FROM bad habits to "bullying" and outright law-breaking, members of the public have been urged to do their part in keeping Flintshire's roads and road users safe.

The Leader regularly reports on the work of the Buckley Community Speedwatch team - a group of volunteers which has been holding speeding motorists to account for several years.

Cllr Arnold Woolley, who leads the team, is a former Police Senior Superintendent, Force Training Commander and traffic specialist.

He spoke of serious concerns over a number of issues he and his colleagues have been seeing at the roadside; issues which, according to him, are not getting any better.

"I do think we have seen a worsening picture," he said.

"There has been a whole range of things we're seeing.

"Firstly, people don't seen to understand - or perhaps they've just lost the ability for - using signals.

"They're just manoeuvring and other drivers aren't seeing any indication until things happen.

"Then there's the tailgating which is going on.

"There are those who are trying to keep to the 20 mile per hour limit, but are being bullied from behind to go faster.

"Some of the bullying being done is by heavy goods vehicles, but one of the worst examples I've seen has to be the white van and delivery drivers who have schedules and deliveries to get cleared."

Cllr Woolley said based on his observations at the roadside, "many" delivery drivers and others whose jobs entail driving "don't wish to do 20mph because it inhibits what they can do in a day."

He explained a number of other issues have been causing himself and his team concern, including phone usage at the wheel, lack of seatbelts and not strapping children in properly.

"Where you have children 'loose' in the vehicle," he warned, "an accident can be catastrophic."

Cllr Woolley shared his concerns about the wider impact of people flouting the rules of the road, including where commonplace law-breaking could eventually lead.

He said: "People look at [others] speeding and ask - well they don't take any notice, why should I?

"Even bad laws need to be obeyed, otherwise you begin to get distain for the law in general.

"And then people are living in a lawless society - who the heck wants to live in a lawless society?"

Cllr Woolley also called on pedestrians to play their part in upholding road safety, explaining:

"The other day we were out doing Community Speedwatch and there was a man walking who was busy on his smartphone.

"He stepped right off the pavement and into the road without looking.

"There had been a vehicle coming, which swerved and avoided an accident.

"We have seen this before. People saying they are 'listening' for traffic - but electric cars, for example, don't make noise."

The Leader also regularly reports on motorists who end up before the courts for drug and drink driving.

Cllr Woolley urged the public not to take substances before getting behind the wheel, emphasising: "Drugs impair all of your skills.

"Think what those inputs into your system are doing to you."