TWO drivers in Fife were caught driving at almost twice the 20mph speed limit in school zones during school hours.
And in Sauchie, Clacknannanshire, a pregnant driver was reported for driving dangerously by failing to stop in time at a zebra crossing causing her vehicle to collide with the rear of a vehicle stopped at crossing causing that vehicle to strike a pedestrian using the crossing.
The pedestrian sustained only minor injuries and the female driver was taken to hospital as a precaution. She and her unborn baby were unhurt.
These are just a sample of the offences detected on Wednesday 22 February 2012, during The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) coordinated day of action, supported by all eight Police Forces and Safety Camera Partnerships, focussing on speeding and inappropriate driving.
The campaign resulted in a total of 561 offences being detected including:
* 390 drivers stopped for driving at excessive speed
* 128 offences were detected by mobile safety camera vans
* 19 offenders charged with driving dangerously and 24 charged with driving carelessly
Chief Superintendent Derek Robertson from Lothian and Borders Police, who is the ACPOS lead for Casualty Reduction said:
“This day of action on speeding and inappropriate driving was the last in the series of national ACPOS Campaigns for the 2011/12 Strategy.
“As can be seen from the figures, far too many drivers continue to drive at excessive speeds or in a dangerous or careless manner on the roads of Scotland on a daily basis potentially putting their lives and the lives of others at risk each time.
“Among some of the offences detected during our day of action lie some serious incidents involving pedestrian injury, dangerous driving and speeding near schools. Our message is clear – speeding and inappropriate driving risks lives, young and old.
“As we see the end of this year’s Campaign the new 2012/13 Campaign begins as we continue to endeavour to reduce the number of people who continue to take unacceptable risks and endanger the lives of road users.
Regional breakdown and incidents of note.
In the Central Scotland force area, four people were caught driving at excessive speed and two were reported for dangerous driving.
In Sauchie, a pregnant driver reported for driving dangerously by failing to stop in time at a zebra crossing causing her vehicle to collide with the rear of a vehicle stopped at crossing causing that vehicle to strike a pedestrian using the crossing. The pedestrian sustained only minor injuries and female driver was taken to hospital as a precaution was she and unborn baby were unhurt.
In the Dumfries and Galloway force area, 30 people were caught driving at excessive speed, in addition one person was reported for careless driving.
In the Fife force area, nine people were caught driving at excessive speed in one person was reported for careless driving. One young driver was caught driving at 82mph in a 60mph speed limit.
Also two people had their vehicles were seized for driving no insurance, one of which had no driving licence and was also given a conditional offer of a fixed penalty for four further road traffic offences.
In the Grampian force area, 28 people were caught driving at excessive speed six of which were aged 17-25 years old. In addition two people were reported for careless driving.
In the Lothian and Borders force area, 38 people were caught driving at excessive speed.
Whilst carrying out a check in Robertson Avenue, Edinburgh officers observed a 6-year-old child being carried on a passengers lap within a van.
Enquiry revealed that the driver was a provisional driving licence holder only, the van was subsequently seized and the driver reported for driving without a licence and dangerous carriage of the child.
In the Northern Constabulary force area, 47 people were caught driving at excessive speed and 66 speeding offences were detected via Northern Safety Camera Partnership.
In the Tayside force area, 32 people were caught driving at excessive speed, with one person being report for dangerous driving and two people being reported for careless driving.
Two vehicles were seized under the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2004; both of these were male drivers under 25. One driver was issued with a conditional offer for dangerous carriage of passengers where they were carrying five persons in a vehicle designed for four. Road policing officers in Dundee were involved in a Pursuit with a disqualified driver who was caught and is in custody for court today (23/02/2012). 21 seatbelt offences and five offences for driving whilst using a mobile phone were also detected.
In the Strathclyde force area, 202 people were caught driving at excessive speed, in addition 16 people were reported for dangerous driving and 18 people were reported for careless driving.
