Drivers: Just have a little patience

Aggressive driving, speeding, dangerous overtaking, not taking the time to look properly at a junction; these behaviours are potentially deadly.

Ahead of the school summer holidays, and the time during which we see the highest number of casualties on Lincolnshire’s roads, Lincolnshire Police and the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership are urging drivers to “have a little patience” – slow down and take care in our county.

In 2022, 48 people lost their lives following a collision in Lincolnshire and a further 391 people were seriously injured. Careless / reckless or in a hurry, failed to look properly and speed were cited as contributory factors in half of all fatal collisions in 2022. 

Our road safety campaign, “have a little patience” warns people of the consequences of unsafe and hurried driving.  

Inspector Jason Baxter, of Lincolnshire Police Specialist Operations, said, “This is the time when people head into or out of Lincolnshire on holiday. We want to make sure you get to your destination. We have 5 ½ thousand miles of road and much of it is single carriageway. This can be frustrating but that pales into insignificance when you compare that to the devastation caused by a fatal or serious collision. The true frustration is that so many people could be spared their grief with just a little more patience on our roads.”

Steve Batchelor, Lincolnshire Road safety Partnership Senior Manager, said, “Lincolnshire is an amazing county to live in and visit and we want everybody that uses the roads to be safe. Throughout the summer months, please remember to be patient, be courteous to others, drive and ride at safe speeds, and be aware of vulnerable road users. We are asking everyone to help make Lincolnshire’s roads safer and to reduce the unacceptable number of people killed and injured every year. Make 2023 the year you ‘have a little patience.’”

Over the summer months we see the greatest harm caused on our roads. Over the last five years, 23.2% of fatal and serious injury collisions happened in July and August, compared to a 76.8% for the other ten months of the year*.

In June, July and August of 2022 there were 8 fatalities and 123 people seriously injured on our roads.

Inspector Baxter continued, “As the school holidays begin, this weekend will see great numbers on our roads. Please plan that journey and allow yourself time to have a little patience. If you are not patient, your vehicle becomes a deadly weapon putting yourself and others at risk. If you are using our roads, it’s time to raise your game.” 

“We want to drive up the standards of visitors and locals alike. Impatient, careless and reckless drivers are not welcome here.”

Demonstrating our commitment to root out drivers who take risks, last week saw a day of action under Operation Excess, our coordinated effort to enforce against fatal five offences, including speeding, careless driving, distraction including mobile phone use, seat belts and drink / drug driving. 66 vehicles were stopped on the A17 and A15 around the Holdingham Roundabout, a location identified as having a high number of serious injury collisions. Operation Excess will continue at other high harm locations throughout the summer and beyond.

If you see dangerous driving in Lincolnshire, you can report it to us and send dash cam footage under Operation Snap. Every submission is viewed and where the footage shows a traffic offence, action is taken. You can report driving offences such as dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop at a red light and crossing solid white lines.

Stay safe on our roads

• Don't use your mobile phone whilst driving – however good a driver you are, texting, looking at your phone, making or receiving a call (even if you are using 'hands free') can distract your attention.
• Put your seatbelt on and make sure all your passengers are using theirs. In a collision, an unbelted passenger in the back can kill or seriously injure a person in the front.
• Don't drive under the influence of drink or drugs. Any alcohol, even a small amount, can impair your driving, as can illegal substances. The likes of cannabis and cocaine can stay in your system for days and even weeks.
• Don’t speed and amend your driving to the conditions. A few miles per hour faster can mean the difference between life and death.
• Avoid distractions. When you are driving, make driving the only thing you are doing – make up, food, mobile phones can wait. If you have children in the car, stop if you need to and have plans in place to keep them occupied.
• Take a break - tiredness can kill. Plan to stop for a break regularly on a long journey.
• Anticipate and observe other road users and use your mirrors regularly.
• Keep your distance from the car in front.
• Only overtake when it is safe and legal to do so.
• Take care at junctions – check, check and check again.
• Know your route – if you are heading off on holiday check the route in advance.
• Ahead of a long journey, make sure your car is roadworthy, topped up with water and check your tyres for pressure and tread depth.

 

*Table 1 - Killed and Seriously Injured Casualties by Month over the last five years, 01/06/2018 to 31/05/2023

Month	All Casualties
Jan	161
Feb	146
Mar	138
Apr	136
May	152
Jun	220
Jul	260
Aug	283
Sep	200
Oct	198
Nov	209
Dec	232