Project EDWARD – East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Activity

Released on behalf of ESFRS.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has marked Project Edward as part of ongoing efforts to make our roads safer.

Project Edward – “European Day Without a Road Death” – is run by TISPOL, the European-wide Traffic Police network. Its target is that no one should die on the roads of Europe on the 21st of September each year. It believes that changing people’s behaviour is key to making roads safer and asks that people sign up to its pledge.

In Brighton, Preston Circus Community Fire Station opened its doors to speak to members of the public about road safety.

At Plumpton College, there were demonstrations about how difficult it can be for drivers of HGVs to see cyclists. Students were given the chance to experience what it is like for drivers. We also attended Freshers Week at Sussex University to speak to new students there.

Wealden Roads Watch Team, which includes staff and volunteers from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, spent time at six different sites: the A22 at Forest Row and Lower Dicker, the A275 at Danehill, the B2124 at Laughton and B2247 at Polegate.

They were looking for drivers who were breaking the law speeding, failing to wear seatbelts, illegally using mobiles or who had unsafe loads. As a result of the group’s work, 39 motorists were reported to Operation Crackdown which tackles anti-social driving, including six for failing to wear seatbelts and the rest for exceeding the speed limit significantly.