A major police operation across the South West uncovered hundreds of driving offences on a popular motorway in just five days with offenders warned of hefty fines.
Avon and Somerset Police used Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to catch 521 speeding offences and dozens of drivers breaking crucial rules.
During the five-day operation between November 11 and 15, the police made 14 arrests for multiple offences and seized 18 vehicles.
The police caught 23 uninsured drivers breaking the law on the M5, four were caught using their mobile phones, three drivers were seen not wearing seatbelts, one vehicle was captured without tax while another was operating with an insecure load.
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The operation saw the police catch hundreds of driving offences in just five days
AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE
The police primarily targeted drivers across Avonmouth, Portishead, Clevedon, the Airport and the A38 corridor, Exmoor, Wellington, Milverton, Wiveliscombe and Minehead, Frome and Bath.
Inspector Matt Boiles, of Avon and Somerset Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Thanks to the support of all teams involved, we took many dangerous drivers off our roads in November.
“Although this was a win for the operation, the results clearly show the huge risks some individuals are taking while behind the wheel.
“We’re determined to clamp down on these dangerous and unacceptable behaviours, and continue to do so every day, to protect other road users and pedestrians from harm.”
The five days of action also coincided with the national campaign to crackdown on uninsured drivers which saw a total of 91 vehicles seized across Avon and Somerset.
Uninsured drivers are more likely to cause collisions and are often linked to secondary offences such as hit-and-run collisions, drink- and drug-driving, and being involved in criminal networks, the police explained.
For this reason, Avon and Somerset Police said it will continue to deal with insurance offences “robustly to improve road safety and protect communities".
Drivers were primarily caught breaking one of the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours which includes driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. It also includes speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, careless and dangerous driving and using phones and devices behind the wheel.
Penalties for committing the fatal five offences could be severe. Drivers can face a criminal record, a maximum of six months in prison, points on a licence and a fine varying from £100 to £5,000 if taken to court.
However, the penalties for causing a fatal collision can be much worse with drivers facing life imprisonment if found guilty by the court.
Chief Inspector Rob Cheeseman, Head of Road Policing and Road Safety said: “Last year, 63 people were killed in 55 incidents on our roads, with many more seriously injured.”
He added: “Not only do these incidents cause untold devastation for the families of those involved; they each require a huge emergency service response, and the trauma they cause for officers attending them is considerable. For every dangerous driver we take off the road, a potential tragedy is prevented.”
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Drivers could be issued with fines if they are breaking the law an ANPR camera
AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE
According to Department for Transport reports, 1,695 people were killed in the UK last year while 28,967 were seriously injured.
The data shockingly found that road deaths have decreased by five per cent since 2022 with serious injuries rising up from 28,899 in 2022.
