features incorporated.

"Drivers would also face quicker prosecution for crimes committed on the roads through our multi-agency approach, which would see us working with the judicial system and hence more crimes such as speeding would end up in court with fixed penalties."

The scheme would also take into account the main causes of accidents, so publicity campaigns could be targeted at certain people and certain causes, such as excessive speed, drink driving and fatigue.

Sgt Roberts added: "It basically revolves around what we knows as the four Es - Enforcing the law, Educating the driver, making sure the car is safe (Engineering) and Evaluation of the driver's ability."

While accidents fell by 51 per cent in Victoria last year, they rose 23 per cent in Lancashire, and County Hall chiefs are fully behind the scheme.

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