Sevenoaks Road Safety Campaign

As part of a countywide campaign to highlight road safety near schools, officers in West Kent carried out operations at key locations targeting speeding vehicles and other motoring offences including using a mobile phone while driving. They also visited schools to promote road safety with the young people, and as well as distributing leaflets about road safety, they asked motorists and pedestrians to complete a questionnaire. Countywide, the survey showed that those questioned said that the campaign increased their confidence that police are taking road safety seriously.

On 3 February the officers were in the Sevenoaks district where they visited two schools – Swanley Technology College and New Ash Green Primary School. They also carried out road checks on the A25 at Seal and the A20 London Road, Sevenoaks.

On 4 February they were in Tunbridge Wells visiting Sherwood Park Community Primary School and Rusthall Primary, and they carried out road checks in the St John’s Road and High Brooms area.

On Friday 5 February in Tonbridge and Malling they visited Snodland Primary School and Hillview School for Girls, Tonbridge and also carried out road checks in nearby locations.

In the Sevenoaks district 105 vehicles were stopped. Two motorists were advised about their speed. Eighteen offences of not wearing a seatbelt were dealt with, three drivers were dealt with for using a mobile phone while driving and six minor vehicle defects were noted.

In Tonbridge and Malling 110 vehicles were stopped. One motorist was given a fixed penalty notice for excess speed and another was warned. Thirteen offences of not wearing a seatbelt were dealt with and thirteen drivers were warned about the roadworthiness of their vehicles.

In Tunbridge Wells the checks took place just a day after a young boy had been injured in a road traffic incident in Powder Mill Lane. Only one person was found to be speeding and the principles of restorative justice were used to deal with the incident. As a result the motorist stated she would be donating the amount she would have paid as a fine for her offence to charity. There were 28 adult seatbelt offences noted and 14 child seatbelt offences. Two drivers were using their mobile phone and motorists were advised to rectify 20 vehicle defects. Neighbourhood officer Insp Simon Wilshaw said: ‘Overall the operation showed the effectiveness of partnership working in addressing a matter of significance to the public and partners alike. It is also testament to how law abiding the vast majority of the public in Tunbridge Wells are given the low numbers of offences that were identified.’

Police from the roads policing department were joined by neighbourhood policing teams, Kent County Council wardens and local authority civil enforcement officers for the campaign.