Roads, road safety and vehicles

Teaching children to be careful pedestrians

Children can't always judge speed or distances accurately - until they can, make sure they have an adult with them when they want to cross the road. Make sure they know the Green Cross Code and safe places to cross

Before your child walks about alone, take them out on the routes they will use and point out any hazards as well as safe places to cross. Make sure they understand your reasoning.

It can be helpful to have children describe the route they want to take, telling you why they think it is safe to cross in a certain place.  This will cement the information in their minds and give you confidence in their judgement.

Set a good example when you cross the road - children will copy your good habits. If you've got any bad habits, they could pick these up as well!

Ensure that children wear bright or reflective clothing in low light levels.

Safe cycling

• Children under 11 should not cycle alone in traffic - they need adult supervision
• Children should always wear a cycle helmet and preferably high visibility clothing when out on the road with you.
• Investigate some form of bike training to help them increase their skills.

Children as passengers:

• By law, children under 135cm (about 4ft 5in) in height who are under 12 years old must use an appropriate child car seat or booster seat - even on short journeys.
• If your child is more than 135cm tall, they can use an adult seat belt. But a booster seat may help the seat belt to lie on the child's body properly.
• Make sure children understand the importance of using their booster seat or wearing a seat belt - it's hard to force an older child to do something they don't want to do.

Teenagers

Across Sussex, hundreds of teenagers are injured on our roads every year, as pedestrians, as vehicle passengers, as cyclists and as new drivers. Teenagers need road safety education specific to their age group. Routes - The Teenage Highway Code is a 21st Century update on road safety for young people. It has been specifically designed to meet the need for road safety education for young people aged 11-16.

 

Even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability so the only safe advice is not to drink any alcohol before driving.

Driving under the influence of alcohol:

• Increases reaction times
• Reduces concentration
• Impairs judgement of speed and distance
• Produces overconfidence

This combination greatly increases the likelihood of being involved in a road traffic crash and leads to death, injury and misery.

If you are going out for a drink:

• Arrange for a someone who is not drinking to be a designated driver
• Use a taxi
• Use public transport
• Walk
• Don't attempt to use a bicycle - riding while under the influence is highly dangerous and can lead to prosecution.

What is the drink drive limit?

The only safe advice the police can give you is drink no alcohol at all before driving.

The legal drink drive limit is 80mg of alcohol for every 100ml of blood in your body. However, age, fitness, whether you have recently eaten a meal and numerous other factors can mean that even after just one drink you could still be over the legal drink drive limit.

Being a good driver is an ongoing learning process.

If you would like to improve your driving, there are a number of learning packages to help you develop your skills and remain safe on the roads.

Pass Plus
A national course aimed at newly qualified drivers. Provides extra skills, and this qualification can get substantial discounts on insurance premiums with selected insurers.  For more details, please go to the national Pass Plus website.

Additional Driver Training
Useful for drivers of any age or experience level, this training develops skills and eliminates bad driving habits.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists and RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) both offer advanced driver/rider training and tuition, which are highly recommended for increasing skill levels and helping drivers to become safer on the roads.

Older Drivers
Changes in eyesight, hearing, mobility and judgement can mean that older drivers need to take greater care - and older people are more likely than younger drivers to be killed or injured in road accidents.

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership has produced and  simple guide for older drivers and will be working with organisations such as Age Concern, local authority road safety officers and emergency services to make older drivers feel they have a positive driving future.

Speed Awareness
The Speed Awareness Course is offered to people who have had a momentary lapse in concentration and have been detected travelling slightly over the speed limit.

The course offers practical and theory based sessions, giving drivers the chance to reassess their driving techniques.  The course runs for a full day at one of several locations throughout Sussex and is run by professional driver trainers who coach attendees about the use of speed and how it relates to their driving techniques.

 

The following types of drugs can cause drowsiness and impair your ability to drive:

• Some antidepressants
• Stronger painkillers e.g. those containing codeine or dihydrocodeine.
• Powerful tranquillisers - used for the treatment of some mental disorders. Some drugs used to treat epilepsy e.g. phenobarbitone and phenytoin.
• Benzodiazepine tranquillisers e.g. tamazepam or diazepam - commonly prescribed for anxiety or insomnia.
• Some antihistamines - used in hayfever medicines.
• Insulin and oral anti-diabetic drugs. Low blood sugar can contribute to confusion and impairment of driving ability.
• Some eye drops can cause short-term blurring of vision.

