Pay fine or learn about unsafe driving

Drivers pulled over for offences on the A259 from Little Common Road to King Offa Way were given the choice of paying a fine or spending time finding out the real consequences of their actions - by talking to fire crews, looking at photographs and watching films showing the impact of unsafe driving.

Approximately 50 motorists chose to learn about safer driving during the three hour operation on Sunday.

Mani Gilbert-King, Borough Commander for Rother, led the partnership project on the side of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Services.

She said: "It is about looking at the 'fatal four' '“ speeding, not wearing seat belts, using mobile phones, and drink driving.

"Predominantly today we were focusing on seatbelts, mobile phones and speeding.

"Working alongside the police who were dealing with enforcement, we were able to offer the chance for motorists to either accept the penalty of the offence, or choose to come and have a chat with us at the station.

"We ran the event from 10-1pm and within that timeframe we had 50 people come who elected to talk to us for one of those three offences.

"So we have been talking about our own experiences as far as fire fighters attending road traffic collisions, trying to raise people's awareness of the dangers of speeding, not wearing a seatbelt or using mobile phones, and really get them to understand what it is all about and who that affects.

"We have had some statistics, we used photographs and gave the visual impact to people and we also offered motorists the opportunity to watch a very short dvd.

"I have to say between 90-95 percent of people watched that dvd today which is quite gratifying. It is not designed to frighten them but to sow a seed, and make people think about being safer in their cars."

The drivers who chose to take part in the campaign were asked afterwards for their views on the experience.

One commented: "I think this was a great idea and from this I will always wear my seatbelt", while others said: "A good idea...It made people watch and think about their action, "Excellent to see the fire service and police working together," and "very thought provoking".

Eleven fire officers from the Bexhill station took part in the event joined by two from Battle, while eight Sussex Police officers also were on hand to talk to the public.

Mani said: As fire and rescue services we rescue people on the roads. We don't want to be turning up to these incidents '“ it is traumatic for the people in the vehicles but it also has an effect on the fire fighters and crews responding.

"We are really just trying to raise awareness and trying to get people to take responsibility and drive safely...We are not here to judge anybody, we were just here to offer some advice and to be available for drivers to choose and come to talk to us today."