Launch of Christmas safe driving campaign

Promoted by the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP), the launch triggers a package of road safety messages aimed at improving road safety over the festive period.

Over the past three years, drink driving has been the cause of one-in-five road fatalities in Sussex during December and January.

This diverse and highly visible campaign will run across the region throughout November and December and Sussex Police Road Policing Unit will reinforce the campaign with high profile road checks over the festive period.

The Heathfield event, which runs from 10am-2pm, will warn of the dangers of drink-driving whilst highlighting the misuse of mobile phones at the wheel, speeding and the non-wearing of seatbelts. Attendees will be able to experience the benefit of a seatbelt through the use of a sliding sledge which simulates the point of impact in a 15mph collision.

The event will run alongside National Road Safety Week, November 10-16, and members of the public are invited to come along to meet and ask questions of the team from Heathfield Fire Station, the SSRP and local Police Community Support Officers.

Similar events will take place in Chichester on Monday November 17, and Brighton and Hove on Saturday December 6. The campaign will also feature prominently in communities including Worthing, Shoreham, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath, Horsham and Crawley.