Illegal Motorists in Bodmin Targeted in Police Operation: No Excuses for Dangerous Driving

Police in Bodmin cracked down on dangerous drivers in a major operation earlier this week, targeting motorists breaking the law. The operation, carried out on Wednesday, 16th October, saw the No Excuses team from Devon & Cornwall Police work alongside the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to ensure road safety across the area.

Crackdown on Dangerous Drivers

Despite poor weather conditions, officers took to the roads for several hours, stopping vehicles and speaking to drivers. The results? Two drivers were caught with insecure loads, one was stopped for having no insurance, another for using a mobile phone while driving, and one vehicle was found to have tyres with exposed cords. Additionally, four overweight vehicles were identified, and one individual was arrested for suspected drug driving.

Focus on the ‘Fatal Five’

Devon & Cornwall Police’s No Excuses team is dedicated to tackling the ‘fatal five’ – the leading causes of serious road collisions and fatalities in the region. These include:

• Excess or inappropriate speed
• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Driving while using a mobile phone
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Careless or inconsiderate driving

Around 98 per cent of collisions are the result of human error, with only two per cent caused by unavoidable mechanical failure. Police emphasise that drivers not only risk their own lives but also endanger the lives of any passengers in their vehicle.

Acting Chief Inspector Dean Drury said: “Our officers work hard to keep people safe on the roads and drivers who stick to the rules have nothing to fear from us. We are called the No Excuses team as there are No Excuses from drivers our officers have not heard.”

A Reminder to Stay Safe

Following recent collisions on Devon and Cornwall’s roads, many of which have resulted in tragic loss of life, Drury took the opportunity to remind motorists of the importance of safe 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 family and their livelihood.”

For those who witness dangerous driving, Devon & Cornwall Police also run Operation Snap, allowing pedestrians or motorists to submit video footage if they believe someone is driving dangerously. More information on this can be found here.

Stay safe on the roads – No Excuses.