A strong and coordinated effort took place across Colchester, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock and Basildon in support of Op Vision Zero and the national Beep! Beep! Day initiative. The day brought together education, enforcement, and community engagement, all focused on improving road safety for children and families.
Beep! Beep! Day
Beep Beep! Day teaches young children the important road safety basics and helps parents, carers and the wider community understand how to protect children on roads.
The Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP), their partners, Essex Police, alongside South Essex Parking Partnership (SEPP), North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP), and School Crossing Patrol teams attended four infant and primary schools across the county, delivering targeted road safety education to young pupils.
In Southend, at Milton Hall Infants, a road safety session was delivered to 150 children. The session was well received by both staff and pupils, with commenting on how the road safety content was perfectly suited to the age group.
In Thurrock, an interactive session was delivered to 90 pupils at Arthur Bugler Primary School. Children were taught key safety messages including the importance of holding hands, identifying safe crossing points, and remembering to stop, look and listen. Additional support was provided to the School Crossing Patrol on Southend Road in Stanford-le-Hope, where engagement with families was positive and well received.
In Basildon, activity at Cherry Tree Primary School formed part of a wider response to concerns raised by parents and residents regarding unsafe parking and driver behaviour during school drop-off times. Road safety education was delivered in school, including reception pupils and parents, as well as a Year 5 assembly, followed by practical pedestrian training for 50 pupils. On the following day, SEPP and Essex Police carried out enforcement activity outside the school, engaging directly with parents and residents.
Cherry Tree School Headteacher, Mr Davie, said: “Thank you to the SERP, SEPP, and Essex Police for their support and collaboration across both days. Your engagement and commitment to improving safety around Cherry Tree Primary is greatly appreciated and have contributed to a positive and proactive operation.”
Vision Zero Action in Colchester
Enforcement activity in Colchester recorded 47 speeding offences, issued 34 mobile phone offences and 30 seatbelt violations, and seized five vehicles for having no insurance. Additional offences included driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, insecure loads, expired MOTs, non-conforming number plates, and defective tyres and one driver was arrested for drug driving. Alongside enforcement, engagement officers spoke with 41 drivers and riders at roadside locations, 92 members of the public at a local retail site, and 150 parents and children at Stanway Primary School.
Community Speed Watch teams were also active throughout the day, including deployments in Daws Heath, North Weald and Wickham Bishops. At Tiptree Heath School, pupils participated directly in School Speed Watch activity, speaking to ten drivers, with two recorded travelling at 41mph in a 30mph limit.
At Stanway Fiveways Primary School on Winstree Road, parking enforcement officers attended to address concerns around illegal parking and access for buses. Two penalty notices were issued, and officers spoke with drivers to highlight the importance of parking responsibly in the vicinity of schools.
This coordinated day of action demonstrated the strength of partnership working across Essex. By combining education, enforcement and community engagement, partners continue to work towards the shared goal of Vision Zero. eliminating deaths and serious injuries on the road network, and ensuring safer journeys for all, particularly children.
