Drive for safer motorways is stepped up a gear

More than 100 vehicles have been stopped, 11 vehicles seized and one motorist dealt with for reversing along a motorway slip road, during a two-week crackdown on tailgating on the M6 in Staffordshire.Run by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG), Operation Proximity kicked off on 11 March and ended on Sunday 24 March, with the aim of raising awareness of tailgating as an offence.A total of 36 vehicles were stopped for tailgating and 101 were stopped for lane hogging or bad lane discipline, with action taken against drivers for a number of traffic offences and poor driving habits, including:

 •             Five drivers and one passenger were dealt with for not wearing a seatbelt

 •             14 drivers were dealt with for lane discipline or using a mobile phone whilst driving

 •             13 vehicles were stopped and drivers reported for various traffic offences

 •             Nine vehicles were seized for having no insurance

 •             Three drivers were dealt with on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for having no tax, with two vehicles seized

 •             Three drivers were found to have no MOT

 •             One driver was stopped for driving at excess speeds

In addition, a driver was reported for driving without due care and attention after officers stopped a vehicle being reversed along a motorway exit slip road.Action was also taken against another motorist when they were spotted turning their vehicle around at an M6 Toll plaza and then driving the wrong way. They have been reported for dangerous driving.

Sergeant Rob Powell, from CMPG, said: "I am extremely pleased with the results of this operation carried out to highlight the dangers of tailgating. The majority of those stopped have been robustly dealt with by means of a Traffic Offence Report and will be either appearing in court, having points added to their licence, paying a fine, or being told to attend a driver awareness course.

“Tailgating continues to be a serious problem on our roads, with figures showing that one in eight of all road casualties resulted from people driving too close to the vehicle in front. Our message is simple: stay safe, stay back."

Operation Proximity supports our Look Again campaign, which is aimed at encouraging drivers to give the road their full attention and to avoid distractions.

It also coincides with a new National Highways campaign targeting lane hogs and tailgaters and urging motorists to carefully consider their driving habits as ‘little changes can change everything’.

National Highways Assistant Regional Safety Coordinator, Marie Biddulph, said: “In recent research we found that one in three drivers admitted to middle lane hogging while one in four had been guilty of tailgating within the last year on our roads.

“These aren’t just bad habits, they are dangerous behaviours and frustrating for other drivers.

“Through our latest safety campaign and working with police partners in operations like this, we want to motivate motorists to embrace small changes, which will have an overall positive effect on both them and their fellow road users, reduce congestion and keep traffic flowing.”

For more information about the campaign visit: Little changes, change everything - National Highways

For more information on our Look Again campaign, visit: Look Again to keep Staffordshire’s roads safe | Staffordshire Police