A MOBILE bike mechanic for children learning how to ride in Watford is one of the projects funded by the Road Safety Fund.

Now, the Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd has announced that bids for this year’s Fund will open from September 28.

The money is open to community groups, businesses and public sector organisations who want to improve road safety across the county.

It is funded through surplus income from motorists who have committed driving offences, wo have been ordered to pay court costs or attended courses, such as for speed awareness.

Bids could include a range of projects, from running an educational project with children, to developing ways to stop anti-social driving to a pilot that trials something new.

The Police and Crime Commissioner highlighted the Road Safety Fund at the meeting of the county council’s community safety and waste management cabinet panel on Monday.

And following the meeting, he said: “This fund helps communities across Hertfordshire to make local roads safer and the new round of bidding will provide more opportunities to make Hertfordshire’s roads safer.

“It’s about changing the behaviour of drivers, by drawing their attention to hazards in the road or how fast they are going.

“As the next round of bidding begins, I welcome applications from groups across Hertfordshire to take advantage of the fund.”

Last year the Road Victims Trust was awarded £75,000 to support families who were bereaved or affected by a fatal road collision in the county.

Hertfordshire Constabulary was granted £11,890 to fund additional speed detection radar.

And grants for ‘speed indicator devices’ were made to groups parish councils and residents groups across the county.

They included parish councils in Flamstead, Tewin, Ardeley, Stapleford, Sandridge, Essendon, Flaunden, Shenley, Watton-at-Stone, St Ippolyts, Wymondle and Walkern.

Other groups included Cunningham Residents Association, Sawbridgeworth Town Council, Buntingford Town Council, Sele Youth and Community Forum, Oxhey Village Environment Group, Newgate Street Village Society, Leverstock Green Village Association, Broxbourne Community Safety Partnership, Gravel Path Residents Association.