Essex Police launch new initiative to curb rash motoring
The "Extra Eyes" campaign hopes to collect dash cam footage as evidence in cases of dangerous driving
Essex Police, along with Safer Essex Roads Partnership, have launched a new initiative to reduce collisions and casualties on roads.
The Extra Eyes program encourages road users to submit any dash-cam footage they have of dangerous driving so that offenders can be prosecuted.
Adam Pipe is the Head of Roads Policing in Essex.
He says they receive around 300 submissions a month with 58 per cent of the cases leading to positive action taken against the offender.
"With the introduction of dash-cams in vehicles when the public wanted to submit evidence of rash driving, this going back three or four years ago, the police were very hesitant. Slowly we started testing it in court and found that it could lead to a step change in making our roads safer", he said.
They are now urging people who have witnessed dangerous driving incidents and have footage of it, to come forward and submit it to them.
The footage collected will be reviewed by an investigator from the Road Policing team before it is used.
"We want everyone who use roads day-in and day-out to start to be aware of what can go wrong", Mr Pipe added.
He also says the main aim of the initiative is to make the public aware that if someone makes a very serious and dangerous judgement error, that something will be done about it.
There are, however, some caveats involved: The footage must be unedited, clear and in focus; Footage of the incident must be submitted within 48 hours since it occurred; and the person recording the evidence must be willing to attend court to give evidence.
When asked if this last point would cause any hesitation among people to submit evidence, Mr. Pipe says that it may occasionally happen.
He quickly assuages any concern by saying that the witness will be clearly informed when submitting evidence if they have to attend court, which happens quite infrequently.
"The overwhelming evidence from the pictures means that this very rarely happens", he says.
Police are also encouraging people most at-risk on the road like cyclists, motor-cyclists and horse-riders to submit footage they may have collected.
Mr. Pipe said:
"These are the people who are most vulnerable on roads, especially on our rural roads."
This effort is also part of a long-term plan to make roads safer. "Ultimately we want to work towards Vision Zero, that is 0 deaths and 0 serious incidents on the road by 2040."
Footage can be submitted online.