Striking lorry wrap will work to drive home Life is Precious message

A road safety campaign highlighting the fatal consequences of the ‘Fatal Four’ driving offences will be visible across the UK thanks to a Durham haulage firm.

Family-run Katem Logistics Ltd, based in Bowburn, Durham, has offered its full support to the ‘Life is Precious’ campaign to raise awareness of the deadly impact of using a handheld mobile phone while driving.

The firm teamed up with campaign founder Mari Johnson, Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen and Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Alan Strickland today to unveil a specially commissioned trailer wrap promoting the ‘Life is Precious’ branding to help spread the message on the UK’s roads.

Mari Johnson said: “I am forever grateful of the work that the police are continuing to do and to the haulage company who are promoting this and saving lives.

“Losing my mam and dad was and still is devastating and I don’t like talking about it but unfortunately I know I have to because people are still driving around using their phones and thinking it’s ok.

“We need to make our roads safer and save lives so people don’t have to get the awful news I did so I will continue to work with the police to get that message out there.”

The ‘Life is Precious’ campaign, which targets the Fatal Four causes of accidents (mobile phone use, seatbelts,drink/drug driving and speeding), was created by Mari following the death of her mother, Elaine Sullivan, and stepfather, David Daglish, from Seaham, on the A1 (M) in 2021 after a lorry driver ploughed into their vehicle. The driver, who had been using his mobile phone repeatedly and right up until the collision, was unhurt and later sentenced to eight years and ten months in prison.

Joy Allen, who holds the Roads Policing portfolio on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), lobbies nationally for safety improvements on the UK’s roads, has pledged her full backing to Mari’s campaign.

The PCC is pressing ahead with her Police, Crime and Justice Plan commitments to expand workplace substance management in organisations across the force area, and in her own office and the force, and commission workplace drug and alcohol testing.

Katem already tests all staff – from drivers through to directors – for the presence of alcohol or drugs in their systems and are determined to lead the way in alcohol and drug safety in the workplace by helping the PCC roll out drug and alcohol testing across logistic companies across the Durham force area.  

Matty Chaganis, Katem Director, said: “This trailer will be seen on roads across the UK as part of our national operations, sending a powerful message to all road users about the importance of safe driving habits.

“Safety is a core pillar of our business and we are committed not only to the welfare of our own drivers but to promoting safety throughout the wider community.  It’s in everyone’s interest and I hope the image of this trailer stays with people for a long time.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “Driving dangerously – whether though speeding, drink or drugs, using a mobile phone or some other means – claims lives, and irreparably ruins others.

“We can police our roads all day long, but regrettably this still won’t stop every reckless driver from taking fatal risks – or indeed believing road safety laws don’t apply to them. This is why awareness and education, alongside tougher punishment, is so important and why we must applaud the bravery of bereaved relatives like Mari who literally put their hearts on the line to stop other families going through the same trauma for the good of their communities.

“I cannot thank Katem enough for their wholehearted support for the ‘Life is Precious’ campaign, and the robust action they are taking to ensure their own drivers and staff drive safely. Road Safety is a community-wide issue impacting all of us, and we must all play our part in the solution.

“If this campaign can save just one life by challenging drivers to alter their mindset when using our roads, then we will have succeeded. I hope other businesses and haulage firms across County Durham and Darlington - and drivers themselves - get behind our efforts to make dangerous driving practices both unthinkable and unforgiveable and contributein whatever way they can to a safer future on our roads.”

DC Nat Horner said: “Our Life is Precious campaign was created with Mari following the tragic loss of her mam and dad – deaths that were completely avoidable and caused by a HGV driver selfishly using his phone at the wheel.

“Ever since we have been working to educate HGV drivers specifically on the dangers of the Fatal 4 and we were really pleased when Katem got in touch to ask to work alongside us to help spread that message further.

“Katem’s commitment to making their drivers – and by default other road users - as safe as they can be is really admirable and we want to thank them for helping us spread this message nationwide when other drivers across the country will hopefully see the HGV and take note of it’s important message.”

In her lobbying work, the PCC is campaigning for tougher measures to deter drug driving including the immediate suspension of driving licences for those arrested and charged with drink and drug driving offences until attendance at court and the introduction of new powers to seize the vehicles of those arrested for drink and drug driving.

She is also urging the Government to introduce mandatory National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme courses for all those found guilty of dangerous driving offences and a change in legislation to secure full cost recovery of those testing positive for drink or drugs.  

‘Safer Roads’ is a key priority in the PCC’s new Police, Crime and Justice Plan, with the ambition of achieving Vision Zero – every day without a road death.  65%of residents in her recent consultation told her drivers road safety was a top concern.

Alongside highlighting the issue with national decision-makers, the Commissioner is investing in additional enforcement across the force area to tackle the Fatal Four.

These activities have already seen thousands of motorists held to account for breaking road safety laws, including 37 drivers for mobile phone offences in May alone.

Nationally the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads increased by over 20 per cent (20.23%) in July 2024 based on the average across the year in data collated from 2018-2022.

Ends

Picture Shows (L-R): Alan Strickland MP, Katem Deputy MD Matty Chaganis, Katem’s Katie Davison, Mari Johnson, Katem’s owner John Davison; PCC Joy Allen and Insp Michael Hogg

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