July 2013 - Page 2 of 3 - Forrest Williams Archive - Forrest Williams - page 2 July 2013 - Page 2 of 3 - Forrest Williams

Freephone: 0800 1933 999
Mobile Freephone: 01623 397 200

Chat Online

Motoring Advice Blog

Archive for July, 2013

Police Drink-driving Summer Crackdown

This year’s campaign found that 94 out of 2,616 drivers were over the legal alcohol limit when breathalyzed.

 

The campaign took course over a period of four weeks.

 

Those over the limit involved 21 drivers under the age of 25 and 61 drivers aged 25 and over.

 

However, 110 drivers were caught over the limit last year, when the campaign ran at the same time as the European Football Championships.

 

Officers have been known to step up recently by participating in road checks across the county more frequently, in areas where some drivers believe that they are less likely to get caught, fully aware they are drink driving.

 

Reduction manager for Essex police Adam Pipe, commented: “Sadly some people consider themselves to be above the law and make the decision to get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both.

 

“Not only does this put their lives at risk but the lives of their passengers or other innocent road users who drive well within the law”

 

Mr Pipe said that every year he has been disappointed to see that a small minority of people ignore the law and choose to drink and drive, but also that drink drivers will not be tolerated and they will continue to be arrested, putting them before the courts where they will be brought to justice.

 

If you need expert advice call in confidence on 01623 397200 for initial free advice.

Police And Neighbours Join Forces To Improve Road Safety

Neighbours and police in Cedar Road and Christchurch were joined by Sutton South Councillor, Tony Shields, during a speed watch operation last week after concerns about the speed of traffic in the area.

 

The group took part whilst equipped with a speed gun in which they were trained how to use, on the look out for anyone committing a recognisable motoring offence.

 

They found out most culprits were actually from the surrounding area.

 

Several drivers in the area were spotted travelling at 30ph on Cedar Road even though the speed limit was 20mph.

 

However, no drivers were spotted not wearing a seatbelt or talking on their phones.

 

Although the speeding drivers were not prosecuted, they are expected to receive letters telling them that they were noticed.

 

PC Mark Towler said: “It appeared that many of the speeding drivers were local residents. All residents need to be aware that other roads in this area like Langley Park Road and Cavendish Road also have 20mph restrictions.”

 

Sergeant Geraldine Costello said more signs will be installed in the area, to make sure people know the limit and don’t forget about it, either.

Worker Blames Tiredness For Careless Driving

A nightshift worker was followed by police officers for several miles when spotted driving erratically through Frome.

 

Officers stopped Steven John Watts after following him for several miles as he drove through Frome on March 31st.

 

Officers intended to do a breath test but after pulling the vehicle over, they could not smell any sign of alcohol at all on the defendant, who claimed he wasn’t drunk, just very tired and on his way to work.

 

They were told he had been kept awake by neighbors, who had builders working next door, which he also claimed was the cause of his tiredness.

 

Watts pleaded guilty to driving a MG ZR on the A361 at Frome well below the speed limit without due care or attention at Midnight.

 

He was told by magistrates that he should not have been driving at all when faced with his level of tiredness before fining him £65, endorsing his license with a total of three penalty points and ordering him to pay £35 costs along with a £20 victim surcharge.

 

The police officers spotted the yellow MG whilst patrolling the A361 Marsden Road, said Prosecutor Emma Chetland.

 

“They followed it and the vehicle drifted into the middle of the road on several occasions and turned off a roundabout towards the village of Tytherington,” she said.

 

“This was done without indication and it them moved across the central white line and continued to drift across the road and on one occasion it was on the wrong side of the road.

 

She also added, “It was driving at erratic speeds, suddenly accelerating and then slowing down and after one mile it approached a T junction and didn’t stop but turned right without looking.”

 

The court was told by Watts that he tried to get some sleep before his next shift after returning home from a night shift the previous day delivering newspapers.

 

Our Dangerous Driving Solicitor says that tiredness is not a defence to dangerous driving and may be an aggravating factor. The courts may consider that you started driving knowing that you were tool tired.  Having said that the court dealt with him very leniently imposing the minimum of 3 penalty points.

Forrest Williams TV