Our Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) engagement team spoke with 35 drivers committing various offences in Canvey and heard some astounding excuses for using a mobile phone while driving:
❌“I was checking my nail appointment time.”
❌ “It fell off the cradle, so I had to fix it.”
Seatbelts and child safety were also a concern in Canvey, with two drivers stopped twice- first for not wearing a seatbelt, then for using their phone. One of the drivers had a child in a car seat that no longer fitted, making the straps unsafe, while another had two children unsecured.
TruCam technology was used to detect speeding motorists across Canvey, a staggering total of 130 drivers were recorded speeding on Dovervelt Road, and on the A13, London Road.
As part of the SERP’s School Speed Watch initiative, the team visited Canvey Juniors and found five drivers exceeding the 30mph limit, with the fastest recorded at 38mph.
One delivery driver’s excuse to the primary class for speeding was: “Time is money.”
Cllr Lee Scott, Chair of the SERP Governance Board, was in attendance of the enforcement and educational events throughout the day.
He said: “The number of drivers we stopped in Canvey during the Vision Zero day is deeply concerning. Every one of these offences, from mobile phone use, to speeding, represents a serious risk to lives.”
He added: “We are committed to making Essex roads safer and working toward Vision Zero- a future where no one dies or suffers serious injuries on Essex roads, but we all have a role to play within our communities.”
Vision Zero and how it helps protect your community.
No excuses justify the risk of dangerous driving. Every driver has a choice, drive responsibly, or put lives at risk. Our strive for Vision Zero is ensuring no one loses a loved one to road death on Essex roads.
Find out more here: www.saferessexroads.org/visionzero