Remember

• Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice
• Read the labels
• Don't drink while taking drugs
• Always report side effects to your doctor

If in doubt, don't drive.

It's a fact that if you drive and use a mobile phone you are four times more likely to have an accident.

Motorists who are if caught driving while using a hand-held mobile phone face a fixed penalty fine of £60 and three penalty points on their licence. The £60 can be increased to a maximum of £1,000 if the matter goes to court (£2,500 for drivers of lorries and buses).

Employers who require their employees to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving can also be prosecuted.

If using a mobile phone causes you to drive in a careless or dangerous manner, you could be prosecuted. The possible penalties include an unlimited fine, disqualification from driving and up to two years imprisonment.

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership recommends:

• Never use a hand-held mobile phone when you are driving. If you are driving, keep the phone switched off and use your voicemail or message service.
• Stop in a safe place, not on a motorway or hard shoulder, to use the phone and pick up messages.
• Do not use a hands-free phone - your mind will be distracted by the conversation and you will not be concentrating fully on your driving.
• Remember that phones are not the only distraction. It can be just as dangerous to take your attention away for any reason such as changing a tape or CD. Use your common sense to know when it is most appropriate to do this.

 

With motorcyclist deaths more than doubling across the county in the first six months of 2010, our road policing officers are keen to stress that they're not targeting responsible motorcyclists, only those who ride anti-socially or dangerously on the roads.

Operation Ride runs annually through the summer months and is specifically aimed at reducing the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured. Sussex Police's Road Policing Unit uses unmarked motorcycles and cars fitted with video equipment to capture and record evidence of dangerous driving and riding. This is to deter both motorcyclists and other motorists from driving in such a manner.

Insp Damian Merrifield from the Road Policing Operations team said: "While enforcement may not be popular among some motorcyclists who see our activities as impinging upon their freedom of the road, the fact remains that they are in a significantly high risk group. It is of concern that despite the warnings about the risks and dangers, a minority of people are still prepared to break the law, putting not only their own lives at risk, but also those of other road users.

"We want responsible and law-abiding drivers and riders to enjoy using the roads in Sussex safely and everyone has a part to play in casualty reduction. If you're a motorcyclist, please do everything that you can to make sure that the family and friends you leave behind in the morning won't be mourning your non-return that night."

Operation Crackdown - fighting anti-social/dangerous driving

Operation Crackdown gives Sussex residents the power to make a real difference in their communities by reporting instances of anti-social/dangerous driving and abandoned vehicles. Anti-social driving can include:

• careless or negligent driving
• deliberately aggressive driving behaviour

It affects the safety of our roads and the quality of life in our neighbourhoods. You don't have to tolerate it, you can report it online at the Operation Crackdown website.

"I encourage members of the local community to use Operation Crackdown's reporting facility  to provide us with information about those people who drive or ride in a manner which puts the lives of others at risk.  The information you supply  will be analysed and then any appropriate action can be taken by Sussex Police,  which will help us to make a difference to the  number of people  who are killed or seriously injured on the roads in Sussex." Inspector Marc Clothier, Sussex Police Road Policing Unit

Report anti-social or dangerous driving and abandoned vehicles

You can report abandoned vehicles and anti-social/dangerous driving online at the Operation Crackdown website. If you report an abandoned vehicle, the following information will be requested:

• the colour, make and model of the vehicle
• vehicle registration number
• location of where the vehicle was found abandoned (this can be specific using the online map reporting tool)

If you have a photograph of the vehicle, there is an image upload facility on the form (images will need to be jpeg format and not more than 500kb).

Seatbelts save lives.

Since 1983, when it became the law to wear seatbelts, the number of casualties in accidents has been significantly reduced.

• The chance of dying in a crash in rear seats is three times higher if seatbelts are not used.
• Drivers die in crashes each year after being struck by unrestrained rear seat passengers.

The Law

• By law, drivers and passengers must use seatbelts if they are fitted to the vehicle.
• It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that all passengers under 14 are correctly strapped into the vehicle.
• It is illegal to allow a child to travel unrestrained in the front seat of any vehicle.
• By law, children under 135cm (about 4ft 5in) in height who are under 12 years old must use an appropriate child car seat or booster seat - even on short journeys.
• If your child is more than 135cm tall, they can use an adult seat belt. But a booster seat may help the seat belt to lie on the child's body properly.
• Make sure children understand the importance of using their booster seat or wearing a seat belt - it's hard to force an older child to do something they don't want to do.

