Clamping down on bad drivers

Police caught 80 people not wearing seatbelts in Newark during a six-hour operation aimed at reducing the number of people seriously injured or killed in road accidents.

The operation was part of the Fatal 4 campaign that tackles driver behaviour.

Bad habits targeted are failure to wear a seatbelt, using a mobile phone, drink-driving and speeding.

The 80 people not wearing seatbelts were given £60 fixed penalty notices and warned about the potential dangers.

Two checkpoints were set up in Northgate and London Road.

Three other £60 fixed penalties were issued to drivers using mobile phones. Their licences were also endorsed with three penalty points.

Three vehicles were seized because they were not insured, and those drivers were issued with £200 fines and will receive six points on their licence.

Sergeant Mark Burrell, of Newark Police, said Thursday’s operation, Operation Docible, would be repeated.

“It was worrying and shocking to see so many drivers caught in such a short space of time. Driver behaviour has to change,” he said.

Figures show Nottinghamshire is on course to achieve a 40% reduction in the number of serious casualties on the county’s roads by 2020.

A report to the county council’s transport and highways committee outlined progress in 2011.

The 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured was based on an annual average of 517 for the period 2005-09.

The report shows the 2011 figure was 453.

The council said road and road safety improvements, lower speed limits in certain areas, speed awareness campaigns and education had helped.

Mr Richard Jackson, chairman of the county council’s transport and highways committee, said: “We all know that there is more to be done and we are committed to carrying on this vital work to bring casualty levels down even further.”