HELSTON motorists are being urged to "put safety first" on the roads as part of a police crackdown.

Officers from the roads policing and No Excuse teams have been targeting 'fatal five' driving offences – capturing a total of 96 offences.

A Highways England unmarked vehicle was out on patrol to identify offences with officers in unmarked vehicles shadowing it to stop drivers who were caught committing road traffic-related offences.

Police Constable Sarah Harvey, of the Alliance Roads Policing Team, said:

"It is saddening to see that people are still continuing to flout road traffic offences and demonstrates our need to prioritise keeping residents and visitors safe on our roads.

"Speeding and mobile phone use at the wheel made up a large proportion of offences, and these not only put themselves at risk but other innocent road users if a collision were to occur.

"With more vehicles on the roads again following the lockdown, people should take more care and check over their vehicles for roadworthiness."

The 'fatal five' offences include speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, being distracted at the wheel, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and driving careless or inconsiderately.

Between 7th and 10th July, the offences detected included 15 drivers using a mobile phone (three of which were HGV drivers), 35 drivers caught speeding, three people not wearing a seatbelt, seven careless driving offences and one positive breath test for being over the alcohol limit.

One of the speeders was clocked doing 106mph and undertaking other vehicles in a 70mph zone.

Other offences included 18 vehicles having no insurance (13 of which vehicles were seized), no driving licence, no MOT (prior to COVID-19 exemptions), having an insecure load, tyre offences, cannabis seizures and driving with no tax.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, added:

"Now summer is upon us the roads are getting busier. I'd urge all road users to take their time and put safety first."