EMERGENCY services are working together on a series of 'driver engagement days' throughout the county between now and the end of March.

The joint Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cheshire Police initiative is aimed at reducing the numbers of deaths and serious injuries on Cheshire’s roads.

Cheshire Constabulary will be out enforcing traffic laws, utilising the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) as an option to local drivers who commit road traffic offences.

People using mobile phones at the wheel, failing to wear a seatbelt, speeding or driving without due care will be targeted.

Anyone stopped for driving while not wearing a seatbelt will be offered a range of options, one of which is to attend a 15 minute presentation by the fire and rescue service.

Anyone seen to be driving without due care, using a mobile phone, speeding or driving through a red light could be fined, face penalty points, or offered the NDORS course.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Community and Road Safety Manager, Martin Dowle, said: "Driver engagement days are an excellent way of getting some simple but effective messages over about the devastating impact of poor driver behaviour.

“Last year more than nine out of ten people we spoke to said they were likely to change the way the drive as a direct result of what our fire and community safety officers told them.”

PC Dave Murray added: "This educational initiative combined with our regular roadside enforcement will help to drive the message home to motorists that committing traffic offences and putting road users at risk will not be tolerated. We will continue to work in partnership to make our roads safer for all who use them."

For road and home safety info, see cheshirefire.gov.uk or follow the fire service on Twitter - @CheshireFire, or Facebook - facebook.com/CheshireFRS