Wiltshire Police Crack Down: 140+ Offences in Just 12 Hours!
Wiltshire’s Roads Policing Unit hit the county hard, catching over 140 motoring offences in a single, intensive 12-hour blitz. Around 20 officers combed through roads from Swindon to Chippenham, targeting reckless drivers and handing out fines and court reports galore.
Dangerous Driving and Shocking Loads
The crackdown uncovered a shocking range of offences, including:
- Children dangerously unsecured in vehicles
- Failing to wear seat belts
- Driving with unsafe or badly secured loads
- Using mobile phones behind the wheel
One chilling case in Swindon involved a driver hauling large pieces of wood stacked perilously over a newborn baby in the back seat. Sgt Will Ayres said, “It doesn’t bear thinking what could’ve happened if there’d been a collision or evasive action.”
Arrests, Collisions & Excessive Speed
A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of drug driving in Swindon. Meanwhile, an elderly driver was taken to Great Western Hospital after a minor crash in Chippenham. Officers also responded to a collision near a school in Calne and issued fines for careless driving and speeding.
Speed checks with Community Speedwatch officers led to ten drivers being reprimanded for breaking speed limits. Locals in Bradenstoke welcomed vehicle checks following heavy lorry use linked to the closure of Lyneham Banks after storm damage.
Police and PCC Send a Clear Message
“To have dealt with more than 140 offences in just 12 hours is really impressive work by the team,” Sgt Will Ayres said. “We hope this sends a strong message that poor driving standards won’t be tolerated.”
“We had 31 drivers caught using mobile phones — including five on the M4 — which is infuriating,” he added. “These distractions cause fatal crashes. No message or email is worth risking a life.”
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson joined the operation, stressing that road safety is a top priority funded by the public.
“Proactive policing like this builds trust and shows we are serious about keeping Wiltshire’s roads safe,” Wilkinson said.
Operation Tramline Targets M4 Speedsters
The day included Operation Tramline, a joint effort with National Highways using an unmarked HGV on the M4 corridor. The result? Three speeders caught, five mobile phone users reported, five seatbelt offenders, plus various other offences.
Beverley Hannah, National Highways’ South West Safety Co-ordinator, said: “Most drivers behave responsibly, but those who don’t put lives at risk. Operation Tramline is crucial in tackling dangerous driving.”
Catch the full story on @WiltsSpecOps or follow the hashtag #12HoursOnWiltshiresRoads for updates on the crackdown.
