Operation Spotlight – The Fatal Four

Dear NHM user, 

During the two weeks between 22nd September and 5th October West Mercia Police has supported the National campaign Operation Spotlight, which is a National and Local focus to make and keep our roads safe.
The Operation focuses on “The Fatal Four” factors that can cause our roads to become unsafe, causing road traffic collisions and potentially serious or fatal harm to those involved some of whom might be innocent parties.

Those four factors are;
• Speeding or Inappropriate Speed.
• Mobile phone use.
• Drink or Drug driving.
• Seatbelts not being worn.

During the two weeks Pc Mike from the Rural North Safer Neighbourhood Team supported this Operation by conducting 10 Speed Enforcement Operations across the Rural North parishes, Gobowen & Selattyn, St Martins, Weston Rhyn and Whittington. During the 10 operations a total of 50 vehicles were recorded as exceeding the speed limits in place and were all reported for prosecution.  

Pc Mike is currently the only trained and active operator of the TruCam speed device used in these operations for the Oswestry and Ellesmere areas. He has assisted the other local Neighbourhood Teams by completing a further 8 Speed Enforcement Operations in those parishes where speeding has been raised as a concern. During those 8 operations a further 39 vehicles were recorded exceeding the speed limits and were again all submitted for prosecution.

The penalties for these offences depending on the speed recorded varies from a Speed Awareness Course, £100 Fine and 3 Penalty Points, and if largely excessive, a Summons to Court. 

Excessive or inappropriate speed has no place on our roads and enforcement activities will continue to take place to address the issue. Activities and patrols also take place to address the other 3 fatal factors mentioned above with the Policing of our roads being a 24 / 7 and 365 days a year priority in which a number of units / teams take part in addressing.

Please help us keep our roads safe by abiding by the laws of the road. Thank you.