25 offences detected in police operation on A30 to tackle ‘fatal four’
25 offences were detected in a four hour window on the A30, as specialist officers from the local police force support group carried out an operation around Okehampton today (Tuesday 20 August).
The operation aimed to reduce road traffic collisions and provide visible reassurance to road users, as well as using intelligence to target travelling criminals and reduce and detect serious acquisitive crime.
This was in direct response to concerns over serious collisions within north and west Devon where road users have died or been seriously injured as a result.
Officers concentrated on the ‘fatal four’ causes of serious collisions which are:
1. Excess and inappropriate speed
2. Mobile distractions – in particular the use of mobile phones whilst driving
3. Driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs
4. Failure to wear seat belts
During today's operation, police detected:
- 15 offences of failure to wear a seat belt.
- Seven offences of use of mobile phone whilst driving
- Two offences of driving through a red light
- One offence relating to vehicle condition
Inspector Andy Oliver, from west Devon, said: “This policing operation is in direct response to concerns over the number of fatal and serious injury collisions in the area.
“Road users expect to be able to travel safely on our roads. This highly visible operation will seek to deter and detect offences and address driver behaviour which, from experience, may otherwise lead to serious collisions.
“In addition, officers will target criminals travelling through our Force area, denying them use of the roads to commit crime.
“This is one of a series of operations planned throughout north and west Devon over the coming months. Through working with partner agencies we have already seen a decline in collisions involving vehicles towing caravans and trailers in and around the Sourton area of the A30.
“Police and highways have been working together to get drivers to reduce the speed when towing on the hill approach and descent around Sourton where collisions have been occurring almost weekly in previous years.”
