Police target young drivers
Published 9 Oct 2012 13:00
6 Comments
FIFE POLICE will target rural and country roads as well as young drivers this weekend to detect those who drive inappropriately and place themselves and others in danger.
The initiative will see an increased policing presence with marked and unmarked police vehicles and camera vehicles deployed.
It follows the disappointing results of the initiative of the 21st-23rd September.
Chief Inspector Adrian Annandale, head of road policing, said, "The results of the previous initiative were particularly disappointing, given the fact that it was well-publicised, with 65 driving offences detected.
"Particular attention will again be paid to the behaviour by some of our young drivers, who continue to be most likely to be involved in road crashes.
"We will be out in force in all areas of the county targeting roads we know are used by those who drive unsafely, and this includes drivers of all ages.
"There were fewer people seriously injured in road crashes in Fife last year. This reduction is testament to the work carried out by the Force and partner agencies in support of the Policing Plan commitment to increase road safety.
"Such initiatives are designed to reinforce the message to drivers that careful driving is their responsibility and that those who choose to drive otherwise are likely to be stopped, breath-tested and charged with any offences that may come to light.
"Travel safety is everyone's personal responsibility and I would urge everyone using the rural and country road network to drive with care and enjoy their weekend in Fife."
Camera Safety Partnership manager Andy Jones said of the campaign: "Statistics for road casualties suggest the Rural Roads Initiative and other strategies adopted in Fife are contributing to an overall reduction in casualties.
"However, the number of incidents on rural roads where young drivers are involved suggests we need to continue to deliver initiatives to target this group.
"Safety camera units will be strategically placed to complement the operational plan of the road policing units during this weekend to support this initiative."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
-
redrobin
296 posts
Oct 9, 21:08
Report commenta welcome initiative...however it is not always the young driver....if it is perhaps it is too easy to pass the driving test?...suggest the police should tackle the roundabout outside their H Q..and check their own driving skills....wrong lane last night guys and you only had one working light at the front..
Recommend?
Yes 22
No 4
-
maclam
335 posts
Oct 10, 00:54
Report commentyes a very welcome initiative...but it only means that police attention is withdrawn from other matters which need dealt with just as much . better to provide an all round meaningful police service dealing efficiently with all types of crime rather than target specific problems whenever they feel like it.
Recommend? Yes 30
No 4
-
******
Oct 10, 06:56
Report commentThis comment has been removed by a moderator
-
MrUnderstood
26 posts
Oct 10, 09:31
Report commentI wish they would put as much focus on drivers who can't follow simple road markings or directions, I am sick of drivers who dither about on the roads becoming hazards for other road users. They are just as bad a irratic drivers, the combination of these two forces makes driving no longer a pleasure.
I think the police shouldn't focus on one particular group of road users like young drivers, they should be looking out for incompetent drivers who cause obstructions and problems.
More powers need to be brought in to challenge these drivers and make them sit a competency test to whether they should be allowed to drive. Passing the test is the easy part, maintaining the high level of driving standards is what counts!
Recommend? Yes 5
No 3
-
david92
1 post
Oct 10, 21:19
Report commentBiggest problem is people who just cant drive. If you look on the road, people cant do simple things such as: keep in lane you should be, cutting lanes, cutting around abouts without even looking in the mirror. I am myself a drive and how many times I got cut off and horned like it was my fault. A lot of times it is not only young drivers but middle age and older people and to be honest, older people are worst cos they drive like there is no one else on the road as they cant see in the mirrors properly that mean they dont follow safety.
Recommend? Yes 3
No 2
-
stevie1888
15 posts
Oct 11, 08:44
Report commentthe police should also dish out tickets to bad drivers for not indicating where they are turning,theres nothing werse than sitting waiting for another driver to go round a rounderbout only to turn off without indicating,which leaves you waiting even longer to pull away,indicating is one of the most important parts of driving yet many drivers forget to do it.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 2
-
daviebhoy67
20 posts
Oct 13, 23:20
Report commentDrivers who text, using facebook or whatever...their eyes looking down as they drive behind you, they occassionally take their eyes off their precious I-Phone as they keep up to date. I see this all the time in my rear-view mirror. You see them often, eyes darting up and down, mostly down.
It is not always young drivers either. I drove in to Touch primary school car park recently and stopped a woman driver and asked her why she was on her phone the whole time as she sped past a primary with phone in hand, she had three infants in the car. She said she wasn't, a witness corroborated she was.....so she stated she was a special constable.
What alarms me about this story was the fact she was a child-minder with other peoples kids in her car. It seems like some people feel it is safe to drive and text, maybe I am getting too old because I find it hard to text and walk, never mind drive.
Recent drive to Stirling, drivers texting or on their phone and visible to others, we counted eleven. Next time I see someone with the eyes looking elsewhere, especially down, I am going to hit the brakes....that should get their attention. bang!
Recommend? Yes 3
No 1
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
