Thread by @DurhamRPU

So, as promised yesterday, here’s a thread on why we as the Police, along with many other agencies focus on the @fatal4uk as part of our road safety strategies.

Here goes....

Firstly, what even are the fatal 4? These are the most significant factors / omissions we find present in our analysis of collisions:

1. Speed
2. Driver distraction
3. No / improper seatbelts
4. Drink & / or drugs

Or a combination of all.

Where do the stats come from then...? All the collisions we attend are recorded and passed to the home office who produce a report for us - and here it is.

Take a read, it’s actually quite revealing.

gov.uk/transport/road…

So speeding. Is it bad?

At the wrong time, in the wrong place, in the wrong conditions - absolutely.

@F1 and @OfficialWRC drivers among others regularly crash because they’re going too fast.

Think you’re better than them?

What happens when you drive too fast then? In the wrong place, wrong condition, at the wrong time?

People get hurt. And tragically people die.

bbc.com/news/uk-wales-…

Driver distractions. Phones. Social media. In car entertainment.

All distract you from driving. Yes. All of them. And what happens when you are distracted?

People get hurt. And tragically, people die.

wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/19080678.…

OK, so seatbelts. Is ok not to wear them all the time right? It’s only a short journey; just round the corner....

What’s the worst that can happen?

People get hurt. And tragically, people die.

derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-new…

Alright then, well drink and drugs. You know the limits, you wouldn’t drink or take drugs and drive, would you....?

Other people do though.

People get hurt. And tragically, people die.

bbc.com/news/uk-scotla…

Each collision where someone dies costs around £2,000,000 from the public purse.

statista.com/statistics/322…

But the real cost isn’t money....

While this article mentions speed, the real effect is on the officers, the investigators, paramedics, fire fighters & of course friends and family of the person hurt or killed.

thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/nor…

But we are lucky in this country to have officers like @samsparkes999 who turn situations of tragedy into something positive & it makes you a better officer, human, and person.

https://twitter.com/samsparkes999/status/1399828724011372544

So when we give you tickets, fines, points, or prosecute, remember, we don’t want to.

But if it means saving lives - including yours - we will.

So please:

- Slow down.
- Remove the distractions.
- Wear your seatbelt (exemptions tolerated).
- No drink or drugs.

Thank you.

@DurhamPolice @DurhamRPUSC @OpEndurance @CDDFRS @NEAmbulance @CFO_CDDFRS @DurhamCouncil @darlingtonbc @Ex_arv_sgt @NPRoadSafety @DurhamPCC @joy4bishoptown @Joy4Pcc