Safe speed to save lives – Better late than never

Police Forces across England and Wales will be carrying simultaneous speed enforcement campaigns for the coming weeks until the end of January.

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP) are supporting the January 2020 speed enforcement campaign, which is coordinated by The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC). The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership will deliver their campaign through a mix of educational and enforcement activities.

Working alongside partners, police officers and Community Speedwatch volunteers, the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership will continue to raise awareness and provide educational messaging for all road users within Sussex.

Working collaboratively with Sussex Police’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU), the aims of the campaign are:

• Tackle irresponsible and dangerous drivers committing speeding offences
• Inform drivers of the risks, both to themselves and to other road users associated with inappropriate speed
• Encourage drivers to drive at speeds safe for the road environment and to obey speed limits

During the campaign, Roads Policing Units across Sussex will be carrying out a number of enforcement activities to tackle speeding offences and inform drivers of the impact of driving at unsafe speeds.

Working alongside colleagues to support the campaign, the safety camera team will be using both fixed and mobile cameras to enforce the law and provide support to the initiative. Alongside speed, the safety camera team are able to capture mobile phone and seatbelt offences, ensuring a robust stance is taken on tackling speeding and wider driving offences in the region throughout the year.

Assisting with the campaign, Sussex’s Community Speedwatch groups (CSW) will be providing extra support in local areas through volunteer teams. CSW is a national initiative that assists the work of the police, where members of the public use speed detection devices to capture offences, which are then referred back to the police through Operation Crackdown. If you are interested in joining or starting a group in your area, please see: www.communityspeedwatch.co.uk

PC Teresa Brogan, Casualty Reduction Officer for SSRP, comments: “Speed continues to be a major contributory factor with regards to road collisions, and this campaign reinforces the need to combat irresponsible and dangerous driving on our roads. Throughout the campaign, we will be educating drivers of the impact of excessive and unsafe speeds, with enforcement activities also undertaken. Speed limits exist to ensure a safe environment for all road users; it is important to drive at speeds that are safe for the conditions of the road. Drivers should be aware of the impact their driving makes on other road users, with education and enforcement, we can all make a positive contribution to making our roads safer.”

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

You can keep up to date with activities by following @SussexSRP, @CommunitySpeedw and @SussexRoadsPol. You can follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SaferRoads.