Wiltshire Police have conducted a major crackdown on dangerous driving, recording more than 140 offences in just 12 hours. The county’s Roads Policing Unit deployed around 20 officers who patrolled roads from Swindon to Chippenham, focusing on reckless drivers and issuing fines and court reports.
The operation uncovered a wide range of offences, including children being dangerously unsecured in vehicles, failure to wear seat belts, driving with unsafe or badly secured loads, and the use of mobile phones while driving.
One particularly alarming incident in Swindon involved a driver transporting large pieces of wood stacked precariously over a newborn baby in the back seat. Sergeant Will Ayres commented, “It doesn’t bear thinking what could’ve happened if there’d been a collision or evasive action.”
During the crackdown, a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of drug driving in Swindon. An elderly driver was taken to Great Western Hospital following a minor collision in Chippenham. Officers also responded to a collision near a school in Calne and issued fines for careless driving and speeding. Speed checks carried out with Community Speedwatch officers resulted in ten drivers being reprimanded for exceeding speed limits.
Locals in Bradenstoke welcomed the vehicle checks, especially following heavy lorry traffic linked to the closure of Lyneham Banks due to storm damage.
Sergeant Will Ayres said, “To have dealt with more than 140 offences in just 12 hours is really impressive work by the team. We hope this sends a strong message that poor driving standards won’t be tolerated.”
He added, “We had 31 drivers caught using mobile phones — including five on the M4 — which is infuriating. These distractions cause fatal crashes. No message or email is worth risking a life.”
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson took part in the operation and emphasised that road safety remains a top priority funded by the public. “Proactive policing like this builds trust and shows we are serious about keeping Wiltshire’s roads safe,” Wilkinson said.
The day also featured Operation Tramline, a joint initiative with National Highways using an unmarked HGV on the M4 corridor. The operation resulted in three speeders caught, five mobile phone users reported, five seatbelt offenders, and various other offences.
Beverley Hannah, National Highways’ South West Safety Co-ordinator, said: “Most drivers behave responsibly, but those who don’t put lives at risk. Operation Tramline is crucial in tackling dangerous driving.”
For ongoing updates on the crackdown, follow @WiltsSpecOps or the hashtag #12HoursOnWiltshiresRoads.
Originally published by UKNIP.
