Operation Road Runner

In 2012 the States of Jersey Police, the Honorary Police and Transport and Technical Services launched a road safety initiative called 'Operation Road Runner'. The campaign looks at a range of road safety issues, focusing on the ‘Fatal Four’:

• excessive and inappropriate speed
• drink driving
• mobile phone use
• seatbelts

The police consider these four issues key to ensuring the safety of Islanders on our roads.

However the campaign is not all about enforcement; police officers are keen to change driver behaviour by means of education to help them stay safe when out driving.

Because of the large numbers of drivers caught engaging in these dangerous driving behaviours the initiative is continuing in 2013.

Excessive and inappropriate speed 

Why are we focusing on drivers who speed?

Speed is a key factor in every road collision. The faster someone is travelling, the worse a crash is likely to be, the worse any injuries are likely to be and the more chance there is of someone being killed.

The police believe that by getting drivers to ease up on the speed, keep within prescribed limits and drive sensibly this will reduce injury crashes.

Background

Speeding also means a driver has less time to react to a danger and increases the stopping distance it will take to stop their vehicle.

In 2011, the police reported 877 drivers for breaking the speed limit. In 2012 that went up to 1,341.

Almost a third of the speeding offences are committed by men who are under 25.  Therefore unsurprisingly, the under 25s are also disproportionately represented in the casualty statistics in Jersey.

The police not only want drivers to drive within the speed limit but also within their capabilities and at a speed that is appropriate for the conditions.

Inappropriate speed

Unfortunately, motorists often do not adjust their speed or the gap between them and the vehicle in front when it rains. It’s no coincidence the police receive more calls to crashes when the weather is wet. The advice is that you must double the gap you would normally have between you and the vehicle in front of you when it rains (2 seconds in dry weather and 4 seconds in wet weather, assuming you have good tyres and well maintained braking system) and ease up on your speed.

It’s not just wet weather where inappropriate speed can be an issue; motorists should be slowing down near schools, residential areas and when approaching busy junctions.

Drink driving

Why are we focusing on drink drivers?

Of the 364 people injured in Jersey during 2011, 46 of these drivers were found to be driving whilst over the prescribed limit.  In 2012 that number dropped to 185.

The police believe that by focusing on drink drivers they can reduce the numbers injured on our roads.

Background

Drinking even a small amount of alcohol is known and has been proven to adversely affect our driving ability.

• reaction time is significantly reduced
• judgement can be seriously impaired
• levels of confidence increased where we are more likely to try and do things whilst driving that we wouldn’t normally do
• emotions are magnified that may make us drive more erratically 

All of these changes affect a person’s driving ability in an adverse way.

Each person’s physical make up is a little different, and we process alcohol at different rates. It isn’t possible to tell how much alcohol it will take for you to be over the limit and just as difficult to know when you have burnt off sufficient alcohol to be safe to drive.

The advice has always been and remains:

If you intend to drink, then don’t drive - leave the car at home.

If you have consumed a large amount of alcohol the previous night before, it is always wise the next morning to get a lift from a friend, take the bus or get a taxi to work. It can be very surprising how long it takes for a person to be alcohol free from the night before and therefore safe to drive.

Mobile phones

Why are we focusing on people using mobile phones?

Much research has now been undertaken on the use of mobile phones for talking or texting whilst driving. The research is overwhelming that driving is seriously impaired if you drive and try and text or talk on a mobile phone.  Even if you are a really skilled driver, your driving will be impaired.

The police believe that by reducing the amount of drivers who use their phone, road safety will improve and road users will stay safe.

Background

The stark facts are as follows:

• you are 4 times more likely to crash if you are using a mobile phone
• reaction times are around 50% slower than a driver not using a mobile phone
• drivers have more difficulty maintaining lane discipline, a constant speed and have more difficulty maintaining a safe gap between themselves and other vehicles ahead

During 2011 406 drivers were reported by police officers for using their mobile phone whilst driving. In 2012 that rose to 457.

Seatbelts

Why are we focusing on people not wearing their seatbelt?

There is a huge body of research and statistical evidence that proves that wearing a seatbelt can reduce the number of those who are killed and seriously injured in collisions.
 
Unfortunately there are still a small number of people who forget to wear their seat belt in the front and a significant number who are not wearing their belt in the back of cars.

The police believe that an important factor in maintaining low rates of death and serious injury on our roads is by ensuring as many people as possible wear their seatbelts properly in the front and back of cars and children are properly secured in appropriate restraints.

Background

During 2011 383 people were reported for not wearing their seatbelt, in 2012 that went up to 505. Anyone not wearing a seat belt in a 40 mph crash will suffer serious injury, 80% will die.

In Jersey, it became law in 1985 for all those in front seats of cars to wear a seat belt.  It then became law in 2009 for everyone in the rear of a vehicle to wear a seatbelt unless exempt.

In 1994, the then head of the Driver & Vehicle Standards Department, Brian Rondel, commented in his report to the then Defence Committee:

“There is no doubt that this has considerably reduced the number of severe injuries to front seat passengers.”

Wear it correctly

It is not only important to wear a seat belt when in a vehicle, but just as important to wear it correctly.

The belt must be adjusted so there is no undue slack or twists in the belt.  The lap part of the belt must lie across the lap (not the stomach).  The diagonal part should pass from the shoulder (not the neck) down to the breast bone and then the hip bone.

Pregnant women

Make sure there is no undue slack or twists in the belt.  The lap part of the belt should lie across the lap and under the bump.  The diagonal part of the belt should pass from the shoulder (not neck) between the breasts and around the baby bump to the hip.

Children

Children should always be in an appropriate child restraint, correctly fitted and adjusted when travelling in a car.  If you need help with this, you can call the Road Safety Officer for advice and help.

Tel: +44 (0)1534 612222

New legislation is in progress to bring Jersey’s child seat regulations into line with European jurisdictions.

Even though it is not presently a legal requirement to keep a child under 12 who is less than 1.35m in height in a booster seat, we would strongly recommend you do so to ensure the maximum safety for your child.

Below is a table that outlines the present legal requirements for the wearing of seatbelts in Jersey.

For more detailed information about carrying children in the car you can visit the Child Accident Prevention (CAP) website.

Jersey Child Accident Prevention website