Choosing Child Restraints

• It is important that the child restraint fits the child and the car in which it will be fitted.
• Choose something that you can lift and carry and is convenient to use.
• Choose the seat to suit the child's weight and physical size. Be guided by size and weight rather than age.
• Not all seats are compatible with all cars. Always try before you buy. Ask the retailer to demonstrate the correct method of fitting for your car.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly to ensure that the seat is correctly fitted. If you can't fit it firmly in the vehicle then you probably have the wrong seat.
• Make sure that the harness is adjusted so that it fits securely around the child. You should only be able to fit two fingers flat between the child and the straps. The central buckle should not be over the chest or stomach. It should fit low over the abdomen.
• Never use a seat that has been in an accident, even if it appears undamaged, or one that has cracks in it.
• Regularly check that the harness shows no signs of wear and tear.

'Embrace Lives' seatbelt campaign

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership has produced a short film to support their Embrace Life campaign. To date, this award-winning film has had almost 14 million views.

 

A crash or collision should be reported:

• If personal injury is caused to a person other than the driver of that motor vehicle
• If damage is caused to another vehicle
• If damage is caused to an animal (horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog), other than an animal being carried in that vehicle or trailer.
• If damage is caused to any other property forming part of the land on which the road is situated

In a road traffic collision involving fatal or serious injury, contact the police immediately by phoning 999.

'Injury Collision'

In a non-serious incident, but where injury is caused - the driver of the motor vehicle must stop and, if required to do so by any person with reasonable grounds, give their name and address, plus the name and address of the owner and the identification marks of the vehicle.

If not, the accident must be reported to the police as soon as possible (immediately, or within 24 hours if a person is unable report immediately due to circumstances beyond their control).

The driver of the vehicle must also provide a certificate of insurance to a police constable, or any other person with reasonable grounds to see it, as soon as possible.

Failure to provide name and address or report the crash is an offence.

'Damage Only' Collision

There is no need to report 'damage-only' incidents to the police, provided that the following details have been exchanged:

• Name and address of the drivers involved,
• Details of the registered owner (if different to that of the driver).
• The identification mark (referred to as either registration mark or index) of the vehicle.

The matter can then be dealt with by either the insurance companies or by civil claim.

 

All motor vehicle claims are dealt with by our in house Claims Handlers. You can email them directly. Only selected claims are passed to our Insurers.

Please note that this email address is ONLY for those directly involved in a crash with a police vehicle - not where the police attended.

*If possible, it is important with SMS texts to also try other ways to contact Sussex Police. No text messages are guaranteed to arrive quickly. We rely on the mobile phone companies and the network. Sussex Police cannot be held responsible for delays in receiving messages. You will know your message has been received ONLY when you get a reply from us. Please note that all calls are recorded for policing purposes

When a speed (or traffic light) camera flashes, the registered keeper of the vehicle will receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days of the alleged offence.  The registered keeper of the vehicle is the person whose name appears on the logbook (vehicle registration document).

If the keeper hears nothing within 14 days it is unlikely to go to court.

The registered keeper is required by law to complete the Notice of Intended Prosecution, giving details of the driver/rider at the time of the alleged offence. Failure to do so is an offence. The person so named will then receive a summons to court in due course.

Reports of faulty cameras should be referred to the Camera Technology Department.

The locations of all speed cameras can be found on the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership website.

Why has your vehicle been seized?

Your vehicle has been seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. A uniformed police officer had reason to believe that it was being driven (or had been driven in the previous 24 hours) without valid insurance and/or a valid driving licence.

The driver either failed to stop for police; failed to produce the required documents immediately; or failed to satisfy the officer that the documents exist.

How can you get the vehicle back?

To get the vehicle back, you need to go into a police station within 7 days to prove that you are the owner and that you have a valid driving license and insurance certificate.
 
You will then be able to collect your vehicle from the premises of the recovery operator (a garage or vehicle pound) where it is being held.

Which police stations can you go to?

You can attend any one of the following police stations in Sussex:

• Brighton (John Street)
• Chichester
• Crawley
• Eastbourne (Grove Road)
• Hastings
• Worthing

Please attend between 9am and 7pm on Monday to Friday, or 9am and 4pm on Saturdays.

What do you need to take?

1. The seizure notice issued at the roadside

2. The penalty ticket issued at the roadside (if applicable)

3. Proof of ownership of the vehicle. Ideally, this would be the V5C registration document.  Alternatively, you can produce the new keeper supplement of the V5C or a printed receipt for the vehicle.

