In total, 14 breath tests were conducted and 10 moving traffic offences identified and dealt with including road users driving on the wrong side of the road and driving without wearing a seatbelt. One vehicle was seized for no tax, MOT or insurance. The average speed was under the limit, although one driver of note was speeding at 53mph in a 40 zone by Drake’s Café on the A386.
At this time of year, road safety is a particular priority and the police’s focus remains on keeping people safe, which involves educating drivers on road safety and issues such as vehicular conditions, speed awareness and drink and drug driving.
Neighbourhood beat manager PC Wayne Thielmann responded to criticism levelled at the local police on social media for carrying out these operations, saying that the police were responding to concerns from residents about speeding motorists.
He said: ‘The locations that were targeted were purposely selected due to local residents highlighting issues and raising concerns of speeding vehicles in their area, Parkwood Road and the A386 at Grenofen in particular. Officers were on Plymouth Road due to complaints received of drivers cutting across the roundabout at Brook Lane thus putting other road users at risk. These are all areas which will continue to be monitored in the future.
‘When police stop vehicles it could be for a number of reasons, traffic offences, drink/drug driving, to disrupt the flow of drug supply, protecting vulnerable people to name but a few.
‘On this occasion the emphasis was on road safety. The majority of drivers that were stopped were given suitable advice about their speed and potential drink driving monitoring (the morning after the night before scenario) especially over the Christmas period. This type of operation will continue at various locations across West Devon in the future so please don’t be surprised if you do see us in your area.’