The emergency services today took part in the first of three exercises in the City aimed at educating the public on road safety by demonstrating how they lift a vehicle to release a casualty trapped underneath.

The London Fire Brigade were joined by the City of London Police and the London Ambulance Service who are all working in conjunction with the City of London Corporation’s Road Danger Reduction Partnership throughout December.

Further exercise are to be held at St. Paul’s Old Walkway (14th December, 12:00) and Guildhall Yard (20 December, 1200).

The numbers of those Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) on City streets have been falling in recent years with 60 incidents in 2013, 55 in 2014 and 42 in 2015. However, in the last two months there have been two examples of pedestrians requiring services where a vehicle has been lifted from them, highlighting the need for this exercise.

Chris Hayward, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, said:

“The City of London is a busy place. There are over 400,000 commuters and visitors coming here each day and we have pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and buses all competing for space.

“Unfortunately we do see examples of people getting involved in road accidents. Exercises like these not only help the emergency services prepare for such scenarios, but also educate and remind the public that the City can pose risks on its streets.

“While it is good news that the number of cycling and pedestrian casualties are falling, the City of London Road Danger Reduction Partnership is committed in seeing this figure drop more each year.”

Inspector Sarah Smallwood from the City of London Police said:

“We work hard with all our partners to keep the City safe for all road users.

“Training days such as the one today are key to ensuring that the emergency services are prepared for any circumstance that may arise and we are ready to respond when called upon.”

Tom Platt, Director of Policy for Living Streets, said:

“It's great that the City of London is looking to build on successful initiatives, like 20mph speed limits, to reduce road danger and improve air quality in order to make the City a safer, healthier and more pleasant place to live, work and walk.”

In recent years the City has introduced measures to improve road safety such as the 20mph speed limit, which has seen average speeds fall by over 1.5mph, and conducted engineering works in the format of courtesy crossings, the widening of pavements and the opening up of public realm areas, such as that seen in the vicinity of St. Paul’s.

-ENDS-

Note to Editors

1. The Road Danger Reduction Partnership (City of London Corporation, City Police, London Fire Brigade, GLA and TfL) was formed to reduce the danger on the streets of the Square Mile, with particular emphasis on reducing danger to cyclists and pedestrians that make up the majority of our traffic, while promoting greater numbers of Active Transport users (healthier for the environment and wellbeing of city staff).

1. The statistics for this study were from (STATS19, TfL)

1. The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

• We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of around £20 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

• We also help look after key London’s heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London.

• We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.