A BRADFORD councillor has called for companies that hire out high powered vehicles to “take some responsibility” and get involved in road safety schemes.

Bradford Councillor Riaz Ahmed (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor) said a number of tragic accidents on West Yorkshire’s roads have been linked to high powered cars, and suggested that this issue could be a focus of future safety schemes, The issue was raised during a meeting of West Yorkshire Fire Authority’s Community Safety Committee on Friday.

Members had received a briefing on various programmes West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service had engaged in in areas like Wakefield and Kirklees.

Scott Donegan, area manager for the fire service, said such road safety programmes were particularly relevant following a number of road traffic related deaths in West Yorkshire in recent weeks.

'Exasperating' that road safety schemes have been on'to do list' for 20 years

Suggesting a future focus for road safety schemes, Cllr Ahmed said: “A lot of the accidents that happen involve high powered cars that are hired out for special occasions.

“Are we doing anything to about this issue specifically? Do we need to think outside the box?

“Hire car companies have to start taking some sort of responsibility.”

Mr Donegan said they would take on that suggestion, and see if any further accident prevention work could look at high powered cars.