Arundel residents urged to report poor driving

Drivers and residents in Arundel are being urged to help police keep the roads safer after a series of accidents near the town.

 

The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and Sussex Police's joint initiative, Operation Crackdown, exists to make the roads safer and give local people a chance to report anti-social driving.

 

The initiative was launched in 2007 but Operation Crackdown has seen a steady rise in the number of reported incidences of poor or dangerous driving – and abandoned vehicles. About 900 calls are received every month.

 

Last month saw the death of a 19-year-old man on the A27 at Arundel after a car and a lorry collided on the stretch between Arundel railway station and Crossbush. The teenager, who was from Horsham, was released by the fire service and received immediate medical treatment but died at the scene.

 

The A27 was closed in both directions at that point and there were huge tailbacks because of the crash.

 

The police are urging Arundel people to continue to report serious dangerous driving to emergency services on 999, but to ring Operation Crackdown on 01243 642222 if they witness anti-social driving.

 

Anti-social driving includes speeding, a driver using a mobile phone, driver or passengers not wearing a seat belt, and careless or aggressive driving.