Police research directs enforcement effort.

The Joint Roads Policing Unit of Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary recently commissioned TRL to evaluate the effectiveness of their roads policing strategy in terms of reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured in road collisions. The focus was on the fatal four causes of collisions: speeding, drink-driving, not wearing a seat belt and drivers using mobile phones.

This research estimated the non-compliance levels for each of the fatal four and estimated the numbers of lives that could be saved with increased compliance. The research evidence resulted in a series of recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their current strategy. These recommendations will be of interest to all forces and many road safety practitioners.