An incident during a Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) Vision Zero day highlighted the very real risks faced by those working to keep Essex’s roads safe and why visible road safety remains so important.
Last week, an Essex police officer was struck by a vehicle during the Chelmsford Vision Zero Day of action after attempting to speak to a driver who failed to stop. Thankfully, the officer was not injured. The vehicle crashed a short distance away before the driver was located, arrested, and taken into custody.
Throughout the day, officers detected 64 offences, including 26 seatbelt offences, 17 mobile phone offences, seven illegal number plate offences, and one careless driving offence. A further five vehicles were seized, while three motorists were arrested on suspicion of drug driving.
One of the first arrests came shortly after the operation began, when a driver was stopped on suspicion of drug driving whilst transporting two young children. Later in the day, another driver initially stopped for using a mobile phone admitted to using cannabis the previous evening before testing positive in a roadside drug test.
Conversations that change behaviour
Alongside enforcement, the engagement team spoke to 25 drivers and passengers about the consequences of risky driving behaviours. Many admitted they understood they had broken the law but had not fully considered the potential consequences. Several were surprised to learn how much a mobile phone distracts a driver, even during a short journey, while others reflected on the dangers of travelling without a seatbelt.
One young driver apologised after being stopped for not wearing his seatbelt and listened as officers explained how wearing a seatbelt protects not only the wearer but everyone else in the vehicle. Another passenger travelling in a work van was reminded how, in a collision, an unrestrained occupant can cause devastating injuries to colleagues sharing the cab.
Many members of the public also stopped to ask about the operation and welcomed the visible police and road safety presence, thanking the team for carrying out the day of action.
Supporting businesses to keep employees safe
The engagement team visited 28 businesses, speaking with 59 employees about the SERP’s road safety initiatives, including Business Driving in Essex, which offers driver training, workshops and support to help organisations better manage occupational road risk.
Businesses welcomed the engagement, with several recognising the value of continued road safety education and employee training.
Community Speed Watch keeps speeds in check
Although School Speed Watch sessions were paused for the summer holidays, Community Speed Watch volunteers remained active across the district.
Volunteers in Broomfield monitored traffic on Main Road, where the vast majority of motorists complied with the 30mph speed limit, with fortunately only two speeding vehicles recorded.
In East Hanningfield, volunteers recorded eight speeding vehicles, with the highest speed reaching 40mph in a 30mph limit.
Meanwhile, volunteers in Highwood observed 146 vehicles in just one hour, identifying seven speeding drivers, including two travelling at 41mph. There were two motorists using mobile phones, one driver that was captured at 41mph and was seen carrying out a risky overtaking manoeuvre through the village.
The group then returned in the evening, where five were recorded driving over 35mph.
Working together towards Vision Zero
Every Vision Zero Day combines enforcement, education and community engagement to reduce risk on Essex’s roads. Whether through stopping risk taking drivers, supporting businesses, engaging with local communities or supporting volunteers, every conversation helps move Essex closer to Vision Zero – the shared ambition that no one should be killed or seriously injured on our roads.
