Concern over number of motorists who flout the law
Operation Vortex saw officers from the Devon and Cornwall, and Dorset strategic alliance roads policing team out in force on roads between the 14th November and 29th November 2016. During this time around 400 drivers were stopped and dealt with for a variety of traffic offences.
Six unmarked traffic cars were deployed as a team across the strategic road network. Two other teams supported this operation, working alongside the frontline roads policing team: two dedicated Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) analysts and the Safety Camera Partnership Unit.
Operation Vortex targets poor, inconsiderate and complacent driving across the region and aims to reduce the number of collisions and casualties on the roads. It is well known that the ‘Fatal Four’ contribute to the causes of these collisions; namely drink and drug driving, excessive or inappropriate speed; in-car distractions, which includes, using mobile phones and not wearing seat belts.
As a result of November’s roads policing activity, as well as the education and encouragement campaign through media and social media, the team took the following positive action:
88 drivers caught using mobile phones, including one foreign lorry driver who was issued with an on the spot £100 fine, which had to be paid immediately.
31 drivers driving with no insurance.
167 drivers issued ‘officer seen conditional offers’ (OSCO) for excessive speed.
36 drivers reported directly to court for excessive speed, examples include:
A transit style van was witnessed to be travelling at 105 MPH in a 60 mph limit.
A white Audi was witnessed to be travelling at 115 mph on the A30 westbound, the driver informed officers that he was bedding in his new tyres.
A motorcycle was travelling at 145 MPH on the A38 in Devon near Plympton.
Alarmingly three drivers have been reported directly to court for travelling between 75 and 78 mph in a section of roadworks on the A30 near Okehampton. The limit had been reduced to 40 mph to ensure the safety of the staff working within this site. There were road workers on the road at the time of these offences.
Six drivers issued OSCO for not being in position of have full control of a motor vehicle.
16 vehicles were seized for having no insurance, one of which included a £140,000 Bentley Continental from the A30 Redruth area.
Three drivers were arrested after officers made use of the new drugs wipe kits, one of which was found to be 40 times over the current limit for cannabis.
One driver was arrested at 10:30 in the morning after being caught using his mobile phone, whilst driving and being over the drink drive limit.
32 people were dealt with for not wearing a seat belt.
Two drivers were reported for dangerous driving and seven for driving without due care and attention.
The safety camera partnership have issued notices of intended prosecution to 769 drivers for speeding.
A number of drivers reported for contravening double white lines, no MOT, no vehicle excise duty (car tax), using a vehicle in a dangerous condition, contravening a red light and having defective tyres.
There were also a number of arrests related to a stolen vehicle from the Torquay area, the team was able to stop the vehicle and after a brief foot chase into the city, detain the occupants and return the undamaged vehicle back to its owner.
Inspector Pete Thomas from the roads policing team said: “We are out every day, attending collisions and enforcing the law. Unfortunately we can’t be everywhere and on the one hand I’m pleased with the number of motorists that have been stopped for offences – I hope they will now modify their behaviour and realise the dangers they put themselves and others in – on the other hand I’m disappointed. There are still far too many motorists prepared to break the law and the consequences are quite likely to be tragically more people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
“I want to remind drivers to be considerate and think about their loved ones. Think about being on the receiving end, when an officers knocks on your door to give the terrible news that someone you love isn’t coming home. I would ask drivers to be patient and respectful of others, modify driving behaviours and give the road their full attention. Don’t risk it!”
