New Fatal Five Unit launched to save lives on Sussex roads

On the evening of 26 June 2024, Jade Daniels’ life was turned upside down in an instant.

She was a passenger involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle driven by a dangerous driver who smelt strongly of alcohol.

The incident left Jade with life-changing injuries. It also claimed the life of her husband Tony.

On average, 45 people are killed and almost 1,000 are seriously injured on our roads every year.

In a bid to reduce this figure and save lives, Sussex Police has launched the new Fatal Five Unit, set up specifically to tackle the five most common causes of fatal and serious injury collisions:

• Drink and drug-driving
• Speeding
• Failing to wear a seatbelt
• Distracted driving
• Careless driving

The creation of Sussex Police’s Fatal Five Unit meets Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne’s specific manifesto commitment, and her promise to strengthen investment in roads policing and reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Sussex roads.

It is funded via a combination of local taxpayers’ contributions to the police precept and National Driver Offender Retraining Schemes.

“Dangerous driving is putting lives at risk every single day – and our residents have had enough,” said Mrs Bourne.

“Speeding and antisocial driving are among the most frequent concerns raised with me by local people right across Sussex.

“With more than 45,000 drivers caught speeding by our Community Speedwatch volunteers last year and thousands more reported through Operation Crackdown, the message from the public is clear: they want action.

“That’s why I’ve backed the Fatal Five Roads Unit - an intelligence led team targeting the most dangerous driving behaviours.

“The unit will focus on targeting people driving antisocially, including those speeding as well as persistent offenders. It will also provide education and enforcement in hotspot areas and support our “Vision Zero” ambition: that no death or serious injury on our roads is acceptable.

“I’m listening and acting and, together, the Chief Constable and I are determined to make Sussex’s roads safer for everyone.”

Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who is also the roads policing lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “While the vast majority of the public are safe and competent drivers, there are still too many people who take unnecessary risks on our roads which ultimately lead to collisions.

“Data consistently shows us that the most common causes of collisions resulting in people being killed or seriously injured (KSIs) are drink and drug-driving, speeding, failing to wear a seatbelt, distracted driving – for example through mobile phone use – and careless driving. Not only are these five factors illegal, they are also completely avoidable.

“Nobody sets out on their day expecting to be involved in – or responsible for – a collision, but even the most minor lapse in concentration can lead to devastating consequences. That’s why I am personally urging all road users to familiarise themselves with the law and the Highway Code, and ensure their vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before setting out on their journey.

“We all have a part to play in keeping everyone safe on our roads, choosing to make good decisions, and encouraging our friends and family to do the same.”

Working alongside the Roads Policing Unit, officers will proactively focus on reducing fatal and serious injury collisions, and antisocial driving, through community engagement data analysis.

Below are the number of KSI collisions in Sussex as a result of the ‘fatal five’ offences in the past few years:

Chief Constable Shiner added: “Road collisions have a profound and lasting impact on victims, families and communities. Through targeted enforcement, community engagement and partnership working, the Fatal Five Unit aims to deliver measurable improvements in road safety.”

The public can continue to report any incidents of antisocial driving through the Operation Crackdown website. Visual evidence such as dash cam footage is preferable, however any submissions without video recordings can still help to build a picture of offending.