‘Fatal Five’ operation sees Police target dangerous driving in Cornwall
Many vehicles were seized and several motorists were arrested during a roads policing intensification day which took place across Cornwall last week.
Between 23 and 28 March, policing teams in Cornwall carried out ‘Operation Herbless’ – an educational campaign aiming to increase awareness about road safety and the ‘fatal five’ common causes of collisions.
This was supported by a proactive operation which saw neighbourhood teams working various roads policing units to proactively target dangerous and inconsiderate driving in Cornwall.
On Thursday 27 March 2025, officers seized five cars and made 10 arrests. Cars were seized as a result of no licence and/or no insurance. Owners of the cars will be required to pay a fee to the recovery company and will need to prove that the driver collecting the vehicle is both licenced and insured before the car will be released.
Offences discovered by officers as part of the operation included:
- 6 x drivers arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink or drugs
- 3 x disqualified drivers arrested
- 1 x arrest for possession of class A and class B drugs
- 5 x mobile phone offences
- 261 x other traffic offences
Inspector Tony Hannaford of the Alliance Roads Policing Team said: “The ‘fatal five’ causes of deaths and serious injuries on our roads are drink and drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts, distracted driving (such as using a mobile phone or tablet at the wheel), fitness to drive (including poor eyesight and lack of experience) and speeding.
“Last year, 23 people sadly lost their lives as a result of collisions on roads in Cornwall. Each one of these collisions is a tragedy and will have been devastating for the family and friends of the people involved.”
Drivers caught committing offences could receive a fine and points on their licence, a court appearance and even imprisonment for more serious offences.
Inspector Hannaford continued: “We would like to take this opportunity to remind drivers to take more care on the roads; to look out for other road users, and to consider how losing their driving licence would affect them, their employment, their family and their livelihood.
“Our aim is to keep everyone safe on our roads and we will continue to target motorists whose poor driving puts others at risk.”
Throughout April, Devon & Cornwall Police is supporting a national campaign highlighting the most common causes of serious and fatal road traffic collisions.
For Road Safety advice, visit the dedicated page on the Force website: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/fatalfive
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