Over 50 arrests made as Wiltshire Police clamp down on dangerous driving
The force are doing more work within the community after concerns raised during lockdown
Wiltshire have made more than 50 arrests and seized over 50 vehicles in the first two weeks of their road safety campaign.
The force are increasing the amount of proactive checks after concerns were raised to them during the national lockdown.
They want to ensure drivers in the county are fit to do so and the vehicles they use are legal.
From January 15th to February 1st, they made 56 arrests, including 23 for drink driving and 25 for drug driving.
With less vehicles on the roads, one of residents' biggest concerns is speeding, especially as the Community Speed Watch programme has been unable to run.
So far, with increased patrols, 35 traffic offence reports and five fixed penalty notices were given out while two people were summonsed to court for speeding.
There's also a focus on driving without seatbelts and making sure all vehicles are allowed to be used.
Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith said:
"Over the course of the two week period, we responded to 98 road traffic collisions in Wiltshire.
It is our aim to not only reduce this number but to also ensure that we decrease the percentage of these that result in serious injury or, worse, a fatality.
I hope this increased, proactive activity alongside the normal responsibilities of our officers goes some way to providing the residents of Wiltshire that we are doing all we can to ensure the roads they drive on are safe.
We want to disrupt criminal activity, ensure safe speeds and safe vehicles on our roads and ultimately protect road users.
I'd also like to remind drivers that during this lockdown people should only be driving for essential journeys and just because the roads may appear quieter, that is not an excuse to break the law."