Police are warning drivers to belt up and slow down after launching a three-day road safety operation in response to concerns raised by members of the public.
Neighbourhood policing team members carried out proactive patrols across the Gedling south area to crack down on the ‘fatal four’ driving offences.
Speeding, drink-driving, using a mobile phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt are dubbed the ‘fatal four’ because they are the most common reasons for deaths and serious injuries on the road.
The proactive operational activity included some speeding work in Burton Joyce after local residents voiced their concerns about the issue.
As a result of the patrols over the three days, nine vehicles were seized for being driven without insurance or tax offences.
Eight motorists were also dealt with for offences such as driving without a licence, seatbelt offences when carrying children and illegal/defective number plates. A further eight drivers were reported to the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency for their vehicles being untaxed.
Two vehicles were stopped with multiple children in them – none were wearing a seatbelt.
One of the two vehicles had more occupants than seats. A further stop resulted in a motorcyclist being dealt with for cannabis possession.
Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Becky O’Connor said: “We know speeding is a concern for a number of residents across the Gedling borough and as our ongoing enforcement and educational activity has shown we will act on feedback from the community.
“The results of these operations shows why it’s important we continue to take action like this across the county throughout the year to keep road users safe.”
“It amazes me so many people are driving around without seatbelts in this day and age. Wearing a seatbelt in a car is such a basic piece of road safety advice. It could be the difference between life and death in a road collision so please take responsibility for your personal safety on the roads and belt up!”
The operation, which took place 5-8 September, came only days after a day of action in the Arnold and Mapperley Plains areas as part of an all-year-round drive by the force to tackle the ‘fatal four’ driving offences across Nottinghamshire.
During that multi-agency operation a shocking 20 people were caught risking their lives by driving without seatbelts. Another six drivers were stopped for speeding and another for using a mobile phone at the wheel.
The day of action involved various Nottinghamshire Police teams including roads policing officers, Operation Reacher and the Gedling neighbourhood policing team.
The initiative, which was supported by Gedling Borough Council, also involved Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency staff who were on hand to check vehicles and deal with any offences.
As well as those stopped for ‘fatal four’ offences, motorists were also dealt with for defective tyres and illegal/defective number plates.
The DVSA issued five immediate prohibitions – taking those vehicles off the road straight away – as well as three delayed prohibitions after carrying out checks.
