Police drive down offences to educate motorists and keep the roads safe
Police continue to crack down on speeding motorists and other driving offences in an effort to make the roads of South Devon safer.
Officers carried out an operation from 5pm on Friday 17 April to 3am on Saturday 18 April.
Inspector Wes Watkins, of Devon & Cornwall Police, helped organise the operation and took part. He said: “This was another successful road safety initiative and we stopped a total of 33 vehicles. The vast majority of drivers stick to the rules and stay safe but there are some who flout the law and we want them to know they will not get away with it. They are putting themselves and other road users in danger by taking risks.”
Devon & Cornwall Police focus on saving lives and preventing the Fatal Five driving offences with plenty of positive engagement with drivers.
The Fatal Five are:
- Driving while distracted
- Speeding
- Driving without a seatbelt
- Drink/drug drive
- Being unfit to drive
Six tickets were issued for:
- Driving at 42mph in a 30mph zone – issued by RPU in South Hams
- Driving at 100mph in 70mph zone – issues by Patrol on the A38 Ivybridge
- Driving at 117mph in a 70mph zone – issued on the M5 by the Road Policing Unit
- Number plate not conforming – issued by Patrol in Newton Abbot
- No insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence – Torquay
- No insurance – issued by Specials (volunteer officers) with support from Inspector Wes Watkins - Chudleigh
Six arrests took place:
- Two positive drug wipes: – by Patrol officers in Newton Abbot
- Two for Possession With Intent to Supply – both people in the same vehicle, Patrol stop on A380 Kingsteignton
- Drink drive, Patrol officer stop in Torquay
- Fail to stop / dangerous drive / driving otherwise in accordance with a licence / no insurance / driving whilst unfit – stopped in Torquay
- Fail to stop and decamped the vehicle, turned out to be a suspect for a domestic violence incident – stopped by Patrol officers in Torquay
Five drivers were issued with words of advice from police, four for having vehicle lights out and one for anti-social driving.
Two vehicles were seized for having no insurance and one vehicle was searched after an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) hit by Patrol officers in South Hams
On Saturday evening (18 April) police arrested a further four suspected drink/drug drivers across South Devon.
Anyone concerned about another driver’s behaviour can report either by calling 101 or online here: Making a road traffic incident report | Devon & Cornwall Police
Information can also be shared anonymously with Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
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