Road users urged to Arrive Alive

A NEW campaign to tackle danger on the road is about to hit Liverpool's streets courtesy of Liverpool city council in their drive to reduce anti-social behaviour and create safer streets.

Arrive Alive, a new scheme introduced onto the Liverpool streets will target both drivers and pedestrians in order to create safer streets, reduce car crime, and fatalities on Liverpool's highways.

Disrespectful drivers who ignore traffic signals or do not wear seatbelts, as well as those caught speeding and talking or texting on mobile phones, face a crackdown.

At the same time, the campaign reminds vulnerable groups - especially young people - of potential dangers on the city's roads.

A growing number of incidents in the city involve large groups of young people driving around in cars. There are also a high number of young adults being run over after 11pm at weekends.

Reminders on lamp posts, taxis and petrol pump handles will encourage drivers to slow down, act more responsibly and to be more aware of hazards around them. 

The campaign will be launched with a series of radio adverts. One mimics the style of a video game and warns people that it could be "game over" if they are anti-social on the road.

Councillor Richard Marbrow, Liverpool City Council's executive member for community safety said: "This innovative campaign shows Liverpool is serious about tackling all kinds of anti-social behaviour, including road rage. 

"Skipping red lights and texting while driving may seem like trivial offences, but can lead to serious accidents. At the same time, the Arrive Alive campaign raises awareness about particular dangers on the city's highways, particularly to young people."

IT'S RAINING CUSTOMERS IN PUBS AND BARS

WHILE millions of gallons fell out of the sky in August, one North West pub chain was flooded out - by punters necking 5,000 pints a week more than normal.

Wigan-based Yesteryear Pub Company, which has 25 town and city-centre pubs and bars across the North West of England, usually sees business dry up as drinkers head for country boozers and seaside hostelries.

But Yesteryear management, which operates the Number Fifteen, Harry's Bar and Maloney's brand names, and owns a number of unbranded pubs, has been singing in the rain.

"An initial audit of the business in August shows that beer sales were up at least 15% over a normal August - that's around 5,000 pints a week," said Tony Callaghan, Managing Director of Yesteryear.

"I've no doubt that there's a great number of businesses out there crying into their pints because of a sodden summer, but we've been wetting ourselves: business has been booming in what is traditionally a barren month for town and city bars," he added.

"The sustained trade in August has meant part-time and temporary staff have been kept on and kept busier in our bars. People simply haven't been going far afield: they splash their way to their favourite bar, get a pint in front of them, look outside at the pouring rain and then make themselves comfortable," said Tony.