Over 6,000 videos of driving offences in Devon and Cornwall submitted to police
It's part of Operation Snap, which has seen its busiest year yet
More than 6,000 videos of driving offences have been submitted to Devon and Cornwall Police in the last year.
It's part of Op Snap, which was set up in the region in 2019. It allows members of the public to submit video evidence of driving offences through an online portal.
Since then, Devon and Cornwall Police have taken action against almost 10,000 motorists. 2023 was the busiest year in the operation’s history.
Vision Zero South West has released a selection of video clips to highlight the variety of offences which can be dealt with via Op Snap.
The footage features dangerous overtaking manoeuvres, near misses, cars giving insufficient space for cyclists and even a driver using a mobile phone – captured by a passing passenger on their own phone.
Locations range from busy dual carriageways and A-roads, to city centres and narrow rural routes.
Adrian Leisk, Head of Road Safety for Devon and Cornwall Police and chair of Vision Zero South West’s enforcement group, said: "Op Snap continues to grow in Devon and Cornwall with 2023 being our busiest year to date.
"Thanks to the efforts of the public, we have been able to take action against almost 10,000 drivers who may have otherwise escaped prosecution and continued to drive in a dangerous manner. We want drivers to think twice before making that risky decision.
"More people are using dashcams and helmet cameras than ever before – but also more members of the public are now aware of Op Snap and understand that they have the power to do something about poor driving. All of this makes it increasingly likely that dangerous and reckless drivers will be caught on camera and prosecuted.
"While it is clearly worrying that so many instances of dangerous driving are being witnessed on our roads, it’s encouraging that members of the public are coming on board with this campaign and submitting footage of poor driving.
"We are so grateful for the public’s support in addressing a real issue of concern. We have 13,670 miles of road network and cannot be everywhere, but you are.
"Many of the video submissions we see could easily escalate into collisions causing serious and potentially even fatal injuries. As active members of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, our collective goal is to halve all serious and fatal injuries by 2030 – and then completely."
In 2022 – the most recent figures available - 47 people were killed and 741 were seriously injured on Devon and Cornwall’s Roads.
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is chairman of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership:
"When dealing with figures like these it’s important to remember that every single one represents a person who has suffered dramatically as a result of a collision on our roads.
"Whether it’s someone who dies, sustains a brain injury, loses a limb or suffers from the harrowing mental effects of a road traffic collision, the effect this incident has on them – as well as their friends and family - cannot be underestimated.
"The whole purpose of Vision Zero South West is to cut road traffic deaths to zero. All our partners will admit this is an extremely ambitious target but one which needs to be at the forefront of all of our minds."