'No Excuse' road safety campaign launches today

‘No Excuse’ is the message we are sending to drivers ahead of our road safety campaign this summer. 

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be shining the spotlight on road safety with a specific focus on the ‘fatal five’ offences – these are the offences committed by drivers most likely to cause serious injury or death on our roads. 

In the past four years, the number of people killed or seriously injured as a result of collisions in Wiltshire has risen from 157 in 2020 to 255 in 2023. 

A/Insp Jonathan Fairbairn, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “Whilst these statistics show a clear increase in casualties and fatalities on Wiltshire’s roads, it’s really important to remember that each of these numbers is a person. That person may be a parent, a grandparent, somebody’s child or best friend, and their death will have no doubt affected a wide circle of family and friends. 

“The fatal five offences are speeding, drink and drug driving, using a phone whilst driving, not wearing a seatbelt, or careless and dangerous driving. Committing these offences greatly increases your risk of causing a serious collision – our teams are committed to targeting drivers who commit these offences and during the campaign we will be sharing some of the excuses our officers hear when stopping drivers – often things like not wearing a seatbelt may seem quite trivial but if you stop to think of the consequences of your actions, it’s actually a very serious offence.” 

During the campaign we’ll also be focusing on motorbike and pedal bike safety following a high number of serious collisions involving motorcyclists as well as how to safely share the roads with horse riders. 

Philip Wilkinson, Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "The reorganisation of our Community Speedwatch teams and introduction of more Community Speed Enforcement and Road Safety Officers, has seen a large increase in the number of drivers in Wiltshire sent on speed awareness courses, given fines and points, or sent to court.

“That said, we have to remain focused on reducing the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads, and for that, we, as in the whole community, have to target those drivers who have no regard to the risks they are taking or the safety of others.

“AI technology, which detects if drivers aren’t wearing seatbelts or are using phones, and patrols by our police officers can only do so much. If you suspect anyone of drug or drink driving, we need to make sure they’re stopped and dealt with."