POLICE are calling on motorists to play their part in a new road safety campaign.

Northumbria Police’s Operation Dragoon team is supporting calls for September 21 to be entirely free of road accidents across the whole of Europe.

Operation Dragoon was set up in 2014 in partnership with the North East Ambulance Service, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

In July, the campaign teamed up with pupils at Shaftoe Trust Primary School, who produced a video which focused on drink driving, speeding, and the need to be extra vigilant on country roads. As part of the latest initiative, people are being encouraged to make ‘zero’ signs with their hands, or use tyres or other road-related objects to promote the aim or reducing road accidents.

Chief Insp. John Heckels, head of the Op Dragoon team, said: “One death as a result of a road traffic accident is one too many and more work still needs to be done to help make our roads safer.

“Losing a member of your family is devastating and one of the most difficult parts of our job is knocking on the door of a victim’s family to break the news that their loved one has passed away.

“People may get behind the wheel and think they are invincible but we know that is simply not the case. Collisions can happen in a blink of the eye and the results can be horrendous. Everyone is a road user in some way or another whether you’re a taxi driver, farmer, motorcyclist, pedal cyclist, haulier, public transport provider, horse rider, walker, young child or patient transport user.

“We want you all to be involved in this campaign and play your part in making our roads safer. Tweet us a picture and make it obvious what kind of road user you are.”

To find out more about Op Dragoon visit the Northumbria Police website and to find out more about the European road safety campaign TIPSOL, visit https://www.tispol.org/.