Wiltshire drivers are being warned they cannot get away with motoring offences as the county's police force launches a new operation.
Wiltshire Police has launched Project Zero, an initiative that looks to enforce the Road Traffic Act and cut the number of accidents on Wiltshire’s roads.
They took to the streets of Swindon on Wednesday to launch the project, taking down a number of drivers who had been committing offences.
Among the misdemeanours were driving through a red light, not wearing a seatbelt, and using a phone whilst driving.
#ProjectZero is the #RPU embedding themselves in communities in #Wiltshire working with neighbourhood & response teams to tackle any road related offences or offenders particularly the #fatal5. Here’s Sgt Will Ayres pic.twitter.com/oc7GFFCdHj
— Wilts Specialist Ops (@WiltsSpecOps) November 16, 2022
Sergeant Will Ayers, from Wiltshire's Roads Policing Unit, said: “Project Zero is the Roads Policing Unit embedding themselves in one particular area of the community in Wiltshire, and working in conjunction with the neighbourhood and response teams to target any form of a road-related offence or offenders.
“Statistically the main offences that contribute to death and serious injury on the road are careless and dangerous driving, excess speed, mobile phones, not wearing a seatbelt and drink/drug driving.”
Many motorists have found out the hard way as officers targeted vehicles in Swindon on Wednesday.
The RPU's Wiltshire Specialist Operations account has been tweeting about the various stops they made throughout the day.
One person’s money went down the drain within five minutes as police took their newly-bought vehicle off the road.
The vehicle was seized as the driver had no insurance and no driving licence.
#RPU seized this vehicle in #Swindon 5 minutes after it was purchased. Driver had no licence or insurance. Driver reported #fatal5 #ProjectZero pic.twitter.com/2uL02tgc9H
— Wilts Specialist Ops (@WiltsSpecOps) November 16, 2022
Despite saying they did not smoke cannabis, a Mercedes driver was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.
The driver now faces a possible ban from the roads.
Man arrested for drug driving in #Swindon. Tested positive for cannabis despite stating he doesn’t touch the stuff #fatal5 #ProjectZero pic.twitter.com/dOcScI6DQN
— Wilts Specialist Ops (@WiltsSpecOps) November 16, 2022
A van driver is likely to land himself in hot water with their boss after they were caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel of their commercial vehicle.
Marked van showing off their company with the driver using their mobile phone whilst driving! #fatal5 #ProjectZero pic.twitter.com/JgbDnNvuPD
— Wilts Specialist Ops (@WiltsSpecOps) November 16, 2022
Officers were left shocked and bewildered after they found a child in the front seat of a car that was not properly restrained.
But even worse was the fact there was a suitable car seat in the back seats of the Mercedes.
Moreover, the driver was on their mobile phone at the time and was reported for all the offences.
Driver stopped for being on their mobile. We were shocked to find a 7yr old child in the front seat not on a suitable car seat (there was bizarrely a suitable one in the rear seat) Traffic Offence Report (TOR) issued & the child is now suitably restrained #fatal5 #ProjectZero pic.twitter.com/6onxnNG9xO
— Wilts Specialist Ops (@WiltsSpecOps) November 16, 2022
Elsewhere, a HGV was pulled over after the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
They are now likely to face a fine and points on their licence.
#RPU stopped the driver of this HGV for not wearing a seatbelt in #Swindon #fatal5 #ProjectZero pic.twitter.com/vOduwD0UtF
— Wilts Specialist Ops (@WiltsSpecOps) November 16, 2022
A truck driver in Swindon was also reported for an insecure load on the back of the vehicle.
The driver was also spotted using their mobile phone.
#RPU stopped the driver of this HGV for not wearing a seatbelt in #Swindon #fatal5 #ProjectZero pic.twitter.com/vOduwD0UtF
— Wilts Specialist Ops (@WiltsSpecOps) November 16, 2022
Various motorists have faced a long walk home after the roads policing unit seized various vehicles for no insurance and no licence.
In one case a driver’s vehicle was taken away after their licence expired.
The motorist had a Romanian licence which was only valid in the UK for a year
However, the driver had also lived in the UK between five and six years.
Vehicle stopped due to excessive tints (57). Driver had a Romanian licence, which had been exchanged from a Moldovan licence, meaning it’s only valid in UK for 1 year. He’s lived here for 5-6 years so vehicle seized & driver reported #fatal5 #ProjectZero pic.twitter.com/1C5dpQJ9ny
— Wilts Specialist Ops (@WiltsSpecOps) November 16, 2022
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