Almost 200 arrested in road safety campaign fronted by bereaved Sussex mum
Operation Spotlight aims to highlight the causes of fatal collisions on our roads
Last updated 2nd Sep 2024
Nearly 200 arrests have been made across Sussex and Surrey in the space of a month as part of road safety campaign.
More than 2,000 fixed penalty notices were issued across both counties throughout July as part of the national 'Operational Spotlight'.
Officers made 188 arrests, and 170 drivers were reported for summons for driving offences. Meanwhile 697 roadside breath tests were issued and 260 roadside DrugWipe tests were issued to detect offenders who were drink or drug-driving.
The campaign is supported by Maria Dennis, the mother of 11-year-old Harry Dennis, who was tragically killed by a dangerous driver in Hooe in East Sussex in December 2022.
A scaffold board became loose from a lorry after the driver failed to secure it, before striking through the windscreen of the vehicle Harry was travelling in, causing fatal injuries.
Maria said:
"I received a call from my husband that Harry had been in a collision and the air ambulance was on its way.
"My brain froze. I had no idea what had happened. I was in pieces and felt like my whole world had been flipped upside down.
"Harry was a whirlwind, he loved his sport. From the moment he could move he was climbing and jumping off things. He loved being outside, loved seeing his friends and playing football, and he loved to make everyone laugh.
"My message to drivers out there is this, before you get in the car, think about Harry, not just Harry. It happens all too often. There’s far too many families that have been broken by this."
The aim is to highlight the 'fatal five' factors which are considered the main causes of serious injury or fatal collisions on our roads.
These include: dangerous or careless driving, driving while distracted such as by using a mobile phone, drink or drug-driving, driving at excess speed, and not wearing a seatbelt.
July is reported one of the worst months for these collisions on our roads in the UK.
Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit (RPU) Chief Inspector Chris Tinney said,
“The roads are busier due to summer holidays and days out, and with more vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians on the road. It is all the more reason to drive safely and be more vigilant.
“During the campaign we heard the experience of Maria Dennis, who spoke eloquently about the devastating consequences for her family and the ongoing impact of an entirely preventable collision.
“We want to prevent other families having to experience the same heartache."