4. Your driving licence.  If you have the new style photocard and paper counterpart, then both parts must be produced.  If you have only an old style paper licence then you must produce an alternative means of photographic identification (e.g. your passport)

5. Your valid certificate of insurance.  This must be specific to the vehicle and name the driver and must not be temporary cover of less than 28 days.

If you are unable to produce the original documents, the release of the vehicle may be prevented or delayed and you could incur further storage costs.

What will happen with these documents?

If you have a penalty ticket, the front counter staff will process it and explain how you can pay the fine. They will then conduct a series of checks on the other documentation to confirm your ownership of the vehicle and the validity of your driving licence and insurance.

When will your vehicle be released?

Once the officer is satisfied your documentation is in order, they will stamp the seizure notice and make contact with the recovery operator who is holding your vehicle on behalf of Sussex Police. Then - provided the garage/vehicle compound is open - you can usually go and collect the vehicle straight away.

What if they are not satisfied with the documentation?

If they are not satisfied with the documentation, they may either:
• refer the case back to the police officer who seized the vehicle (or a member of the Roads Policing or Vehicle Recovery departments), or
• ask you to return with alternative documentation.

Ultimately, if you are unable to provide satisfactory documentation, the vehicle will not be released.  It will be kept for 14 days from the time it was seized, then it will be disposed of.

Can someone else reclaim the vehicle on your behalf?

The vehicle must be reclaimed by the person who owned it when it was seized by us - you cannot sell the vehicle while it is in our custody. However, the owner/keeper can come to the police station with a nominated person to collect the vehicle. The owner will have to prove they own the vehicle and the nominated party will have to show they have appropriate insurance cover and valid driving licence.

Can you use a trade or business insurance policy to claim the vehicle?

Yes, as long as the policy:
• is valid for a period of 28 days or longer
• specifically names the driver who is collecting the vehicle; and
• specifically lists the vehicle on the stock list.

Trade policies will only be accepted if accompanied by stock books and VAT registration certificate. The driver should also have declared to the police officer who seized the vehicle that they were driving the vehicle for business purposes.

Remember, Sussex Police will not accept documents on face value.  Checks will be completed in conjunction with the DVLA and Motor Insurers' Bureau. 

Sussex Police may also make direct contact with your insurance company. Please note that this could lead to your insurer withdrawing cover if you have not advised them of any driving convictions or pending convictions.

Why do you have to pay the recovery operator for the return of your vehicle?

The payment covers the service that is provided - namely the recovery and, where appropriate, the storage and disposal of the vehicle. The recovery operator is subcontracted to collect these fees on behalf of Sussex Police. 

What are the fees for recovery?

The fees are statutory and set nationally by the Home Office.  They vary depending on the size, condition and location of the vehicle recovered. The recovery fees for vehicles that are on a road, upright and not substantially damaged are as follows:

• Two wheeled vehicles e.g. Moped, motorbike: £150
  
• Vehicle, not including a two wheeled vehicle, equal to or less than 3.5 tonnes MAM e.g. Car, car derived van: £150
• Vehicle exceeding 3.5 tonnes MAM but equal to or less than 7.5 tonnes MAM e.g. Van, small lorry: £200
• Vehicle exceeding 7.5 tonnes MAM but equal to or less than 18 MAM e.g. Truck, lorry: £350
• Vehicle exceeding 18 tonnes MAM e.g. Articulated lorry: £350

Further costs depending on location and condition of vehicle can be found at the legislation.gov.uk website

What are the fees for storage?

The daily storage costs are as follows:

• Two wheeled vehicles e.g. Moped, motorbike: £10
• Vehicle, not including a two wheeled vehicle, equal to or less than 3.5 tonnes MAM e.g. Car, car derived van: £20
• Vehicle exceeding 3.5 tonnes MAM but equal to or less than 7.5 tonnes MAM e.g. Van, small lorry: £25
• Vehicle exceeding 7.5 tonnes MAM but equal to or less than 18 MAM e.g. Truck, lorry: £30
• Vehicle exceeding 18 tonnes MAM e.g. Articulated lorry: £35

Listed fees are as per The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles (Prescribed Sums and Charges) Regulations 2008 and are correct as of 18 August 2011.

What happens if you do not collect the vehicle?

The vehicle will be kept for 14 days after it is seized. If you do not collect it, we are authorised to dispose of the vehicle on the fifteenth day. You will then automatically be liable to pay the statutory recovery fee, 14 days of statutory storage fees and the disposal fee. This could be pursued through court action.

