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Moment protesters – who days ago pronounced a street ‘a little safer’ – as they became human bollards to protect a traffic reduction scheme are scattered after irate motorist ploughs through

This is the shocking moment a furious van driver ploughed through a group of ‘human bollards’ as they defended a controversial traffic reduction scheme which days earlier they declared had made the street ‘a little safer’. 

The footage was captured in a leafy street in Exeter, Devon, as activists staged a protest in support of one of the city’s new ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’ (LTN).


Armed with a banner, the group of campaigners stood between the planters at the Ladysmith Road bus gate during school pick-up times.

But a video recorded on Thursday by activists from ‘Safe Streets Now’ showed a Ford transit van driving towards the banner and the five protesters guarding the new traffic calming measure.

The driver continues to pass through the banner, with one activist appearing to catch his hand on the driver-side window. The banner is torn off and a traffic cone is pushed out of the way as the van ploughs through. 

This is the shocking moment a furious van driver ploughed through a group of 'human bollards' on Thursday as they defended a controversial traffic reduction scheme

This is the shocking moment a furious van driver ploughed through a group of ‘human bollards’ on Thursday as they defended a controversial traffic reduction scheme


The van driver is seen ploughing through the banner

One protester later appears to hit the vehicle

The van driver is seen ploughing through the banner (left). One protester later appears to hit the vehicle as it passes through. Local police later said no offence had been committed

Days earlier, on February 19, the group shared this image on X (formerly Twitter) saying the road was 'a little safer for people to use'

Days earlier, on February 19, the group shared this image on X (formerly Twitter) saying the road was ‘a little safer for people to use’ 

Caspar Hughes, the leader of Safe Streets Now Exeter, claimed one of the group had sustained minor injuries and police were called to the scene. 

But officers from Devon and Cornwall Police said that no offences had been committed, and described the incident as ‘a minor altercation’.  


A spokesperson for the force added: ‘Police were notified at around 9am on Friday 23 February following reports of protesters blocking cars at Ladysmith Road in Exeter. 

‘It was reported that a motorist became involved in a minor altercation with protesters before leaving the scene. Police attended and the group dispersed by 9.30am. No offences were committed.’

Hitting back, Mr Hughes told DevonLive: ‘A volunteer was injured when this person drove his vehicle at speed through the bus gate. This driver could not see beyond the banners – there could have been a small child there for all he knew. It was reckless and dangerous, as well as illegal.’

The group has been staging a number of demonstrations in the street in support of the LTN, which they claimed had helped to make the road safer. 


But the campaign has not been backed by everyone, with a counter protest group having been set up by other residents, frustrated at the impact the scheme is having on them.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police said that no offences had been committed, and described the incident as 'a minor altercation'

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police said that no offences had been committed, and described the incident as ‘a minor altercation’

Called ‘Stop the Block’, the group claims the LTN was causing traffic chaos, causing longer journey times and impacting trade of local businesses. 

They also fear the impact the traffic reduction scheme is having on the emergency services, with DevonLive reporting that ambulances had been forced to turn around after encountering one of the blockades nearby. 


Devon County Council, which maintains highways in the area, said it meets regularly with emergency services. The authority added it has not reported any adverse incidents as a result of the trial so far. 

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