Wealden District Council - July 2010

Getting the message about anti-social driving

Wealden's Community Scrutiny Committee has produced a report on the study of road safety in the District and has identified three main contributory factors of crashes in Wealden where, in 2009, 138 road users were killed or seriously injured.  Wealden has more miles of roads than any other district in East Sussex.  Our roads were designed for traffic levels of 30 years ago, but since then traffic has increased by 77%.

Together with Safer Wealden Partnership, Sussex Police and the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, Wealden have launched an advertising campaign using the sides of WDC refuse vehicles to promote Operation Crackdown.  This campaign is particularly targeted at drivers using Mobile phones, ignoring speed limits, driving under the influence of alcohol and tailgating other motorists in narrow country lanes - all of these counts as anti-social driving.  The most likely time for a road accident is between 4pm and 6pm in the afternoon with the greatest number taking place in June and July.

Three main contributory factors of crashes in Wealden have been identified as failing to look properly; failing to judge the speed/direction of other vehicles and travelling too fast for the road conditions.  Under Operation Crackdown, motorists are invited to report the licence number, vehicle details and the location of any anti-social driving they witness.  Please pull over to the side of the road before making any notes and then report it either through Operation Crackdown website www.operationcrackdown.org or by telephone to 01243 642222.  The campaign aims to target persistent bad drivers before they can cause an accident.

Cllr Sylvia Martin