Over 350 Offences Detected During Roads Policing Week of Action

During a recent roads policing week of action (27 Feb to 5 March) to reinforce casualty reduction, more than 350 offences were detected across Cleveland’s roads.

Using funding from the Cleveland Road Safety Partnership, additional officers were on duty throughout the week, focussing on the four main causes of fatal and serious road traffic collisions (speeding, distraction, driving under the influence and seatbelts).

Officers also targeted the criminal use of the roads including document offences, no insurance and incorrect use of a driving licence.

Operation Tramline was carried out for two days in conjunction with National Highways, whereby an unmarked HGV tractor unit is used to see offences in all vehicles.

The tractor unit puts the officers at the same height as HGV drivers, to make it easier to see into their cabs and detect offences including driving whilst using a mobile phone and no seatbelt.

Further proactive patrols throughout the week led to a total of:

• Over 300 speeding offences detected
• More than 20 people not wearing a seatbelt
• 14 drivers using a mobile phone whilst driving
• Five drivers under the influence of alcohol
• Nine drivers under the influence of drugs
• Two drivers failing to provide a sample of breath
• Three drivers contravening a red light
• Three people driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
• Three motorists without insurance
• Four people driving without due care and attention
• Five arrests made including theft of a motor vehicle and robbery
• One arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving
• One arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent
• One immigration offence identified.
• One person was arrested for being wanted on warrant

Roads Policing Operations Sergeant Mark Kewley said: “For the last week we have had additional focus on casualty reduction across Cleveland, using funding from the Cleveland Road Safety Partnership.

“Over 350 offences were detected throughout the week, and officers are now dealing with those people accordingly.

“Operations like this will continue, which assist us in helping to keep motorists safe and removing those from the roads who are willing to take risks with not only their lives, but the lives of other innocent road users.”

Officers carrying out speed checks in Billingham.

 

Officers pulled over a driver suspected of using his mobile phone at the wheel in Middlesbrough. 

 

Operation Tramline was carried out over the course of two days on the roads around Cleveland.