Road Cops Crack Down in Major Safety Blitz
Road policing officers launched a tough crackdown on reckless drivers last week. They targeted speeders, those not wearing seatbelts, motorists using phones behind the wheel, and drink or drug drivers. Special Constables backed them up with stop checks, and camera vans prowled high-risk routes to catch offenders.
Europe’s ‘Project Edward’ Joins the Fight
The week-long campaign ran from 14 to 20 September 2020, including the European Traffic Police Network’s one-day blitz on 16 September known as ‘Project Edward’. The goal? One single day on the roads without a death. Launched in 2016, Project Edward focuses on road safety, particularly urging work drivers to stay sharp and legal behind the wheel.
Staggering Arrests and Penalties
The results were eye-opening:
- 51 people arrested for driving offences
- 17 suspected drink drivers taken off roads
- 9 arrested for drug-driving
- 17 caught driving unfit due to drugs or alcohol
- 6 refused to provide breath samples
- 170 motorists stopped and checked
- 89 speeding tickets issued
- 4 caught using phones at the wheel
- 12 slapped with seatbelt fines
- 16 warnings issued for poor driving standards
Camera vans caught an alarming 1,888 speeding drivers, 64 without seatbelts, and one using a mobile.
Fatal Crashes Spike as Police Warn Motorists
The crackdown comes after a grim rise in deadly crashes across the county. In August alone, 13 people were killed on the roads—double the 2019 figure and up from just three in 2018.
Chief Inspector Rhiannan Pepper said: “Our officers are out every day aiming to make our roads safer. This campaign helped highlight the critical need for safe driving.
“A life lost on the road is a tragic waste. Our message is simple: slow down, don’t drink and drive, and put your phone away. A car in the wrong hands is a deadly weapon, and the consequences of dangerous driving can be devastating.”
