Footage of fatal A11 collision released as Norfolk County Council launches Stay Focused campaign

Footage of a fatal collision on the A11 has been released as part of a campaign to show the importance of staying focused on the county’s roads.

Tony Skerratt died on February 26, 2019, when he was the passenger of a HGV, which collided with two stationary vehicles on the A11, near Attleborough, which were being used to collect litter. He was 44.

In support of Norfolk County Council’s new Stay Focused campaign and with consent from Tony’s family, Norfolk Police have released some of the footage of the collision.

Tony’s sister Jacine said: “We really want drivers to know how, in that moment, you are not paying attention behind the wheel, and you are unaware of your surroundings.

“These crashes happen. We want people to know how the loss of a loved one makes such a massive impact on a whole family. We look at Tony’s picture on the wall and just keep thinking he should be here with us. I am lost for words for how it makes me feel watching my mum and dad grow older without Tony and how this affected them both so much, the loss of their baby boy, and how much it continues to affect them.

“Tony was also a dad to his daughters, Rachael, Ruby and Millie and he is not here to watch them as they move through life, and grandchildren who are with us now that he will never get to meet.”

The driver of the vehicle, a friend of Tony’s, had been distracted at the time of the collision as he attempted to set up and use the vehicle’s cruise control function.

He pleaded guilty to death by careless driving and was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 21 months.

He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and was disqualified from driving for 30 months.

The highway maintenance workers - employed by a contractor on behalf of a local authority - were acquitted in court by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving.

Their employer was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.

Following this investigation, Serco Ltd was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court in 2023 for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act. They were fined £240,000 and made to pay costs of £37,000.

Following the end of all court proceedings, his family asked Norfolk Police to share clips of the collision to highlight the devastating impact distracted driving can have and how important driver focus is for avoiding serious collisions.

The Stay Focused campaign aims to influence driver behaviour and improve driver related road safety incidents as recent figures revealed that 75 per cent of all driver related traffic incidents are caused by some form of driver distraction in Norfolk.

The county’s road safety team has produced comprehensive guidance and tips on how drivers can stay focused while driving. You can access the ‘Stay Focused’ toolkit here.

Chief inspector Vicky McParland said: “Driving whilst distracted can have devastating consequences and is as destructive as drink/drug driving.

“You may think you’re only changing a song, inputting a destination into your sat-nav or sending a quick text while driving, but our officers witness the deadly impact it can have on a daily basis.

“Ultimately, the road situation in front of you can change within seconds and you will not be able to react quickly enough to prevent a collision, that could destroy your or another’s life.

“We have a shared responsibility to keep everyone safe on Norfolk’s roads. Making sure that you are not distracted forms a small part of this.”