The Safer Essex Roads Partnership ‘surrounds’ Epping

More than 100 traffic offences were detected during a recent ‘Surround a Town’ (SAT) event in Epping – the majority of which were either seat belt or speed related.

Organised by the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP), Surround a Town sees resources focussed on a tight geographical area, often where there are high rates of collisions and casualties.

The Partnership surrounded Epping on Wednesday, August 18, the second SAT day during the national Road Victim Month.

Adam Pipe, Head of Roads Policing, said: “Road Victim Month has given us all the opportunity to remind ourselves why we do events like this. Road deaths are simply unacceptable, and we are doing everything in our power to achieve Vision Zero, the aspiration that there will be no deaths or serious injuries on Essex roads by 2040.

“In Epping on Wednesday, we saw nearly 100 drivers speeding and 54 seatbelt offences. Four drivers were found to be driving carelessly, without due care and attention, and seven drivers were using their mobile phone while driving. Nine drivers did not have insurance and we arrested one driver on suspicion of drug-driving.

“Thank you to our Community Speed Watch volunteers who detected 25 speeding offences, the highest being 51mph in a 30mph zone.

“Officers and staff spoke to hundreds of residents throughout the day, many who took time out of their day to approach us and express their gratitude for keeping their roads safe.

“During Road Victim Month and beyond, we’ll continue to ‘surround’ all Essex towns to remind road-users that we all deserve to return safely to our loved ones. Our thoughts are with the families of those who didn’t make it home safely.”

20 August 2021