4,500 dangerous drivers brought to book in clampdown

Almost 4,500 dangerous drivers were brought to book by Greater Manchester Police in a week of action in a bid to reduce road deaths in the county.

Roadside police checks captured 1,147 speeding drivers and a further 2,649 were caught by fixed roadside cameras. Officers also gave Fixed Penalty Notices to 168 drivers for seatbelt offences and 141 others for using a mobile phone while driving.

They also arrested 89 drivers over the week for driving offences of which 83 were for drink driving. A further 289 drivers were given verbal warnings and advice on their poor driving.

The high profile clampdown was part of Operation Dice that was launched earlier this year in response to a staggering 42 per cent increase in road deaths in 2011 when compared to the previous year equating to 75 lives lost on the county’s roads.

Roads policing and local officers have been particularly targeting the ‘fatal four factors’ in road collisions as part of the week of action. These are speeding, drink-driving, drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts and drivers using mobile phones or being distracted through using in-car entertainment systems.

Officers warn that this was not a one-off crack down and that they will be continuing to target dangerous drivers round the clock across Greater Manchester in the coming year.

Penalties for dangerous and careless driving include fines, penalty points, disqualification and up to 14 years imprisonment for causing a death.

Operation Dice’s enforcement work is being supported by a hard-hitting Dicing With Death public awareness campaign featuring blood spattered furry dice that informs people of the 75 road deaths last year and urges them to drive safely.

The campaign also urges people to help reduce road deaths by providing them with information on dangerous drivers, those driving whilst disqualified or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs either directly on 101 the new single non-emergency number or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Chief Inspector Rachel Buckle from Greater Manchester Police Specialist Operations Division said: “Operation Dice is all about safeguarding precious lives and saving family and friends from having to suffer the terrible devastation that losing a loved one brings.

“Death and serious injuries are the real cost of driving dangerously and we want to urge people to seriously consider this every time they get behind the wheel and to drive with due care and consideration to weather and road conditions.

“Speed is a major factor in pedestrian, driver and passenger fatalities. Research clearly shows that pedestrians involved in a 30mph collision generally survive while those hit at 40mph do not.

“Please slow down, make sure that you and all your passengers are wearing seat belts and switch your mobile phone off before your turn your engine on. These three simple actions can help make our roads significantly safer and save families from suffering the anguish of living through the nightmare of losing someone they love.”