DRIVERS in St Helens have been accused of putting people's lives at risk.

For they frequently ignore safety warnings, according to local police chiefs.

Officers from the area teamed up with Merseyside Police Traffic officersin a bid to reduce the number of accidents within the St Helens area.

However, despite their concerted effort, they recorded no significant reduction in the number of accidents, although there was a reduction in the number of serious casualties.

Over the initiative's six-week period, 1,138 drivers were dealt with for various offences including drink driving, not wearing a seat belt, speeding and unlawful parking.

And the six or seven drivers a week are arrested for drink driving. In addition, 66 per cent of all reported traffic incidents are caused by drivers who are either speeding or not wearing a seatbelt, despite continued publicity of the dangers of these factors.

Inspector John Denner from St Helens Police, said: "It appears that some motorists have a total disregard for the consequences of their actions to drive around with the attitude that 'it will never happen to me'. They should bare in mind, however, that no matter how good their driving is, it does not prevent someone else causing them to have an accident.

"We have said it before and will continue to stress that safety on the road is the responsibility of everyone but motorists have a particular responsibility towards more vulnerable road users, like children, whose awareness and appreciation of the hazards may not always be sufficient to keep them out of danger."

He has now promised increased police vigilance in the run-up to Christmas, incorporating the national Christmas Drink Driving Campaign, and strict punishments for offences including fines, disqualification and even imprisonment.

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