ROAD policing officers joined forces with their counterparts across Europe to take part in road safety campaign.

Officers from the Essex Police Casualty Reduction Unit worked with their partners at the Safer Essex Roads Partnership to take part in Project EDWARD – an initiative launched by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, aimed at making September 21, 2016 the first European Day Without A Road Death.

Officers set up three road checks across Essex, between 7am and 3pm, to detect traffic offences, educate drivers of the importance of driving within the law and encourage them to reflect on their behaviour.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology (ANPR) was used to identify suspect vehicles which were then taken to stop-check sites on Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, the Moto Services just off the M25 in Thurrock and Southchurch Road, Southend.

A number of offences were found during the operation: A 23-year-old man from Rainham, Kent was arrested on suspicion of drug driving in Thurrock just before 3pm after officers stopped the van in which he was travelling.

He has been released on bail pending further enquiries until October 31, 2016. A passenger in the van was also issued a warning for cannabis possession.

Five vehicles were seized because their drivers were found not to have appropriate insurance and another five were found not to have a valid MOT.

One hundred people were dealt with for not wearing a seatbelt and 41 were spotted using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

One driver was dealt with for speeding whilst five were pulled over for driving carelessly.

Two vehicles were found to be over the legal weight limit and fines totalling £600 handed to their drivers. A further two drivers were dealt with for not being in proper control of their vehicles and two were issued with vehicle defect rectification notices.

Unfortunately there was one fatal collision in Essex on the day of the operation.

A motorcyclist in his 50s sadly died following a collision involving a Citroen C3 on Stanford Road, Orsett just before 3.30pm.

A 61-year-old man from Grays was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on bail until February 28, 2017 pending further enquiries.

Sgt David Rudd from the Casualty Reduction Unit, said on behalf of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership.

He added: "The partnership chose to support Project Edward as part of our commitment to improving safety on the roads of Essex. Sadly fatal and serious injury collisions do happen but we are doing our best to reduce them.

"One of the ways in which we aim to do this is to try and educate road users about their driving behaviour and encourage them to reflect on the possible risks.

"Driver behaviour and the behaviour of other road users are the most important barriers to road safety." 

Sgt Rudd said that many either do not realise or refuse to understand that behaviours such as speeding, drink driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, using a mobile phone behind the wheel and driving carelessly put other road users at risk.

He added: "Unfortunately there was a fatal collision in Essex on the day of Project EDWARD and my thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the motorcyclist who died.

"We remain passionate about what we do and will continue to work to make the roads of Essex a safer place for everyone who uses them.”