#NoExcuse - More roads will be targeted in future

Yesterday (16th October 2018) the No Excuse team ran its first Operation Flagship in collaboration with the Peninsula Safety Camera Partnership. The operation also used automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology.

The operation targeted the Fatal Five offences* – driving behaviours which cause or contribute to most deaths and serious injuries on our roads - along with other vehicle offences such as having no insurance or licence or driving a vehicle with defects, along a single major road.

Officers from the No Excuse team and the partnership based themselves along the entire length of the A30 through Devon and Cornwall in marked and unmarked vehicles.

Almost 400 speeding offences were detected over the course of the day. A number of speeds recorded were in the high 90s and two of 101mph. Other offences detected included seatbelts not being worn, driving with expired MOT test certificates, defective tyres and having no insurance or licence.

One vehicle was seized due to the driver having no licence or insurance, another vehicle had to rectify its faults before continuing its journey. With some drivers it was deemed education was the most appropriate resolution, however a number of drivers will be receiving letters in the post over the next few weeks offering points on their license and a fine or a day at court.

PC Daniel Furneaux from the No Excuse Team said: "This operation sends a clear message to those using the road network across Devon and Cornwall that we will not tolerate dangerous driving behaviours or un-roadworthy vehicles.

"Using static and mobile ANPR cameras we can locate offences such as having no insurance within seconds and that could result in your vehicle being seized along with six points and a fine. We also use unmarked police vehicles that allow us to gather evidence of other driving offences such as using mobile phones or other in car distractions.

"We will stop these drivers and we will report them for these dangerous offences. Ultimately our aim is to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured across the whole of Devon and Cornwall."

Operation Flagship will be run again in the future and will target other major roads across Devon and Cornwall.

Bev Hannah, Highways England Road Safety Co-ordinator for the South West, said: "We are delighted to be working closely with the No Excuse Team in order to reduce collisions on our network, improve road safety and help to educate drivers on evidence-led interventions.

"One of the aims of the No Excuse Team is to tackle inconsiderate driving on our roads and this supports Highways England's recently launched Space Invaders campaign which is raising awareness of the dangers of tailgating."

Read more about Highways England's Space Invaders campaign here: www.highwaysengland.co.uk/staysafestayback Devon & Cornwall Police already work in partnership with Highways England to improve safety on the regions strategic road network.

• The Fatal Five are: Inappropriate or excessive speed; Not wearing a seat belt; Driver distractions including using mobile phones handheld; Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; Careless or inconsiderate driving.

Read more about the Fatal Five here: www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/on-the-road/the-fatal-five

Follow The No Excuse team: twitter.com/DC_NoExcuse

Follow the Alliance Operations roads policing team: twitter.com/RoadPolAlliance

Our photographs show activity by the #NoExcuse team over the last week in Plymouth, Truro and on the A30