Police arrested more than 50 people in just two weeks during a crackdown on dangerous driving in Wiltshire.
The local community had raised concerns about drink driving and drug driving during the lockdown, leading to officers carrying out more checks to ensure Wiltshire drivers’ vehicles were legal and roadworthy, and that the drivers were too.
Officers arrested 23 people for drink driving and 25 for drug driving during the operation which ran from January 15 to February 1. They also handed out five fixed penalty notices and 35 traffic offence reports during speed-watch patrols and summoned two drivers to court.
Wiltshire Police also seized 56 vehicles of which 53 had no insurance and 12 more which were not roadworthy. They also issued eight fixed penalty notices for not wearing a seatbelt.
Assistant chief constable Deb Smith said: “Over the course of the two week period, we responded to 98 road traffic collisions around Wiltshire.
“It is our aim to not only reduce this number but to also ensure that we decrease the percentage of these that result in serious injury or, worse, a fatality.
“I hope this increased, proactive activity alongside the normal responsibilities of our officers goes some way to providing the residents of Wiltshire that we are doing all we can to ensure the roads they drive on are safe.
“We want to disrupt criminal activity, ensure safe speeds and safe vehicles on our roads and ultimately protect road users.
“I’d also like to remind drivers that during this lockdown people should only be driving for essential journeys and just because the roads may appear quieter, that is not an excuse to break the law.”
Jerry Herbert, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “We understand the concern that many communities feel about the minority of road users who act dangerously. This is why we have reiterated the importance of road safety in our updated Police and Crime Plan.
“It is important to work with our partners from the local authorities, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Highways England to address the range of issues on our roads.
“We also recognise that a number of drivers are taking advantage of quieter than usual roads to offend and we have asked the Chief Constable to increase the priority of targeted enforcement against this.
“The void left by the excellent work done by the Community Speed Watch programme was one that needed to be addressed.
“We are pleased with the work being done by officers to address the concerns of local residents and we hope the impacts are being noticed and felt.
“Road safety is incredibly important and these figures in just the first two weeks show just how significant it is for us to focus on this to take both dangerous drivers and vehicles off our roads and make Wiltshire a safer place to drive.”
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535, or click here to send a confidential message.
