For two weeks, police forces across the South west
region will be mirroring Dorset’s road safety campaign ‘no
excuse’.
Operation Vortex starts
today, Monday 19 July, and will be running until the end of the
month.
Dedicated teams of road
policing officers – using unmarked cars and motorcycles – will
patrol a wide variety of roads across the South west, in a
concerted effort to reduce injury road traffic collisions by
improving driver behaviour.
In Dorset, the year-long
‘no excuse’ campaign has been running since January this year.
It aims to reduce
casualties by tackling the main types of driver and motorcyclist
behaviour known to cause death or serious injury. These incorporate
the ‘fatal four’ of speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, distractions
– especially using a mobile phone while driving – and driving under
the influence of drink or drugs.
Chief Inspector Bob
Nichols, Head of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: “Together with
our neighbouring forces we are sending out the clear message that
motorists, flouting the rules, are likely to be caught anywhere
throughout the entire region.
“The intention is to get
motorists at all times to concentrate 100 per cent on their driving
behaviour when behind the wheel – not just when a marked police car
is in sight.
“With our ‘no excuse’
enforcement, education and media campaign and the region’s
Operation Vortex we want to ensure a long-term change in driver
behaviour.
“Our aim is to make Dorset’s roads safer. We are working very
hard to reach this goal and, with the co-operation of motorists, we
can reduce the tragedy of serious injuries and deaths on our
roads.”