Police arrested 159 people in a month-long crackdown on dangerous drivers.
Operation Spotlight was a campaign to target the Fatal Four – the most dangerous behaviours on the road: Speeding, using a mobile phone at the wheel, not wearing a seatbelt and driving under the influence of drink and/or drugs.
The operation was led by Cumbria Constabulary’s dedicated roads policing unit.
Officers arrested:
- 75 people on suspicion of drug driving
- 39 people on suspicion of drink driving
- 26 people for failing to provide a specimen
- 19 people on suspicion of being unfit through drink or drugs
and has resulted in 159 arrests:
- Sec 5a (drug driving): 75
- Sec 5 OPL (drink driving): 39
- Fail to provide: 26
- Unfit through drink or drugs: 19
Officers also issued fines to 28 drivers for using a mobile phone and to 15 people for failing to wear a seatbelt.
Mobile speed camera vans also caught more than 2,400 offences during the month.
Inspector Jack Stabler, lead for Cumbria Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “While the arrest figures for this operation will make headlines, I can assure the public that getting drink and drug drivers stopped and off the road is day business for our officers.
“The operation may have come to an end but the efforts of officers to take action against dangerous drivers has not.
“As a constabulary we and our partners are committed to driving down the number of people killed and seriously injured on our road network, including by targeting the Fatal Four, 365 days a year.”
Talking about the number of people arrested on suspicion of drug driving, Inspector Stabler said: “Drugs tend to remain in the system for longer than alcohol – which means continued impairment and a decreased ability to react at the wheel.
“All our officers on the road are trained in administering drug wipes, which are helping us to improve road safety for all by empowering officers to identify impaired drivers and get them off the roads.
“Drug driving is incredibly dangerous and, as we approach the summer, our officers will continue stopping drivers we suspect of being impaired, testing them by the roadside and taking them into custody if they fail those tests.”
There will be another Operation Spotlight during July.
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: “Dangerous driving in any sense is a selfish act – you place everyone on the road at risk, not just yourself, through dangerous and careless driving.
“Making 159 arrests in one month is an incredible achievement by Cumbria police and sends a clear message to those who are breaking the law: if you are caught driving dangerously, or drive under the influence of drink or drugs you will be caught and face the consequences.
“I would urge all motorists to drive sensibly and make sure you get home safe.”
