Wiltshire Police have responded to an 'epidemic of road incidents' highlighted by a BBC Panorama documentary, contributed to by a lack of officers and speed cameras. 

Britain's Killer Roads? which aired yesterday revealed that Britain's roads 'kill a jumbo jet's worth of people every three months'.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said both he and Wiltshire Police took the issue of safer roads extremely seriously 

He added: “Preventing an accident from happening is key and we will not wait for another family to grieve a loved one lost to a collision involving speed to take action."

There is no 'simple fix' to the issue, according to the PCC, and 'police officers can't be everywhere at all times'.

Below are the measures highlighted in terms of improving road safety in Wiltshire.

Salisbury Journal: Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip WilkinsonWiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson

What is being done to improve road safety in Wiltshire? 

Panorama sent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to all British police forces and found that the road fatality rate has risen by five per cent - the first significant rise in 40 years. 

PCC Philip Wilkinson said that measures to target speeding drivers will be reflected in the new police and crime plan after this was highlighted in his consultations "both on the doorstep and various boards and council meetings". 

He mentioned three measures that are needed, and aim to be delivered in the new plan: 

  1. Intelligence-led targeting of key speeding hotspots
  2. Increased visibility of roads policing officers to provide a deterrent to potential speeding drivers
  3. Increased resourcing in those areas which help that visibility.

How is speeding tackled in Wiltshire? 

Wiltshire's fixed speed cameras were turned off in 2009, a decision made by the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership. 

But according to Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith, since then police have seen a significantly higher level of enforcement on roads.

Last year, more than 1,300 speeding fixed penalty notices were issued to drivers, compared to 989 in 2016, according to police.

Almost 600 speeding cases were put before the court in 2021 compared to 174 in 2016.

Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith said: “Enforcement of the laws in place across our road network continue to be a focus for us as we are all too aware of the devastating consequences speeding can have.

“Although there is a clear correlation between enforcement of speed limits and a reduction in casualties, it is crucial that drivers also educate themselves on the restrictions in place to protect people and the impact their decision-making can have every time they get behind the wheel.

She also appealed directly to drivers, asking if speeding is 'really worth the risk of being involved in a fatal or serious collision'?

Salisbury Journal: Assistant Chief Constable Deb SmithAssistant Chief Constable Deb Smith

Community enforcement officers 

In Wiltshire, a jointly-funded dedicated Community Enforcement Officer uses a mobile speed camera and works alongside Community Speed Watch (CSW) volunteers.

There is 115 CSW teams, made up of 1,000 volunteers, and their job is to help with the identification of speeding hotspots and persistent speeding offenders.

The PCC has also committed investment for two additional Community Enforcement Officers, alongside two further mobile cameras, to bolster these efforts.

Recruitment for those posts is in progress.

Investment into safer Wiltshire roads 

Further investment in Wiltshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit is also part of budget and precept proposals for 2022/ 23, including more resources and a proposed increase in the number of traffic cars.

Mr Wilkinson has pledged an increase to the number of roads policing officers and collision investigators in a bid to continue to improve road safety. 

He hopes this will drive up enforcement and lower drivers’ speeds as a result, as well as ensure serious collisions are able to be investigated promptly.

PCC Wilkinson said: “We need to ensure safer roads for all - where communities can carry on with their lives with the peace of mind of fewer speeding drivers - and Wiltshire Police can ensure strategic enforcement is used to target those hotspots where the intelligence has told us there is an issue.

“Put simply, if you’re an irresponsible driver and continually break speed limits, you will be caught and action taken.”

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