A team of roads policing officers at Orwell Trucks – supplied

 
Police in Norfolk have been targeting drivers who fail to belt-up as part of a week-long enforcement campaign.

Officers from Norfolk and Suffolk’s Roads Policing and Firearms Operation Units (RPFOU) and the Road Casualty Reduction Teams (RCRTs) supported the Europe-wide TISPOL campaign (13-19 March) with a total of 109 tickets issued for seatbelt offences.

As part of the campaign, roads policing officers also used an unmarked HGV to target drivers on the A11 and A47 on Thursday (16 March).

The vehicle, which was loaned from Orwell Trucks was also used on major routes in Suffolk during the week, as it provides officers with an ideal vantage point to spot drivers not wearing seatbelts or using a mobile phone. It also means officers can look into the cabs of other lorry drivers.

Last Thursday (16 March), police issued 29 tickets for seatbelt offences while two drivers were stopped for using their mobile phone and another driver foe not being in proper control of a vehicle. Other results included;
· Speeding x 2
· Dangerous condition x 1
· Defective tyre x 1
· Defective exhaust x 1
· Construction and use offences x 4

Sgt Julian Ditcham, who led the operation on Thursday, said: “Due to the physical height of commercial vehicles, it is often difficult for patrol officers to view into the cab and thereby detect offences such as using a mobile phone, which distracts drivers and increases their chances of being involved in a serious of fatal collision.

“The HGV cab provides officers with an ideal vantage point to spot dangerous driving, either catching people using mobile phones or not wearing a seatbelt. This was a successful campaign and will be repeated in the future.

“We would offer our thanks to Orwell Trucks for supporting this road safety campaign.”

Wearing a seatbelt can prevent many collision-related injuries and fatalities and it is compulsory drivers wear them, and ensure their passengers buckle-up too.

Seatbelts should be worn in any vehicle they are provided in, including buses and goods vehicles.

Anyone caught not wearing a seatbelt may be issued with a TOR (Traffic Offence Report) and face a fine, points on their licence or even court action.