Crackdown on Dangerous Driving: Over 100 Drivers Stopped in Devon and Cornwall

In an assertive move to improve road safety, Devon & Cornwall Police have launched ‘Operation Vortex’, a comprehensive campaign targeting risky and inconsiderate driving behaviours across the counties.

The operation, which kicked off on the 8th of May, has already shown significant results in its first week.

Operation Vortex in Action

Throughout the first week of Operation Vortex, police efforts have been robust:

• 103 cars were stopped by officers
• 10 cars were seized
• 10 arrests were made for various offences

The offences recorded by the police include a wide array of violations, indicating the scope of driving misdemeanours being tackled:

• 31 speeding offences, with two drivers caught travelling at over 97mph
• 316 further speeding offences, detected by the Safety Camera Unit
• 8 mobile phone offences
• 3 motorists driving whilst disqualified
• 1 driver not wearing a seatbelt
• 7 drivers under the influence of drink or drugs
• 5 motorists driving without due care

The Fatal Five

Motor Patrol Constable Richie Roome from the Alliance Roads Policing Team emphasised the importance of addressing the ‘Fatal Five’ — careless driving, drink and drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts, distracted driving (such as using a mobile phone or tablet at the wheel), and speeding. These are the leading causes of deaths and serious injuries on the roads within Devon and Cornwall.

“The ‘Fatal Five’ play a big part in the collisions we see across our force area. Our aim is to keep everyone safe on our roads by targeting motorists whose poor driving puts others at risk,” said Constable Richie Roome.

Consequences for Offenders

Drivers found committing any of these offences could face severe penalties ranging from fines and points on their licence to court appearances and even imprisonment for more serious infractions.

Constable Richie Roome added, “There have been a significant number of very serious collisions on Devon and Cornwall’s roads recently and, sadly, many of these have resulted in a tragic loss of life.”

He also issued a reminder to drivers about the broader implications of irresponsible driving: “We would like to take this opportunity to remind drivers to take more care on the roads; to look out for other road users, and to consider how losing their driving licence would affect them, their employment, their family, and their livelihood.”

Ongoing Vigilance

The Devon and Cornwall Police Roads Policing Unit and the No Excuses Team will continue to patrol the roads and monitor driver behaviour throughout May, using both marked and unmarked vehicles. Their goal is to ensure that law-abiding citizens can travel safely, without the threat posed by hazardous driving.

For those interested in learning more about road safety or seeking advice, Devon & Cornwall Police have resources available on their website at their dedicated road safety page.

The operation underlines the commitment of local authorities to safeguarding the community by curbing dangerous driving practices, thereby reducing the risk of road accidents and enhancing safety for all road users in Devon and Cornwall.