Motorists across Sussex are now facing increased scrutiny from a newly established police unit dedicated to combating the most common causes of fatal and serious injury collisions on the roads.
Introducing the Fatal Five Unit
Sussex Police has officially launched the Fatal Five Unit, a specialised team created with the explicit purpose of targeting the five primary offences that lead to devastating road accidents. This initiative represents a significant step in the force's ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and protect all road users from preventable harm.
Collaborative Enforcement Strategy
The new unit will work in close partnership with the existing Roads Policing Unit, employing a proactive approach that combines community engagement with sophisticated data analysis. This dual strategy aims to not only enforce the law but also to educate drivers and reduce antisocial driving behaviours that contribute to the region's collision statistics.
The Five Targeted Offences
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who serves as the roads policing lead for the National Police Chiefs' Council, has clearly identified the specific behaviours that the Fatal Five Unit will prioritise:
- Drink and drug-driving
- Speeding beyond legal limits
- Failing to wear a seatbelt
- Distracted driving, particularly through mobile phone use
- Careless driving that puts others at risk
Chief Constable Shiner emphasised that these factors are not only illegal but entirely avoidable, representing conscious choices that drivers make before getting behind the wheel.
A Personal Appeal for Road Safety
In a direct message to all road users, Chief Constable Shiner stated: "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."
She continued: "Data consistently shows us that the most common causes of collisions resulting in people being killed or seriously injured are these five factors. 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."
Collective Responsibility for Safer Roads
The police chief issued a personal urging for all drivers to familiarise themselves thoroughly with both the law and the Highway Code, while also ensuring their vehicles maintain roadworthy conditions before beginning any journey.
"We all have a part to play in keeping everyone safe on our roads," Chief Constable Shiner concluded, "choosing to make good decisions, and encouraging our friends and family to do the same." This message underscores the community-wide responsibility that extends beyond police enforcement to individual driver behaviour and peer influence.
The establishment of the Fatal Five Unit marks a renewed commitment to tackling preventable road tragedies through targeted enforcement and public education campaigns across the Sussex region.
