The Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) successfully delivered a high-impact Vision Zero Day in Southend this week, combining extensive business engagement, community outreach, and coordinated enforcement activity.
The engagement team visited 53 businesses, speaking directly with over 100 members of the public. Three people riding bikes received reflective visibility accessories to help keep them visible and six delivery riders were spoken to about the Street Spirit initiative, a one hour on-road session with a specialist motorcycle trainer for young motorcycle riders.
Enforcement activity: tackling high-risk driving behaviours
Alongside engagement work, targeted enforcement was carried out by Essex Police and partner agencies. The operation addressed a wide range of offences and serious driver risks, key outcomes included:
- Two careless driving offences.
- 14 mobile phone offences.
- 26 seatbelt offences.
- 57 speed offences at ten locations across Southend.
Arrests:
- Two arrests for drug driving.
- One driver was stopped for a seatbelt offence and was then identified as wanted by another police authority for a serious assault.
Additionally, a moped rider was stopped carrying a 25kg bag of flour that was seriously affecting the stability of the vehicle.
Collaborative working for safer roads
The team also worked closely with Trading Standards, who carried out taxi and licensing checks throughout the day, helping to reinforce a collaborative, multi-agency approach to improving road safety.
A united effort for Vision Zero
The combined engagement and enforcement activity reflects the commitment in Southend to achieving the SERP’s Vision Zero ambition, eliminating deaths and serious injuries on Essex roads: www.saferessexroads.org/visionzero
