Drones and Unmarked Vehicles Will Seek Out ‘Fatal Five’ Offences on Surrey’s Roads

Published on: 2 Mar, 2022
Updated on: 2 Mar, 2022

Police Drone Demonstration Photo John Giles

By Julie Armstrong

local democracy reporter

A new Surrey policing team will be dedicated to cutting the driving offences that most lead to death on the county’s roads.

The fatal five offences – careless driving, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and speeding – are the main factors that cause serious road traffic collisions, Surrey Police have said.

A view from an unmarked police HGV “supercab”. Ahead a driver has been stopped on the hard shoulder.

Covert activity in the new enforcement team will include unmarked motorbikes, cars, lorries, vans and drones.

Sergeant Dan Pascoe said: “This new team will help to reduce dangerous and distracted driving on our roads by primarily targeting those users who are committing the fatal five offences.

“Together we will aim to make the roads of Surrey safer for everyone who uses them.”

In 2020, 28 people were killed and 571 people seriously injured on Surrey roads and the Vanguard Road Safety Team aims to reduce this number.

Surrey Police is recruiting internally now and the team is expected to get underway in June, with two sergeants and ten constables supported by a researcher and communications officer.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said she was “really excited” to see it forming.

She said: “Improving safety on Surrey’s roads is a key priority of my Police and Crime Plan for the next three years, which is based on the feedback I’ve received from residents.”

Vanguard will sit separately to but work in conjunction with the Roads Policing Unit and is funded by Surrey Police’s council tax increase for Surrey residents in 2021/22.

Their equipment and vehicle costs will be funded by the Surrey Safety Camera Partnership.