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Hotline a success for reporting bad drivers

14/09/07

Drivers in Sussex potentially looking to keep their car insurance premiums intact have made use of a new hotline through which they can report dangerous drivers, making the recently-introduced initiative a roaring success.

The phoneline and an supplementary website were set up on August 28th this year to allow drivers to let police know about other motorists who behave badly or illegally behind the wheel, the Argus reports.

Since it was established, the hotline has generated nearly 200 calls, prompting local police to voice their surprise.

Head of the Sussex Police Road Policing Unit Superintendent Paul Morrison said that he had not thought the initiative would be so successful.

"We didn't realise how productive it would be. Operation Crackdown will play a key part in reducing the numbers killed and seriously injured on the road. It is about risk management," he stated.

The superintendent added that officers were hoping to educate motorists of the perils of inappropriate driving before it gets to the stage where they receive a fine or lose their licence.

"Normally we pick up the pieces after an accident. It would be nice if we could prevent some of those from happening," he concluded.

Among the incidents reported were 63 cases of dangerous driving, 37 reports of drivers using their mobile phones at the wheel and 36 cases involving speeding - which could impact upon a car insurance premium should a driver be convicted for the offence.

Last year, Sussex saw 2,188 collisions involving drivers and passengers take place, compared with 2,552 in 2000, according to official figures.

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