Wiltshire Police has reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring road safety in the region after witnessing a notable decline in fatal collisions.
The commitment comes in response to ongoing efforts and a successful road safety campaign that contributed to a 25% reduction in fatal collisions in 2023.
In 2022, there were a total of 28 collisions resulting in at least one fatality. Following a focused road safety campaign, focussing on the Fatal Five offences, the Roads Policing Unit’s proactive measures led to a considerable decrease, with 21 fatal collisions reported in 2023.
While acknowledging the positive impact of these efforts, Wiltshire Police affirmed that any loss of life or injury on the roads is unacceptable with the force remaining resolute in its commitment to creating the safest possible road environment for the county.
The Roads Policing Unit (RPU) is set to continue its impactful Project Zero in 2024. This initiative involves a weekly day of action dedicated to addressing the Fatal Five offences: drink/drug driving, careless driving, driving at excess speed, driving without a seatbelt, and using a mobile phone.
The RPU will work alongside various stakeholders, including the Police and Crime Commissioner, Wiltshire Road Safety Partnership, National Highways, and council representatives, to address road engineering, enhance funding for safety officers, and bolster speed enforcement measures.
Acting Inspector Will Ayres spoke about the importance of recognising that each fatality is not just a statistic but a person loved and missed by many. The force remains passionate about its work, aiming to prevent further devastation in families affected by road-related tragedies. “Each fatality is a person who is loved and missed by many – somebody’s mum or dad, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandparent and friend,” he said.
“That is so important to keep at the forefront of our minds and that is why we feel so passionate about the work we do. We will continue to target those most likely to cause harm on the roads and prevent further families from being devastated by the loss of a loved one.”
Chief Constable Catherine Roper said “Last summer we made road safety a focus for the entire Force through enforcement and intensive awareness raising, focusing on the fatal five offences. This was as a result of a high number of fatalities on our roads. I recently joined the Roads Policing Unit during a Project Zero day of action and I was impressed with the team’s dedication to dealing robustly with drivers who commit road-related offences, and seek out vehicles that are not roadworthy.
“It is this ongoing commitment which has contributed to a drop in the number of fatal collisions and injuries in Wiltshire. My officers know all too well the devastation that a single death on our roads can cause and they will continue to work tirelessly to improve road safety in the county.”
Education forms a crucial component of the strategy to alter driver behavior and reduce risk-taking activities such as speeding. Wiltshire boasts 115 Community Speedwatch Teams, often joined by Community Speed Enforcement Officers, thanks to additional funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner. These teams actively enforce speed limits and prosecute individuals found excessively speeding.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, hailed the reduction in fatal collisions as a positive step forward and committed to doing more saying, “One fatality is one too many, and every death on our roads has a devastating effect on those left behind and those emergency service workers who deal directly with the aftermath, so we must do all we can to try and minimise this with robust policing on our roads.”
