POLICE from Devon and Cornwall have organised a multi-agency event to highlight concerns around safety on rural roads.

The Rural Road Safety Roadshow, which is being held today (Saturday), is hosted by the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner and the police’s rural engagement team with representation, input and demonstrations from partners, including the fire service, Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society and the British Horse Society.

The roadshow has been co-ordinated by Plymouth officers from the rural engagement team with support from the Special Constabulary roads policing team.

SC Adam Bush from the rural team said: ‘The rural road network within Devon and Cornwall provides a unique environment, with narrow winding roads surrounded by stone hedges, as well as open roads cutting through unfenced moorland.

‘It also sees a variety of users from industrial, agricultural, commuters and leisure traffic, often sharing the roads at the same time.

‘Due to the remote nature of a large proportion of our rural road network, response times by emergency services are naturally longer than urban incidents, which can lead to greater risk to life.

‘This is why it would be beneficial to raise awareness of the risks to members of the public with the hope of reducing incidents.’

The roadshow will be held at Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre in Haytor. The event will run from 9am to 4pm.