Warning after nine people die on Thames Valley roads in May

The series of tragic events has prompted the force to urge drivers to take greater care. 

The nine fatal incidents were dealt with by the force's road policing unit which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

In just 19 days between May 9 and 28, nine people lost their lives including 23-year-old Alisha Saeed, from Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, and motorist Matthew Marriage, 24.

Police said it is suspected that the 'fatal four' offences - excessive speed, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and drink/drug driving - were involved in the vast majority of incidents.

These offences are the leading causes of serious injury and death on UK roads.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Bettington, of the roads policing unit, said: “We need the public to slow down, wear their seatbelts, not use their phones and not drink/drug drive.

“This is the case every day but we’re noticing the impact more so as we reach the warmer months.

“Roads Policing is experiencing a high level of work at this time through needless, tragic collisions that could all have been avoided."

On May 9, a woman in her 70’s died in a crash near Banbury when her Mazda MX-5 collided with a Vauxhall Corsa on the A361.

A few days later on May 12, a man in his 30s died when his car swerved off the road and hit a tree on the A391 between Chipping Norton and Banbury.

On May 15, a man in his 70s was killed after being knocked down by a car on Reading Road in Wokingham.

On the same day, motorcyclist Matthew Marriage, 24, died in hospital after his motorbike was hit by a car in Oxfordshire.

Alisha Saeed, 23, died in a crash on the M40 motorway on Monday, May 22, which saw four people arrested.

Paying heartfelt tribute to the beloved daughter and sister, her family said "her absence will be deeply felt by all who knew her". 

Detective Chief Inspector Bettington added: “Our family liaison officers are working with families to help bring them answers as to how and why their loved ones died on our roads.

“Where we have the evidence, we will be prosecuting drivers for offences of death by careless or death by dangerous driving which can receive a maximum of 14 years in prison. 

“Everyone wants to enjoy the good weather of the summer months and this usually brings a greater volume and mix of vehicles onto our roads.

“I need people to take more time for their journeys, plan ahead, nominate a designated driver, make sure everyone in their vehicle is wearing a seatbelt and not to use phones while driving.

“Any one of these offences can and tragically do lead to loss of life on our roads and unless all of the public adhere to these basics we will continue to suffer needless fatalities.”