The Staffordshire Commissioner has praised the Central Motorway Police Group for tackling criminality and promoting vehicle safety on one of Stoke-on-Trent’s busiest arterial routes.
The CMPG, in partnership with Staffordshire Police, has patrolled the A500 since June, in a move initiated and rubber-stamped by the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis.
With the Staffordshire Commissioner’s office supporting this week’s #RoadSafetyWeek social media campaign, figures even for the initial six month period highlight the impact of the scheme.
Since June, there have been 25 speed operations on the A500 with 898 offences recorded.
At its peak, 112 speeders were actually captured in one day.
In the opening 10 days alone there were 49 incidents logged along the A500. Of those there were two arrests, three vehicles seized, 14 traffic offence reports/fixed notices issued and a highest speed recorded at 94mph in a 50mph limit area.
During this period there were two pursuits, with one stolen vehicle recovered as a result.
In addition, there have been seven arrests recorded on the A500 since June although these do not tell the full story as many incidents, such as pursuits, begin on this section of road but are concluded elsewhere.
The arrests were: two for vehicle theft, one for disqualified driver, one for drink-driving, one burglar, one illegal immigrant and one uninsured and unlicensed driver who provided false details.
Mr Ellis believes handing over the main arterial road to CMPG has helped tackle criminality.
He said: ‘This isn’t just about clamping down on speeding motorists or people using the mobiles.
‘This is also about criminality on the roads and stamping out on organised crime, while bringing a culture of road safety to what is one of our county’s main roads.
‘The statistics speak for themselves. We are committed to making Staffordshire’s roads safer.’
Sion Hathaway, motorway patrol Inspector with CMPG, said: ‘It’s now almost six months since we started patrolling the A500 together with our colleagues from Highways England Traffic Officer Service.
‘In that time CMPG officers have been on the road every day tackling those individuals that use the A500 for criminal purposes and those that choose to drive in a way that endangers other road users.
‘I’m in no doubt the work we’re doing is helping to make Staffordshire a safer place for honest law abiding road users and we’re really grateful to the Staffordshire Commissioner for his ongoing support.’
