A ROMSEY man is behind a scheme aimed at making Hampshire’s roads safer.

He’s Phil Palfrey and the former B&Q retail marketer at Chandler’s Ford embarked on Project Pictogram – an initiative designed to help cut serious injuries and deaths on the county’s roads and educate road users.

The programme, which focuses on preventing motorists from speeding, using mobiles, or eating and drinking or take drugs while behind the wheel, has now been put into practice by Hampshire Fire and Rescue and the emergency services.

Phil, who works at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, is calling on all businesses to add stickers to the back of each of the vehicles in their fleet covering the fatal four and also reminding drivers of the importance of leaving enough space between them and the vehicle in front. Following too closely is the most common cause of collisions costing businesses millions of pounds every year.

He said: “The initiative invites retail and distribution fleets to display five pictogram stickers on the back of their lorries, vans, coaches, buses and company cars.

• Businesses can find out more about the project by going online at hantsfire.gov.uk/fatalfour.

"The stickers provide daily, on-record, reminder ‘nudges’ to motorist of the easy-to-change, driving behaviour habits which are present in the majority of killed or serious injury collisions.”

Phil said that Project Pictogram has received national endorsement from all major road safety organisations. These include Road Safety Great Britain, Rospa, IAM and the Chief Fire Officers Association.

Head of Community Safety at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Steve Foye, said: “With a the A36 in Hampshire recently named the second most dangerous in the country – it’s clear to see why it is so important that people are aware and reminded of ‘fatal four’, speed, distraction, seatbelts and drink and drug use.

"With your help This project can reduce the number of people killed every year on roads across the country. Whether you work for yourself or an employer, you can do your part by getting these stickers on as many vehicles as possible.

"As well as showing a commitment to safety, everyone can benefit from reducing the disruption caused by road collisions and businesses can be more prosperous. The artwork is available for free online and the more people that add it to their vehicles, the more lives that will be saved.”

Local authorities including Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City council have all singed up to the road safety scheme.

Hampshire's cabinet spokesman for transport Sean Woodward said: "This is a great initiative and one that I’m very pleased the County Council is part of. I hope that more of Hampshire’s businesses will also join in and display the images on their vehicles so that they become a daily feature on Hampshire roads and their message is reinforced every time they are seen."