Andy's on a mission to cut UK's annual death toll on the roads - The Evesham Observer

Andy's on a mission to cut UK's annual death toll on the roads

Evesham Editorial 10th May, 2022 Updated: 10th May, 2022   0

POLICE officers in Warwickshire and West Mercia are joining a major national campaign designed to tackle the UK’s road death endemic will kick off later this month, bringing together police, victims’ families and celebrities.

The RoadPeace Andy Cox Challenge 2022 aims to drive home the message that a staggering five people die and more than 60 are seriously injured, on average, every single day on the UK’s roads.

Spearheaded by Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Cox, head of crime at Lincolnshire Police, the campaign will take place between May 16-22 and will be supported by around half of the UK’s police forces.

Throughout the week, Det Chief Supt Cox will cycle and run 30 miles a day, travelling across the UK on routes where fatal and serious road collisions have occurred, joined by a variety of supporters along the way.




The event will raise vital funds for RoadPeace, the road victims’ charity, but crucially it will aim to get the public talking about road deaths and the devastation they cause to families and communities every day.

Throughout the challenge he’ll call upon society, government, vehicle manufacturers and others to give the prevention of road crime the priority it deserves, in order to reduce the number of needless deaths and injuries – which have remained largely unchanged for the last decade.


Det Chief Supt Cox said: “More people die on the UK’s roads than through murder and terrorism combined, so it’s time for us all to start taking road danger as seriously.

“Roads policing is a challenging job and all too often we are the ones dealing with the devastating and horrific consequences of dangerous, reckless and selfish drivers.

“We are very much on the side of bereaved families and safe and sensible drivers.”

West Mercia Police will be supporting the campaign with a spin bike challenge for staff and officers at three police sites across West Mercia during May 16-22.

Chief officers, PCC John Campion, serving officers and staff have already signed up to the challenge, along with chief officers from Hereford Fire & Rescue Service. The aim will be to cover the same mileage as the 495 mile circumference of West Mercia.

RoadPeace supporter Ciara Lee, whose husband Eddy was killed in 2018 after a van driver ploughed into his motorcycle on the M4, said: “Two groups that know the cruelty and devastation caused by road crime are the bereaved and the police.

“Both witness in horrendous detail the unnecessary damage caused, particularly to innocent lives taken prematurely.

“This event is hugely significant, with police forces and impacted families uniting. It sends a very clear message that both groups have had enough of needless tragedy and are determined to save lives in the future.”

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