16 speeding drivers caught in Whitchurch A41 safety blitz
A road safety campaign on the A41 in Whitchurch caught 16 drivers for speeding and a motorist whose son was not wearing a seatbelt – because he "didn't want to".
The multi-agency led project was held in Whitchurch on the A41 and saw police, council officers and other agencies stop and check vehicles along the road.
The operation found and stopped drivers for a number of offences, including:
Loose wheels nuts on a loaded cattle trailer
A non-refridgerated van carrying six crates of raw chicken meat
Two HGV drivers who were over their regulated hours
Sixteen speeding drivers
Community ambassador Graham Oliver said: "For me it was the 16 speeding drivers which I found astonishing given the obvious high police presence.
"I was astonished to see two HGV drivers charged over excessive hours and in all some 50 vehicles were checked."
Mr Oliver added that one driver was stopped by a police family liaison officer – someone who speaks with family members following a fatal collision – to ask why his son was not using the seat belt, and was told the son didn't want to wear it.
Mr Oliver said: "He was fined and I hope a lesson was learned for him and his family."
Nine agencies worked together on a section of the A41 that has a record of high numbers of incidents and traffic collisions.
Seven fixed penalty notices were issued, two fined for failing to produce driving documents, one vehicle was the subject of a stop and search and 27 vehicles were tested for using red diesel.
Other prosecutions involved driving with a defective anti-lock breaking system system, having defective indicators and brake lights and one driver was issued with a £500 fine for a breach of driving regulations.
A number of vehicles were also found to have no insurance or road tax.
Meanwhile, during rural crime community action day, residents based inWoore near Market Drayton raised concerns about speeding drivers.
There was advice available from the police, fire service, NFU, crime prevention advisers, community safety partnership, recruiters from police specials and also the Bromford Group housing association and Meres and Mosses housing association.
Mobile camera vans were on display as well as hand-held speed guns which were used on the day in the village.
Problems of dog fouling were also raised as well as the use of mobile phones when driving and highways and parking issues.
