New partnership aims to reduce
road deaths to zero

A new partnership has been launched in Essex with the aim of reducing deaths and injuries on the county’s roads to zero.
An official event was held yesterday in Chelmsford to mark the launch of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP).
SERP comprises Essex County Council Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Thurrock Council, Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue Service, Highways England and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust.
Hundreds of supporters and partnership members attended the event, with special guests including Viscount Simon, who has campaigned for road safety during his 22 years in the House of Lords.
The event also saw the launch of the partnership’s ‘Small Changes’ pledge, which urged attendees to consider how they and their organisation could make a difference to road safety in Essex and beyond.
Partnership chairman Nicola Foster said: “We hope to recruit more partners, people and organisations to work with us towards a vision of zero deaths and serious injuries on Essex roads.
“The vision is aspirational but one we believe can be achieved together.
“We are also launching the small changes pledge. It is everybody’s responsibility to make sure everyone using the road makes it home safely.
“We believe if everyone makes a small improvement to in their driving, riding or walking behaviour, collectively it could make a large change to the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on the roads.”
A number of key partnership vehicles were present at the launch as well as a visit from one of the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance helicopters.