If you intend to collect the vehicle but have a problem meeting the 14 day deadline you must make contact with the recovery operator as soon as possible. Failure to make contact within 14 days is likely to result in the disposal of your vehicle.

In exceptional cases, arrangements can be made to keep a vehicle for longer - at the cost of the vehicle owner/keeper.

What if you don't want to collect the vehicle?

If you don't want the vehicle back, you can disclaim it by signing a form signing the vehicle over to us for disposal. Once you disclaim the vehicle, further storage costs will not be applied - but you will still be liable for the recovery fee and storage up to that point.

If you don't want the vehicle back, we would prefer that you disclaim it rather than simply not turn up to collect it - it enables us to draw a line under the incident. Disclaiming your vehicle can also save you incurring longer storage fees.

You can disclaim your vehicle:
1. With the police officer who seizes your vehicle (when the vehicle is first seized)
2. By attending one of the police stations named above, taking your seizure notice notice with you
3. By attending the recovery operator premises within office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm)

What are the fees for disposal?

The one-off fees for disposing of a vehicle are as follows:

• Two wheeled vehicles e.g. Moped, motorbike: £50
• Vehicle, not including a two wheeled vehicle, equal to or less than 3.5 tonnes MAM e.g. Car, car derived van: £75
• Vehicle exceeding 3.5 tonnes MAM but equal to or less than 7.5 tonnes MAM e.g. Van, small lorry: £100
• Vehicle exceeding 7.5 tonnes MAM but equal to or less than 18 MAM e.g. Truck, lorry: £125
• Vehicle exceeding 18 tonnes MAM e.g. Articulated lorry: £150

Why do you have to pay a disposal fee?

The disposal fee is only applicable if you do not collect your vehicle and covers any costs we may incur in its disposal.

How will the vehicle be disposed of?

The vehicle will be dismantled or sold at public auction. In every case, aim to get the best financial return on a disposed vehicle but we cannot guarantee that this will cover the statutory costs.  If it does not, the owner/keeper of the vehicle would still be liable to cover any outstanding fees..

What will happen to the property in your vehicle?

When a vehicle is seized, the driver is advised to remove all personal property at the time.  If this was not possible, you can collect your property from the recovery operator directly.  To do so, you will need to provide photographic identification and satisfy the operator that you have a claim to the vehicle/property.  You may not be given access to the vehicle but an authorised member of staff will bring the property to you.  If you have a lot of property to collect, it may be necessary to make an appointment.

With the exception of child/baby restraints/seats, you are not permitted to collect property that is fixed to the vehicle. This includes audio equipment, spare wheels, seats and any other item that is fixed in the vehicle. 

Unclaimed property will be disposed of after 3 months.

What happens if your vehicle was seized in error?

Sussex Police will only seize a vehicle under Section 165a if a uniformed police officer has reason to believe that the vehicle was being driven (or had been driven in the previous 24 hours) without a valid certificate of insurance and/or a valid driving licence to cover that category and use of the vehicle.

The officer will conduct a series of roadside checks (possibly through the Police National Computer, the Motor Insurers' Bureau and the DVLA) and will only seize the vehicle if you fail to satisfy the conditions by producing the required documents immediately or satisfying the officer that the documents exist.

If you are able to produce a valid certificate of insurance and/or a valid driving licence afterwards, the seizure is still valid and lawful (because you were unable to satisfy the conditions at the time of the stop). You will still have to attend a police station and also pay the associated statutory recovery fees.

If you later discover an error with your insurance or driving licence you will still need to attend a police station and also pay the associated statutory recovery fees. You will then need to decide whether to contest the error with your insurer or the DVLA. Sussex Police accepts no liability for errors. Don't forget - it is your obligation to check your documentation for errors and make sure it is correct.

If you believe there has been a genuine error by Sussex Police in the seizure of your vehicle, you should still collect your vehicle as quickly as possible - because you will be liable for any storage costs incurred while you are disputing the seizure - then send a letter with details of your complaint and a copy of your statutory invoice to:
The Vehicle Recovery Manager, Vehicle Recovery Scheme, Sussex Police Headquarters, Malling House, Church Lane, Lewes BN7 2DZ. 
Alternatively, you can email your complaint and attach a copy of your invoice to: vehicle.recovery@sussex.pnn.police.uk

We promise to investigate all claims and respond appropriately.

Who else can you contact for advice?

askMID - enables you to check the validity of the insurance policy on your car. (This is a service provided by the Motor Insurers' Bureau, for which Sussex Police accepts no responsibility).

DVLA

Citizens Advice Bureau