August 17, 2022 12.01 am This story is over 19 months old

‘Be patient’: Police plea as 45 killed on Lincolnshire’s roads last year

Police launch the ‘Just have a little patience’ campaign

Marc Gee, Inspector for Lincolnshire Police's Roads Policing Unit. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincolnshire Police have today launched a new road safety campaign to warn people of the consequences of speeding and try to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the county’s roads.

The ‘Just have a little patience’ campaign begins today, 17 August, on the anniversary of the UK’s first ever road death in 1896.

Over the last year 45 people have been killed on Lincolnshire’s roads, and a further 450 have been seriously injured.

James Kirk, Detective Inspector in SCIU (Serious Collision Investigation Unit), said: “In the last year we’ve had nearly 500 families whose lives have been devastated by the impact of road collisions.

“Our officers have to knock on the door and deliver that news to tell someone’s child, parent, partner, brother, or sister that their lives will be changed forever. I cannot put into words the impact this has on not only the family but on friends, work colleagues and the local community.”

The majority of road traffic collisions are preventable. The main causes of collisions include being in a hurry, failing to look properly, and aggressive driving. All of these factors are intensified by speed.

Marc Gee, Inspector at Lincolnshire Police’s RPU (Roads Policing Unit), said: “This campaign is aimed at improving the driving standards of everyone in the county, as we often see serious road traffic collisions caused by impatience and poor driving.

“If only people could ‘just have a little patience’ a significant number of collisions would be prevented. People should realise that a risky overtake might only take seconds off their journey. At this time of year we see lots of slower agricultural vehicles around the county so please be patient and drive with care.”

Marc Jones, Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “We have introduced a new roads policing team, launched Operation Snap to encourage residents to send us dashcam footage of dangerous driving and invested in cutting edge on-board cameras for our police cars.

“But despite these efforts there is no substitute for careful driving, good road sense and patience on our roads. Please be careful. A car can be a dangerous weapon if it is used carelessly.”

Run in partnership with the Lincolnshire Roads Safety Partnership (LRSP), the new campaign will see motorists across the county displaying the ‘Just have a little patience’ bumper stickers on the back of their vehicles.

These stickers can be picked up from the following police stations across the county.

  • Birchwood
  • Boston
  • Gainsborough
  • Grantham
  • Horncastle
  • Louth
  • Mablethorpe
  • Market Rasen
  • Skegness
  • Sleaford
  • South Park
  • Spalding
  • Stamford