Suffolk Police arrest two on suspicion of drug driving as part of week-long operation

They also caught lots of people using their phones or not wearing a seatbelt

Author: Sian RochePublished 16th May 2024

Two people have been arrested as part of a week long road policing operation in Suffolk.

Operation Tramline took place at the end of April and saw officers patrolling our county's roads to spot any drivers breaking the law.

A lorry driver was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving and possession of cannabis, and a car driver was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving.

Alongside these arrests, police tell us they also stopped 210 vehicles (including 94 HGVs and 51 smaller goods vehicles) and detected 226 offences.

The drivers committing these offences were issued with Traffic Offence Reports (TORs), some having committed more than one offence.

In total, the force revealed 166 TORs were issued, for offences including:

77 for not wearing a seatbelt

53 for using a mobile phone

34 for construction and use (roadworthiness offences)

18 for an insecure load

15 for driving without due care and attention

nine for excess speed

five for no insurance

three for not being in proper control

two for driver’s hours

"We will continue to do all we can to make our roads safer for everyone"

Sergeant Scott Lee-Amies, of the Joint Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: "The sheer number of offences detected during this week of action once again highlights the importance of running these operations.

“It is particularly concerning that 140 of the 226 offences detected (which is over 60%) were from the ‘Fatal 4’ main causes of fatal or serious injury collisions: not wearing a seatbelt; using a mobile phone; excess speed; and drink/drug driving.

“These are not trivial offences – they can and do result in people suffering serious harm – and we will continue to do all we can to make our roads safer for everyone."

"Nobody can say they don’t know the possible consequences of such actions"

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, added: “Well done to everyone involved in this successful Tramline operation. Another excellent example of the Constabulary’s pro-active approach to enforcement resulting in our roads being safer for us all.

"I simple cannot comprehend how anyone could get behind the wheel whilst under the influence of drugs – risking not only their own lives but the lives of all those on the roads around them. It really does show how important these campaigns are.

“I also find it disappointing that so many drivers – particularly those who rely on their driving licence for their livelihood - still need to be reminded about something so obvious as putting on a seat belt or not using their mobile phones. Nobody can say they don’t know the possible consequences of such actions."

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