A spate of collisions involving pedestrians has caused police to warn road users

A spate of collisions involving pedestrians in Plymouth is causing concern for officers in Devon and Cornwall. 

Between Sunday, 7 January, and Wednesday, 11 January 2024, Devon and Cornwall Police have attended three collisions involving pedestrians. As a result, one pedestrian sadly lost their life, and two have suffered life-changing injuries and remain being treated at a local Hospital.

Chief Inspector Simon Jenkinson, of the Roads Policing Team at Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Within the last week, officers have attended three serious collisions involving pedestrians in Plymouth.

“Sadly, one of these collisions has resulted in a tragic loss of life which, as you can imagine, has been devastating for the family and friends of the person involved. These people are being supported by specialist officers and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

“The recent collisions in Plymouth have been truly tragic, and we are committed to doing everything we can to prevent others from experiencing similar tragedies.”

Ch/Insp. Jenkinson added: “It’s important to recognise that we all share responsibility for road safety.

“When you are driving, please approach junctions and pedestrian crossings with caution and take extra care to make sure that nobody is crossing the road. Make sure you leave your mobile phone alone, always wear a seatbelt and never drink or take drugs and drive.

“We would also like to urge cyclists and pedestrians to wear bright or reflective clothing during darker hours and to check carefully for nearby cars before turning off or stepping out to cross the road.

“If we all take extra time to look out for other road users, we may be able to prevent collisions and save lives.”

The five main causes of serious injuries and deaths on roads in Devon and Cornwall are:

• Driving at an excessive speed
• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Driving while using a mobile phone
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Careless or inconsiderate driving

Anyone with relevant information or dash camera footage that may assist on-going investigations relating to the three collisions in Plymouth is asked to contact police via the website or by calling 101.