Road safety a priority in town

Sunday 26 November 2023

Numerous risks have been highlighted as part of a concerted push to improve road safety across St Peter Port.

The Parish and Guernsey Police have been working together to "raise awareness of the importance of road safety in and around Town, for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike".

During what has been road safety week, the two have been issuing reminders about how everyone can keep safe and behave responsibly.

This has included reminders about which roads are pedestrian-only, the need to wear high-viz clothing, safe driving, and using pedestrian crossings.

Pictured: St Peter Port Constable, Zoe Lihou.

One key reminder the parish want to push is that it is not legal to cycle on the Highstreet, Smith Street and in some other surrounding, pedestrianised, areas.

Zoe Lihou, Constable of St Peter Port, said this is particularly important with late-night shopping coming up, and the weather meaning the cobbles are often wet, so everyone is asked to follow the rules to avoid causing an accident.

“As the nights are drawing in, it is important to be safe and be seen. High-Vis clothing and lights on bikes can help achieve this. Motorists and other users of our roads are reminded to kill your speed, not people. Cyclists are reminded to ensure their bikes are securely locked when not in use to ensure they do not lose their transport. Lock it or lose it!," she said.

Constable Lihou said this campaign will continue towards Christmas with parish officials out patrolling alongside police.

“Constables and Community Officers will be patrolling the Town area at peak times to ensure safety laws are being adhered to and advise and support where required.”

Sergeant Andrew Smith, Neighbourhood Policing and Roads Policing, said road safety is always a priority but there are some key things to remember during the darker, wetter months. 

“Our dedicated St Peter Port Constable, alongside some of our operational officers, will be supporting the Parish in the coming weeks to raise awareness about road safety in and around Town, and also help to enforce some of the rules that are in place to keep people safe.

"Of course, road safety across the island is always a priority for us, however Town gets particularly busy around Christmas so we also want to ensure that pedestrians and cyclists can be safe when using the roads of St Peter Port. Our main message is to use the roads sensibly and be aware of what you’re doing. If we all look out for each other, we can avoid an accident happening around Christmas.”