Drugs, Weapons and Weighty Fines: Road Safety Crackdown Rocks Town Centre
A major road safety swoop in town centre on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, ended with drugs, a baton, and arrests. Kent Police’s Road Safety Unit stopped a car carrying class B drugs and an offensive weapon. The male driver was arrested but later released on bail.
Drug Drivers, Stolen Vehicles and Overloaded Lorry Nabbed
Police used marked and unmarked vehicles, plus motorbikes, to spot lawbreaking drivers all day. They teamed up with dartford/" title="Dartford" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Dartford Borough Council and the Environment Agency, tackling waste crime and taxi licensing too.
- Two drivers caught drug driving after being stopped for no insurance.
- One driver arrested for stealing a vehicle.
- A flatbed transit lorry carrying hardcore was overloaded by more than 130%, weighing over 8 tonnes versus the 3.5-tonne limit.
The lorry driver faces a court summons and a fine over £2,000 for driving a dangerous and unsuitable vehicle.
Traffic Offences Galore as Police Clamp Down
Another two drivers got Traffic Offence Reports for insecure loads. A whopping 23 more TORs went to motorists for offences including:
- Speeding
- Not wearing seatbelts
- Defective tyres
- Running red lights
- Parking on zebra crossings
- Driving without MOT or insurance
Inspector Warns: Road Safety Is Everyone’s Business
Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we regularly team up with partners to educate motorists and enforce the law,” said Inspector Ian Warner of Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit.
“We keep seeing drivers risking lives by speeding, skipping seatbelts, driving unroadworthy vehicles or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is simply unacceptable. We will keep up spot checks county-wide to keep roads safe.”
“We support Kent County Council’s Vision Zero strategy aiming to wipe out road deaths. We are committed to cracking down on dangerous drivers and raising awareness about the risks,” Warner added.
