Police stop drivers in blitz on motoring offences

8:52am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News

POLICE fined 33 drivers for not wearing a seatbelt during a crackdown on driving in Bolton town centre.

As part of Operation Dice traffic officers were pulling over motorists near the Sweet Green Tavern in Trinity Street yesterday for not wearing seatbelts, using phones while driving and not having tax or insurance.

Operation Dice was launched to tackle motorists who risk lives — their own and others — by not obeying the law.

Police pulled over dozens of cars between 11am and 4pm, including 33 motorists who were fined £60 for not wearing their seatbelts, 14 who were caught using their mobile phones.

Officers seized two cars for not being taxed or insured.

In 2000 there were 118 people seriously injured or killed on the roads in Bolton.

In 2011 it was 79, and Insp Phil Bromley of the road policing unit said it is continuing to fall.

He added: “These operations heighten the profile of what we do. People may say this is to raise cash revenue and that it is not that important, but this is about making sure that people are safe on the roads.

“People need to be aware of everyone who uses the roads, including cyclists and pedestrians, and use the roads properly.

“This is serious because it is about people’s lives. The fewer doors my officers have to knock on to tell people that their relatives have been killed or seriously injured has got to be a good thing.”

Motorist Ismail Patel was fined £60 for not wearing a seatbelt.

He said: “I think it is a good thing the police are doing this. I know people get angry when they are caught but it is for your personal safety.

“You just don’t know what is round the corner. I will be wearing mine from now on.”

Another driver, who asked not to be named, said: “I don’t know why I wasn’t wearing it. I work at a school and we have just had road safety talk this morning so that’s ironic. I panicked when I was pulled over. The police explained why they were doing it and I understand and think it is a good thing, although £60 is a bit steep.”

Comments (7)

11:11am Wed 13 Mar 13

Rev-ol-ution says...

an other money raking "operation" for the police disco?

make me sick.
Stop waging war against motorists, get some murderers caught
an other money raking "operation" for the police disco? make me sick. Stop waging war against motorists, get some murderers caught Rev-ol-ution

12:40pm Wed 13 Mar 13

chris25 says...

if the motorists didnt commit offences they would not be able to make money .its the people who think they are above the law you should be getting on to .have you seen an accident because someone didnt belt up or was chatting on there phone ,i say well done let have more of these stops ,if you are not doing anything illegal whats your gripe
if the motorists didnt commit offences they would not be able to make money .its the people who think they are above the law you should be getting on to .have you seen an accident because someone didnt belt up or was chatting on there phone ,i say well done let have more of these stops ,if you are not doing anything illegal whats your gripe chris25

4:15pm Wed 13 Mar 13

marco999 says...

I can honestly say that virtually everytime I venture out in the car I spot someone chatting on their phone whilst driving. It's seems to be either women or van drivers who are the worst culprits. I knocked on the window of a car last week which was waiting to pull out into school run traffic. The woman who was driving the £30k Mercedes told me to **** off when I told her to get off the phone - classy. If you want to chat on the phone whilst driving get a hands free kit. Mine cost £40, works via bluetooth, clips onto the sun visor and performs perfectly every time. Maybe the foul mouthed woman couldn't afford £40 after shelling out £30k for her new Merc.
I can honestly say that virtually everytime I venture out in the car I spot someone chatting on their phone whilst driving. It's seems to be either women or van drivers who are the worst culprits. I knocked on the window of a car last week which was waiting to pull out into school run traffic. The woman who was driving the £30k Mercedes told me to **** off when I told her to get off the phone - classy. If you want to chat on the phone whilst driving get a hands free kit. Mine cost £40, works via bluetooth, clips onto the sun visor and performs perfectly every time. Maybe the foul mouthed woman couldn't afford £40 after shelling out £30k for her new Merc. marco999

4:40pm Wed 13 Mar 13

MarkAllRead says...

"Stop waging war against motorists, get some murderers caught"

People on the phone whilst driving are potentially murderers. Besides, I'd argue that if everyone drove properly and stuck to the rules, they'd have more time to investigate serious crime.
"Stop waging war against motorists, get some murderers caught" People on the phone whilst driving are potentially murderers. Besides, I'd argue that if everyone drove properly and stuck to the rules, they'd have more time to investigate serious crime. MarkAllRead

8:05pm Wed 13 Mar 13

buckfuzzby says...

Rev-ol-ution...I bet you'd be even sicker if the police turned up at your door to tell you that an uninsured driver had just maimed or killed a member of your family.
Rev-ol-ution...I bet you'd be even sicker if the police turned up at your door to tell you that an uninsured driver had just maimed or killed a member of your family. buckfuzzby

12:46am Thu 14 Mar 13

wsw69 says...

I'm surprised at the low number caught on their mobile. I could walk from Ladybridge, down Wigan and Deane Road in to town and most likely see double that number.

I've been driving since 1978, and I'm all for this. Only narrow minded idiots who harp on about it being an attack on motorists are most likely the ones who commit these offences.

buckfuzzby - An excellent point. :-)
I'm surprised at the low number caught on their mobile. I could walk from Ladybridge, down Wigan and Deane Road in to town and most likely see double that number. I've been driving since 1978, and I'm all for this. Only narrow minded idiots who harp on about it being an attack on motorists are most likely the ones who commit these offences. buckfuzzby - An excellent point. :-) wsw69

8:34am Thu 14 Mar 13

Wolfie190 says...

marco999 wrote:
I can honestly say that virtually everytime I venture out in the car I spot someone chatting on their phone whilst driving. It's seems to be either women or van drivers who are the worst culprits. I knocked on the window of a car last week which was waiting to pull out into school run traffic. The woman who was driving the £30k Mercedes told me to **** off when I told her to get off the phone - classy. If you want to chat on the phone whilst driving get a hands free kit. Mine cost £40, works via bluetooth, clips onto the sun visor and performs perfectly every time. Maybe the foul mouthed woman couldn't afford £40 after shelling out £30k for her new Merc.
I see young females texting and driving frequently and I dont have the greatest confidence in their driving ability at the best of times.
[quote][p][bold]marco999[/bold] wrote: I can honestly say that virtually everytime I venture out in the car I spot someone chatting on their phone whilst driving. It's seems to be either women or van drivers who are the worst culprits. I knocked on the window of a car last week which was waiting to pull out into school run traffic. The woman who was driving the £30k Mercedes told me to **** off when I told her to get off the phone - classy. If you want to chat on the phone whilst driving get a hands free kit. Mine cost £40, works via bluetooth, clips onto the sun visor and performs perfectly every time. Maybe the foul mouthed woman couldn't afford £40 after shelling out £30k for her new Merc.[/p][/quote]I see young females texting and driving frequently and I dont have the greatest confidence in their driving ability at the best of times. Wolfie190

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