Cheshire Police continue to crack down on offending motorists
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Cheshire Police are continuing their crack down on offending motorists and criminals driving in Cheshire.
Last week, the focus of the Roads and Crime Unit (RCU), supported by the Commercial Vehicle Unit, was on the M6 where they were operating an unmarked HGV cab with a driver and spotter with an on-board camera. The elevated position of the ‘supercab’ enables officers to spot people driving dangerously, regardless of what vehicle they are driving. The consequences for drivers committing motoring offences range from warnings to fixed penalty notices, court summons or arrest.
In the first four days of last week’s activities, the vantage point of the ‘supercab’ led to 37 tickets being issued, including for driving without wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone, not being in proper control of the vehicle, having an insecure load, no visible vehicle registration mark, using the hard shoulder, and driving without due care and attention.
Officers from the force’s RCU continually patrol in marked and unmarked cars, and on police motorbikes, pursuing those committing the Fatal 5 - the five main contributory factors that cause serious road traffic collisions (RTCs): careless driving, using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, and drink and drug driving.
They are determined to reduce the amount of serious and fatal collisions by tackling those offending the Fatal 5 and posing a danger to themselves and others.
Officers are also targeting motorists connected to criminality such as county lines drug dealing, organised crime, and vehicles that are flagged by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
Any vehicles suspected of being involved in people trafficking are also stopped.
Sergeant Rob Anderson, Force Operations Room Manager said: “The unmarked HGV enables us to see right inside other large vehicle cabs and we’re able to capture on camera offences being committed, so it’s very effective at tackling this dangerous behaviour.
“We’re still seeing far too many drivers not wearing their seatbelt and using their mobile phone at the wheel. We continually hear the excuse that motorists are using their mobile phone as a sat nav but that doesn’t make it safe and it doesn’t make it legal. In fact, it can be lethal.
“The M6 is one of the busiest motorways in the country and the section in Cheshire is particularly busy. We’re urging motorists to pay attention and drive appropriately, to make the right decisions when they’re driving.
“A split second wrong decision can tragically change the outcome of their journey. Our officers see the consequences at first hand when they attend the scenes of collisions and then they have to tell their families and loved ones that they aren’t coming home.
“Thankfully, many road users drive sensibly but we are determined to come down hard on the reckless minority who put all of us at risk.“