KING’S LYNN: Drivers urged to put their Road Safety first
County Council road safety initiative checking car seats on the school run in Gaywood - Norfolk County Council road safety officer Sandy Reid checks the seating of youngsters Gian (left) and Louie.
Dozens of drivers and hundreds of school children had the road safety message reinforced during a joint council and police operation in Lynn.
A total of 37 motorists were caught committing traffic offences during the day-long clampdown in the town on Friday.
And 15 schools took part in activities to help to reinforce the message of the second Road Safety 1st initiative run by Norfolk Police and county council officers.
Iain Temperton, the council’s casualty reduction team manager, said the operation was designed to target a minority of drivers who flout traffic laws.
One of the main areas in which checks were carried out was to ensure school children were being transported in suitable seats to and from local schools.
Mr Temperton said: “We did find the compliance levels were generally very high.
“Most children were being carried in suitable car seats. That’s encouraging. Most people are getting it right.”
The operation was carried out as part of the county council’s Keep your Mind on the Road safety campaign.
Alec Byrne, chairman of the Norfolk Casualty Reduction Partnership, said the spate of recent deaths on the county’s roads emphasised the importance of continuing the efforts to reduce casualty rates.
He said: “Every kind of road user can play a part in road safety.
“Some drivers will not have appreciated being pulled over by the police, but in the end this is all about reducing the number of people killed and injured on the roads.”
Sgt Peter Howlett, of the Norfolk Police roads unit based at Swaffham, added: “By pooling our resources in one day of action we can hopefully raise awareness to all road users of the dangers they face and identify those who continue to break the law, putting themselves and others at risk.”
What were drivers caught doing?
A total of 37 offences were spotted by police during Friday’s operation. The largest group of lawbreakers, eight drivers, were caught not wearing seatbelts. Four drivers were issued with vehicle defect notifications, while two were caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel. Two other motorists were caught going through red traffic lights, while one was reported for driving a vehicle without an MOT. Another vehicle was seized for having no insurance and a driver was reported for an offence relating to a tachograph, the device fitted to lorries to record speed, distance and the driver’s activity. A motorcyclist was caught riding a machine without a helmet. A further 17 “miscellaneous” offences were also recorded by police, including speeding and having car windows with excessive tint.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Monday 20 May 2013
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Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
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