Calls for more police on roads to stop drivers "getting away" with offences
A Lancashire mum, who lost her son, doesn't think the numbers proposed are anywhere near enough
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is being urged to appoint 1,000 new roads police officers amid fears that many drivers are "getting away" with motoring offences.
The AA issued the plea after its analysis of Home Office figures found the number of traffic officers in England and Wales has fallen by 1,022 from 5,237 in 2016 to 4,215 in March this year.
Meanwhile, a mum from Lancashire who's son was killed on the road, says a thousand new officers won't be near enough needed
Bacup mum Paula Johnson's son, Kristian, was killed by a drink driver in 2019. She says we need many more police on our roads to stop needless deaths: "Not enough is being done and that is an absolute fact.
"We all see things and you hear the comment "where are police where you need them" and they're not there. I'm not trying to be disrespectful to the police its just a fact that there isn't enough police out on the streets and on the road.
"A thousand is nothing, if you're going to take the risk of drink driving if you see a police car you might think twice. But how often do you go out and see a police car, you don't.
"I think those numbers need to be heavily increased, and we should never ever cost cut form services such as the police."
A survey of AA members conducted last month indicated 57% believe people can get away with careless driving due to a lack of police presence on the roads.
Many respondents also said other offences were going unpunished due to the reduction in the number of roads police officers, including using a handheld phone behind the wheel (44%), drug driving (42%), not wearing a seatbelt (46%) and using a dangerous vehicle (43%).
The AA said it welcomed the increased use of AI cameras which can detect more offences beyond speeding, but warned roads policing cannot be carried out by cameras alone.
About nine out of 10 (91%) of its members surveyed said more traffic police would make communities safer.
Labour's general election manifesto included a pledge to recruit "thousands" of new police officers to tackle neighbourhood crime.
Jack Cousens, AA head of roads policy, said: "Be it driving offences or wider crime, public opinion suggests that too many people are simply getting away it.
"It's clear that the public want to see more bobbies on the beat, so the Government's ambition to increase the number of police officers is welcome.
"We believe there should be a wider approach to tackling crime and that more cops in cars could produce safer communities as well as safer roads.
"A clear and visible presence is a deterrent itself to ensure better standards of driving, as well as sending a warning signal to criminals that the chances of being caught are higher than before.
"Most traffic cops catch other crimes in the act, such as discovering stolen goods, through routine stops.
"Similarly, a camera can spot the speeding driver, but it can't stop them if they are under the influence of drink or drugs.
"Investment in traffic officers does more than improve road safety, it produces safer neighbourhoods too."
The Home Office was approached for a comment.