Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has set up an operation to target "high-risk road routes" which have seen "significant collisions" over the past two years.

"Operation Classify" will aim to reduce death and serious injury on the roads of Bolton.

According to GMP, the borough saw 71 serious collisions in 2022, with nine fatalities – with the trend continuing into 2023.

The force says excessive speeding, as well as drink and drug driving, and poor driver standards have been the main key causes of road traffic collisions in the area.

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Using data and working with local communities, officers have now identified routes for targeted action.

Drivers will also see electronic message boards on Bolton’s roads with messaging encouraging them to take care behind the wheel, along with other preventative messages that are applicable to that stretch of road.  

Inspector Nick Bonson from the Bolton Prevention Hub said: “This has been an ongoing piece of work for us, something that has required a lot of analysing routes and data, which has led us to focus our attention on a number of different routes across the town.

“Although we are not disclosing the routes publicly, you will notice an increased police presence on the roads as we strive to bring the number of serious and fatal collisions down in area.

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“The neighbourhood policing team in Bolton are routinely out across the whole district supported by the force’s roads policing unit, however, we are taking a further proactive approach to target drivers that feel they are above the law.

“I would like to thank Bolton Council and Transport for Greater Manchester, both authorities who have worked alongside us in identifying these high-risk routes.

“Please do take care when travelling on any roads throughout Bolton, the whole of Greater Manchester and beyond.

"Let this be a warning, if you are driving dangerously, on your phone behind the wheel or driving under the influence of drink or drugs, we will catch up with you.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.