A WEEK-long police crackdown on dangerous driving was held earlier this month amid a spate of fatal crashes across Somerset.

Avon and Somerset’s Roads Policing Unit carried-out the operation after a number of fatal collisions on the A361 near Frome and complaints about dangerous motorcycle riding in Bristol.

Frome June 3-7, police targeted the ‘fatal five’ offences, or the most common contributing factors behind fatal and serious injury collisions on UK roads, which are speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, distractions, alcohol and drugs, and careless driving.

It was also held inline with the NPCC’s 2Wheel campaign, which focuses on bike-related crime from June 3-16. A number of delivery riders were stopped, checking they had the correct insurance and documentation to ensure other road users are protected should they be involved in an incident.

This resulted in a rider having their motorcycle seized due to expired documentation and driving without a licence. Several other vehicles were stopped, with drivers being issued Traffic Offence Reports for matters including driving without due care and attention, using mobile phones while driving and driving vehicles in a dangerous condition.

The family of Melvyn Cole, 63, who died in a crash on the A361 on April 17 this year have called for a reduction in the speed limit. Motorbike rider Graham Drewett, 51, also died after he collided with a stationary vehicle on the A361 while under the influence of alcohol in September last year, an inquest heard.

Avon and Somerset Police’s Community SpeedWatch also ran an operation during the week and after 102 sessions, 668 educational warning letters have now been sent to drivers.

Superintendent Oliver Cosgrove said: “This was an opportunity for us to highlight the importance of staying safe while out on the roads. We are seeing too many fatal and serious injury collisions and the truth of it is, that a lot of these collisions could have been avoided.

“We know how dangerous it is to not wear a seatbelt, yet we are still seeing collisions wear they aren’t being worn. Similarly, we know how dangerous it is to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, but some people are continuing to put themselves and other road users at risk.

“If you know someone who habitually drink or drug drives, doesn’t wear a seat belt, or commits one of the other Fatal Five offences, then please let us know. This information is vital to help up direct our officers where there is the greatest risk and in doing so help to keep our roads safe through reducing the number of serious collisions. If you want to do this anonymously, then you can submit a report via Crimestoppers.” 

Community-submitted intelligence plays a vital role in helping officers target dangerous and illegal driving. This can be submitted online via www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/ or anonymously via Crimestoppers crimestoppers-uk.org/ To view an interview with Roads Policing Unit PC Nick Steele while out on shift in Somerset, visit https://youtu.be/5-0zDrkNZtY