Fatal Four Road Safety Campaign Takes Place

A month-long campaign aimed at raising awareness of the four main causes of fatal road traffic collisions has taken place in Cleveland. 

Whilst the majority of drivers were found to be obeying road traffic laws; 902 drivers were identified as committing offences throughout the course of April, by carrying out one of the four main causes of serious and fatal traffic collisions - either using a mobile phone whilst driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or not wearing a seatbelt.

Roads Policing Inspector Steve Clyburn, from Cleveland Police Matrix Team, said: “Firstly, I’d like to thank those drivers who do obey traffic laws which are put in place for everyone’s safety, and to help reduce the numbers of fatalities on our roads. 

“The sheer number of drivers who have not obeyed traffic laws shows us that driver behaviour still needs to change; and in roads policing we are committed to continually pushing for that change in attitudes and educating the public so that we can save lives and help prevent serious and fatal road traffic collisions.

“We see all too often the catastrophic consequences of serious collisions, and simple changes to drivers’ behaviour could help us prevent this.

“The fatal four not only put the driver’s life at risk, but also the lives of other road users. Please don’t take these risks and put lives in danger.”

During the campaign, 22 drivers were found to be using a mobile phone whilst driving, 71 drivers were found to be under the influence of drugs, 50 drivers were found to be under the influence of alcohol, 743 drivers were found to be speeding and 16 people were found not wearing a seatbelt – including two children under the age of 14.

In 2023, there were 805 casualties from road traffic collisions in Cleveland; ten of which were fatal and 152 were serious. The fatal four was a contributing factor in the vast majority of these collisions.