COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH ENGAGEMENT, UCKFIELD – DECEMBER 2022

Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP) joined Community Speedwatch (CSW) volunteers in Uckfield – on Monday 19th of December – to target local speeding concerns with support from Sussex Police, Roads Policing Unit (RPU) and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) for an afternoon full of activity. SSRP attended, with the engagement vehicle, housing all supporting literature and resources to educate drivers about the consequences of driving at unsafe speed. An RPU Officer was there to intersect those over the limit speed, supporting the data collection of the volunteers.

We encourage all road users to think about their speed and to always travel within the designated speed limit. Inappropriate speed can have a devastating impact on the safety of road users and the wider community. Approximately 1 in 3 Killed and Seriously Injured on Sussex roads is related to inappropriate speeding.

Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is the limit, not a target.

Visit the GOV.UK website for National Speed Limits information.

Partnership and Engagement Business Partners from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Services, Sophie Hepworth and Susan Taylor, supported the event and said:

‘Following reports of speeding in the Uckfield area, Sussex Police, the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, Community Speed Watch and East Sussex Fire and Rescue worked together to educate drivers about the consequences of driving at unsafe speeds.

As part of this exercise drivers who were driving in excess of the speed limit were invited to speak to the Safer Roads Team about the dangers of inappropriate speed in a residential area, rather than receiving a fine and points. The short education session covered the fatal five. 

Thanks to all the partners who attended this session, to the crew at Uckfield station and the Fire Service community volunteers for their support.’

Community Speedwatch Officer SPOC for Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, Steve O’Connell, supported the event and said:

‘Vehicles over the speed limit were stopped and pulled in by Sussex Roads Policing where the option of road safety advice around the fatal 5 (Speeding, Drink Driving, Drug Driving, Mobile Phone use and Seatbelts) or points and a fine were given, this educational initiative is being conducted on roads where our data and complaints highlight specific anti-social driving activity in this case excess speed.

This type of exercise gives us a valuable opportunity to have this vital talk to drivers around the number of Killed and Seriously Injured on the roads of Sussex.

We were pleased on this occasion that only 6 cars were stopped during the 2hr coperation and educational advice was given to all 6 drivers with recorded speeds of 46mph – 49mph in a 40zone approaching a 30mph limit.

For more on this please visit our website www.sussexsaferroads.gov.uk‘

Our album of images taken in Uckfield is now available here on our website over in our gallery!

Check it out👇

Photo Galleries | Sussex Safer Roads Partnership