Week-long roads blitz snares 200

NEARLY 200 motorists have been charged with traffic offences as part of a campaign to reduce road casualties in
the Lothian and Borders force area.

Officers launched Operation Oakum last Tuesday, and over the week patrols were sent out to detect and deter poor driving.

As a result, 11 people were charged with careless driving, while 67 were stopped for speeding.

A total of 55 drivers were charged with seatbelt offences and 51 people have been reported to the procurator fiscal for using a mobile phone while behind the wheel. Six people were charged with drink-driving.

During the crackdown, an almost 30 per cent reduction in serious injury collisions was recorded, compared with the previous year.

Inspector Andy Amour, from the road policing unit, said: “While we are delighted to have observed a comparative decrease in serious injury collisions, there are still far
too many motorists driving in
a manner which puts themselves and other road users at risk.”