ALMOST 1,000 motorists in Warwickshire were caught committing the ‘fatal four’ offences during a month-long police operation.
Warwickshire Police officers detected 964 of the driving offences – speeding, drink and drug driving, using a handheld mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt, which are often a factor in fatal and serious road traffic collisions.
The culprits include a driver speeding at over 100mph in a 50mph limit on the A45, and a group of eight drivers who were caught speeding together in Ryton on Dunsmore and Long Lawford.
The arrest of a drink driver following a collision in Atherstone led to the discovery of a small cannabis grow at his home after he failed to stop at the scene. He is currently on police bail.
Among 30 drivers who received a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) for not wearing a seatbelt was the driver of an Audi A3 who was stopped by officers on Warwick Road in Leek Wootton who was found to be driving without a licence and had no insurance. His vehicle was seized.
Officers also spotted a child without a seatbelt in the front seat of a vehicle, the driver of which was issued with a TOR.
Another vehicle was stopped in Crowthorns, Rugby because the driver was using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving without a licence or insurance. He was issued with a TOR and his vehicle was recovered.
Sgt Chris McSharry said: “We found that many of the fatal four offences led us to discovering other motoring offences such as no insurance, licence or MOT.
“Other motoring offences detected during the operation include driving without due care and attention, failing to stop, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, ignoring a red light, under inflated tyres, using a trailer in lane three, and excessive tints.
“Non motoring offences detected include a cannabis grow found when a driver failed to stop following a collision, and the arrest of a domestic abuse suspect whose vehicle was stopped on the A46.
“We will continue to use our analysis and intelligence reports to focus our resources on high risk areas of the county and to proactively target those drivers who are choosing not to drive safely within the law.”
