Cumbria Police took part in a national three-week road safety operation focusing on young drivers, in an effort to improve road safety on Cumbria’s roads.
Operation Spotlight is a national road safety operation which focuses on the Fatal Four:
- Speeding
- Using a mobile phone at the wheel
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Driving under the influence of drink and/or drugs
A teenage driver is breathalysed during Operation Spotlight
During the period (14 Sept - 4 Oct) Cumbria Police recorded 21 interactions, resulting in Road Traffic Act offences – including drink and drug driving, speeding, driving without due care and attention, driving whilst disqualified, serious injury by dangerous driving and tyre offences.
On Friday (2 Oct), police arrested a 19-year-old for a road traffic collision on the A590 near Haverthwaite. The teenager was subject to a drugs wipe at the scene, which was positive for cocaine.
He was arrested on suspicion of drug driving a subsequently released under investigation whilst officers await the results of blood tests.
On 12 September, officers in the vicinity of the Travelodge in William Street Workington stopped a car being driven by a 19-year-old.
The teenager admitted he had been drinking earlier in the evening. A roadside breath test recorded a reading of more than double the drink-drive limit.
He was arrested and subsequently charged with drink-driving.
Cumbria Police’s Roads Policing Unit Inspector Holly Lockwood said: “The research shows that young drivers are disproportionately represented in serious and fatal road traffic collisions, despite driving substantially fewer miles than the average driver.
“Inexperience and a difficulty in assessing risk are two of the biggest factors in young driver safety – factors which are significantly exacerbated by other factors such as drink or drug driving, distracted driving, speeding or not wearing a seatbelt.
“Parents, as well as friends, can be positive influences on such drivers so we would urge people to speak with young and new drivers about the factors at play, in the hope it can prevent serious and fatal road traffic collisions on our roads.”
Whilst young drivers were the focus of the operation, Cumbria Police’s Roads Policing Unit targets drink and drug driving – as well as all other dangerous driving behaviour – 365 days a year.
During September, Cumbria Police recorded 68 drug driving offences and 26 drink driving offences.
Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: "Dangerous and anti-social driving is one of the key issues raised with me by residents; therefore, it is a priority for me and Cumbria Police.
“Young drivers are some of the most vulnerable, getting behind the wheel of a car is a lot of responsibility, especially without an experienced driver in the passenger seat.
“Having a driver’s licence in a rural county like Cumbria is a necessity for so many people – I’d urge younger to drive responsibly. If you don’t you could end up hurting, not only yourself, but others.
“I’m an avid supporter of Graduated Drivers Licences (GDL) and would like to see these introduced as they have been in Northern Ireland just this month, putting restrictions in place on newly passed drivers until they can build up experience. A GDL isn’t about stripping young people of their freedom, it’s about ensuring their safety.
“The Road Policing Unit are out on Cumbria’s roads every day keeping the public safe – this is just a snapshot of the brilliant work they do year-round.
“I’d also encourage the public to report any ongoing issues in their communities related to driving. Reports help the Police build evidence and if we know there is a problem is a certain area, we can put the resources in place to deal with it. Let’s work together to protect Cumbria’s safety.”