Shock tactics to tackle bad drivers

Drivers will be shown pictures of serious accidents

A police force is turning its back on speed cameras in favour of educating careless drivers about the risks of the road.

Surrey police have developed a novel scheme designed to challenge drivers' behaviour.

If officers see someone driving carelessly or dangerously, they can stop the car and show them a photograph from the new Driver Alert Manual that relates most closely to their own careless driving.

This manual, newly issued to all Surrey traffic officers, contains 12 photographs showing accidents and crashes.

With the new manual we want to start to understand more about people's driving behaviour by speaking to them

Chief Superintendent Bill Harding

Ten of the 12 car accidents involved fatal incidents and all happened in Surrey.

None of the pictures show the victims but they are all graphic illustrations - one shows a motorcycle crash, another shows a smashed car that was driven into the back of a lorry parked on a motorway hard shoulder.

According to the force, research has shown excess speed is only one of a number of factors contributing to accidents.

As a result, Surrey police decided to invest in alerting drivers to the risks of collisions rather than relying on speed cameras.

Persistent offenders will still be prosecuted under the scheme, but Surrey police hope the errant driver will be jolted into thinking about their driving.

Persistent offenders will still be prosecuted

Chief Superintendent Bill Harding developed the Driver Alert Manual scheme drawing on his knowledge gained on a psychology degree course.

He said he wanted to reach the point where people saw poor driving as an anti-social activity.

"With the new manual we want to start to understand more about people's driving behaviour by speaking to them.

"This way we can take more effective and appropriate action to help them change their behaviour."