‘Fatal four’ traffic offences targeted in Exeter and East Devon

On Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th February 2017, officers from the Alliance Road Policing Team (RPT) of Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police took part in an intensive roads policing operation, one of a series dubbed Allied Wolf.

The intention of Allied Wolf is to deter and disrupt organised criminality which makes use of the regions roads and to reduce road casualties by targeting the ‘fatal four’ factors of speed, distraction, not wearing seatbelts and impairment whether through drink or drugs.

In the early afternoon and evening of the 23rd, officers focused their attention on Exeter City Centre and M5, A38 and A30 arterial routes into the city.

Marked and unmarked roads policing vehicles were used. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, either on-board police vehicles or supplying intelligence remotely, was used to target officers towards known local and traveling criminals.

During the day of Friday 24th February, Alliance RPT officers patrolled the arterial routes of East Devon. There have been a number of serious and fatal collisions on the A30, A303, A35, A358 and A3052 which highlights them as an area where enforcement and educational activities are intended to have a beneficial effect.

75 vehicles were stopped on the first day (23rd February) of the operation.

Six officer seen conditional offers (OSCO’s or fixed penalties) were given out for speeding and three for not wearing a seatbelt. 13 drivers were found to have no insurance, five vehicles were seized and 25 verbal warnings for various matters were given.

92 OSCO’s were given for excess speed by police working in conjunction with the Speed Camera partnership around Exeter.

Other infringements caught by the operation included four divers with no license, three with no valid MOT and one insecure load and nine enquiries referred to partner organisations Her Majesties Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Environment Agency. Five vehicles were seized.

Operation Allied Wolf was a joint operation which saw roads policing officer from both Devon and Cornwall and Dorset forces working together as part of the Strategic Alliance between the two police forces, alongside staff from the D.V.L.A. and H.M. Revenue and Customs.

Officers from local policing teams and volunteers from the Community Speedwatch programme were also on hand to assist with raising awareness around dangerous driving behaviours.

Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, head of roads policing for the Devon and Cornwall and Dorset Police Alliance, explains the role of Community Speedwatch:

“Nearly 10,000 first stage warning letters have been issued in 2016 to drivers who are identified as driving above the enforcement threshold by our volunteers. Following this 248 letters were sent out to drivers who had been identified on a second occasion as speeding. This is accompanied by a visit from the local policing team. Only 12 drivers were identified as speeding on a third occasion and this triggers them being informed that they may receive targeted enforcement from Roads Policing officers.”

“This reduction in repeat offending, and changes to driver behaviour, have been delivered entirely by volunteers who care passionately about road safety in the area where they live. We owe them a debt of gratitude in supporting us in our endeavours to make our roads safer.”

Throughout both days, Police targeted a number of offences including what are known as the “fatal four”.

The fatal four are driving behaviours that are shown to cause fatal and serious injury collisions. These are drink and drug driving, which causes impairment; using mobile devices such as phones behind the wheel; inappropriate speed, and not wearing a seatbelt.

Officers also looked for instances of failing to stop at a red light, not wearing a safety helmet and using forbidden traffic lanes and also a range of offences relating to using illegal fuel and vehicle defects.

Vehicles suspected of the latter offences on Thursday were escorted to a “stop site” at Exeter’s Paris Street bus station where they were inspected by the D.V.L.A. and H.M. Revenue and Customs.

Chief Inspector Leisk continued: “The overall aim of Operation Allied Wolf is road casualty reduction, at the same time helping to minimise crime and traffic related incidents in the area.

“Operation Allied Wolf has proved itself to be a very effective tool for improving road safety and also for providing an excellent opportunity to educate road users about unacceptable driving behaviours.”

Chief Inspector Leisk continued: “I would like to take this opportunity to remind people that legislation relating to using a mobile device while driving changes on 1st March this year. Penalties will double to a £200 fine and 6 points on your license. Newer drivers, and those who already have points on their license, may find themselves off the road very quickly indeed if caught.”

“You can be sure that early in March, and throughout the year, we will be paying particular attention to this habit which is as unacceptable and as dangerous as driving when impaired though alcohol.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said she was pleased to see volunteers playing such a vital part in this major operation and promised to support more people who want to set up schemes which keep communities safe and secure.

“In my Police and Crime Plan, along with the chief constable, I have pledged to support local people, through Community Speedwatch, to support the Force’s response to road safety issues, including use of mobile phones whilst driving.

“I want to focus on changing public attitudes and driver behaviours to deliver change in this area and to work with the Peninsula Road Safety Partnership to make our roads safer explore.”

“In 2017 my office will invest in equipment, training and infrastructure to support watch schemes, it will look at ways to enhance their impact and explore how they can help a wider response to mobile phone use whilst driving.”

Pictures from Devon & Cornwal Police:

The white van not insured. No insurance, no car - it's off the road.

The white HGV was prohibited on the A30 for being in a dangerous condition. The driver was given £400 graduated fixed penalty notices for exceeding drivers hours.

The smashed windscreen, and the tyre that is beginning to delaminate, were both found on a van driving on the A30