More than 80 traffic offences were detected during Northamptonshire Police’s latest days of action to crack down on illegal and irresponsible drivers using the county’s road network.
Officers from the Safer Roads Team, Roads Policing Team, and Special Constabulary were back on board National Highways’ unmarked HGV between June 25 and June 28, patrolling four of the county’s major trunk roads – the A14, A43, A45 and the M1.
The patrols were carried out as part of the Force’s continued commitment to support National Highway’s Operation Tramline, which aims to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the UK’s major routes.
Throughout the four days, officers used the HGV super cab to film 1,036 vehicles and evidence any unsafe driving behaviour. Drivers seen committing an offence were then pulled over by a police car following a short distance behind.
In total, 77 vehicles were stopped, and 89 traffic offences were detected with more than half involving three of the fatal five driving offences – not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and careless driving – which are the main contributors in collisions.
A £100 fixed penalty notice was issued to 29 drivers and 10 passengers who were stopped for not wearing a seat belt, while a further 19 drivers could get six points on their licence and a fine of £200 for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving.
One driver had his vehicle seized for driving without insurance while two other drivers were left without their mode of transport after being found to be driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.
A further 13 drivers were reported for various offences including not being in proper control of their vehicle, dangerous loads, driving without due care or reasonable consideration, while 13 drivers were given words of advice about the manner of their driving.
Northamptonshire Police Safer Roads Team Manager Matthew O’Connell said: “Reducing the number of people who are killed and seriously injured on our roads remains our priority and through Operation Tramline we continue to strive to achieve this.
