Police step up patrols to cut fatal crashes

Police in Sussex and Surrey carried out increased patrols to deter and catch offenders

Two police forces have stepped up patrols in an effort to reduce the number of serious crashes in the South East.

Sussex Police and Surrey Police said that in July, they were trying to prevent the "fatal five" offences.

These are dangerous or careless driving, driving while distracted, drink or drug-driving, driving too fast, and not wearing a seatbelt.

The Operation Spotlight campaign is supported by Maria Dennis, mother of 11-year-old Harry, who was killed by a dangerous driver in East Sussex.

Harry was travelling as a passenger in his father’s car when he was struck by an unsecured scaffolding board from an oncoming vehicle in Hooe.

'Increased patrols'

The police forces said July was recorded as being one of the worst months for people being killed or seriously injured on the UK's roads.

Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit Ch Insp Chris Tinney said reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries was "a key priority".

Across both forces, more than 3,200 vehicles were stopped, and more than 2,000 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and traffic offence reports (TORs) were issued.

Officers made 188 arrests, and 170 drivers were reported for summons for driving offences.

Meanwhile, 697 roadside breath tests and 260 roadside DrugWipe tests were carried out to detect offenders who were drink or drug-driving.

Ch Insp Chris Tinney said: “Officers carried out increased proactive patrols across both counties to deter and catch offenders, to prevent serious collisions before they happen, and ultimately save lives."