Officers attending some of the most serious on Wiltshire's roads say they are receiving abuse from impatient motorists. Sgt Rich Hatch of the Roads Policing Unit and his team of nine officers investigate the majority of fatal and life-debilitating injury collisions which happen in Wiltshire. He has said that one of the biggest frustrations of the team is often the hostility shown towards them at the scenes of road closures following such incidents.
During his many years policing our roads, Sgt Hatch said the team can often be disappointed in the lack of respect shown by drivers towards their fellow road users. He said: “Whilst we appreciate that there are enormous pressures placed on people in the UK, and the roads are very congested, it seems that a lot of drivers have forgotten to be nice. "Let people out of junctions safely, or give room to pedal cyclists and motorbikes, wait for that pedestrian to cross, even if the light is green for you, these people are entitled to be on the roads and are amongst the most vulnerable of road users we have.
“Many drivers seem to treat these users as an inconvenience rather than a hazard. We must all remember that one small mistake can lead very quickly to the death of another and this is life-changing for both parties involved." Sgt Hatch explained why closures can often be in place for several hours: “When a fatality is confirmed, we will deploy from Police Headquarters to the scene and begin the investigation process.
“The scen.