Safer Driving

Did you know?

95% of all collisions are caused by human error.
1 in 5 new drivers will have a crash within their first six months of driving.
Road crashes are the biggest single killer of young people in the UK.

There are a number of things that you should consider, check, and prepare before heading out on a journey of any length:

Before going on any long journey make sure your vehicle is in good condition.
Plan your route in advance, using main roads as far as possible.
Make sure you have enough money and petrol. It is also worth carrying an appropriate petrol can.
Listen to local weather forecasts and adjust your driving as necessary. Snow, rain, or fog brings about different and difficult driving conditions.
Carry some change to make a public telephone call if you need to and if possible carry a mobile phone with sufficient credit on it to ring for help.
Keep your doors locked when driving in town and keep valuables away from open windows.
After dark, always park in a well-lit, busy area.
When you come back to your car have your key ready and check there is no one in the car.

Educational Courses

We offer various courses for drivers and riders to help reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

Both Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils offer a scheme for older drivers (60+) to have their driving skills assessed. In Suffolk this is called Grand Driver Scheme.

Safe Rider Scheme

Safe Rider is a joint initiative between Suffolk and Norfolk Constabularies which aims to reduce motorcycle casualties.

Our workshops are run over two days and are aimed at all fully qualified riders from post test novices to experienced riders who want to improve their skills to become better and safer riders. The sessions are relaxed and informal:

The underlying message of our workshops is that education is the key, not enforcement.
In a conflict free environment, riders will be introduced to the police roadcraft system - the corner stone of police riding.
The workshop provides individuals with professional advice and confirms their strengths and identifies their weaknesses as a rider.
During the road session you will receive a demonstration ride by a police rider and there will be an opportunity to have your riding assessed with written feedback.

The two-day workshop is aimed at riders living in Suffolk and is run with the support of:

Bowers Motorcycles
Copdock Classic Motorcycle Club
Lings
Orwells Motorcycles
Suffolk Roadsafe

Course information

The course costs £50 per person and is held at Police Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich.

It starts on a Friday at 7pm with classroom sessions on the system of road craft, with particular attention given to positioning and cornering.

The next morning, you’ll go on an escorted ride out session with a class one police motorcyclist. A maximum 3:1 ratio ensures an accurate and personalised assessment of your riding performance, which will be explained to you at the end of the session.

This is followed by a light lunch which is included in the cost, and an informative classroom session on first aid will bring the workshop to an end.

Further details

If you would like to register for a course, call Hayley Batterham on (01473) 613730 or Kevin Stark on (01473) 613888 Ext 3395 or email: [email protected].

Drivewise

DriveWise is a road safety presentation aimed at young drivers in Suffolk. The aim of the presentation, which includes videos, slides and interactive voting, is to make people aware of the consequences of dangerous driving.

1 in 3 of all people killed on Suffolk roads in 2015 were aged between 16 and 24. We hope the presentations may go some way to help reduce the casualties within this higher-risk driving group.

Suffolk police would like to hold DriveWise sessions for young people across Suffolk and deliver this important message to as many people as possible. The sessions have been run in schools throughout the county – with a lot of positive feedback from those involved.

If your school or organisation is interested please get in touch with your local SNT here.

Please include your name and contact details and which organisation you represent.

Please note we will only be able to hold a session if we have sufficient interest.

Be Blue Light Aware

Blue Light Aware is a short video, produced on behalf of the emergency services. Their crews rely on the help of other road users when they're on a 'blue light' journey.

By watching Blue Light Aware, you will better understand their needs, you will be reducing the risks you face, you will be contributing to a safer road environment and you might also be helping to save a life.

Blue Light Aware Video