Police target danger drivers
POLICE pulled over motorists to give them tickets or a talking to in a crackdown on deadly driving practices.
A Fatal Four operation, near Abbey Park in Leicester, saw nine vehicles pulled over in the first hour when driver or passengers were not wearing seatbelts.
The other most common causes of death or serious injury are speeding, using a mobile phone at the wheel, and driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
Pc John Williamson, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “We’re conducting an operation in Abbey Park Road in Leicester where we target offenders of the Fatal Four.
“We’re only an hour into the operation and we’ve already stopped nine vehicles, all for seatbelt offences.
“Seven of those were drivers not wearing seatbelts, and two of those were front-seat passengers not wearing seatbelts.
“In conjunction with those nine vehicles that have been stopped, while dealing with those offences, we found two of those vehicles were also not insured.
“So those vehicles have been seized under order 165 of the Road Traffic Act.
“What we do at the roadside is give out a Traffic Offence Report, which is a ticket which gets sent to our central ticketing office, which then looks at the evidence and decides how best to process with the prosecution.
“But ultimately, for no seatbelt, people are looking at a fine and/or a driver awareness course. It could be anywhere around £100 for a seatbelt offence.
“For no insurance, you’re looking for six points and a financial fine, with the vehicle being seized as well.”
Spotters on police motorbikes were stationed along Abbey Park Road, where there were also marked police vehicles.
Pc Williamson said the operation was not just to punish those who break the law, but to promote road safety and ensure drivers are acting in the safest possible way behind the wheel of a car.
He said: “We’re here to promote road safety. At the end of the day, all these ticketable offences are avoidable by taking simple actions, popping on your seatbelts when getting in the vehicle, not using your mobile phone and putting it out of reach or putting it in a cradle so you’re not tempted to pick it up and use it.
“In relation to drinks and drugs driving, it’s zero tolerance, so don’t drive a vehicle if you’ve been using any sort of drugs. They stay in your system for quite some time.
“With alcohol, if you’re unsure about how much alcohol you’ve drank, don’t drive until you’re happy that you’re safe to do so.”