A MOTORIST has been slammed by police after crashing while on a "non-essential journey" during the Covid lockdown.

There was a large emergency response after the collision on the A286 north of Chichester on Saturday.

But police say the "unnecessary work" for officers, fire and ambulance crews could have been prevented if one of the drivers had not taken a "non-essential journey".

Taking to Twitter yesterday, PC Tom Van Der Wee of the Sussex Roads Policing Unit said: "Last night a two-car crash tied up three police units, two ambulances, two fire engines and A&E staff.

"Those involved in the crash were relatively OK, but one non-essential journey caused a lot of unnecessary work for us all.

"Think, is your journey essential?"

Current lockdown rules state: "You must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a ‘reasonable excuse’. This is the law. The police can take action against you if you leave home without a ‘reasonable excuse’, and issue you with a fine (Fixed Penalty Notice).

"You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400."

The crash happened at about 7.30pm on Saturday. But it was not the only incident Sussex Roads Police dealt with near Chichester that day.

Officers also stopped four drivers in the space of an hour after each of them were caught speeding along the A27 between Fishbourne and Emsworth at more than 100mph.

Speeding drivers caught on the A27 near Chichester

Speeding drivers caught on the A27 near Chichester

The reckless drivers were caught on Saturday morning. This came just days after a 25-year-old man died and a 19-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash on the same stretch of road.

The fatal collision happened late last Wednesday. A 20-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man, both from Havant, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Addressing the speeding drivers on Saturday, a Sussex Roads Police said: "Four drivers within the space of an hour were clocked at over 100mph on the A27 between Fishbourne and Emsworth this morning.

"Even more disappointing is the fact that, as each one put their foot down, they passed signs from a crash earlier this week where a young man sadly lost his life.

"We have to ask, 'if a physical reminder of a very recent road fatality doesn't make you consider the manner of your driving, what will?'"