The Essex-based operation caught drivers breaking the speed limit, drink-driving and more
More than 700 drivers were caught speeding, drink-driving and driving without insurance in a recent 72-hour crackdown by police in Essex.
From 31 March – 2 April, officers from Essex Police’s Casualty Reduction Team took to roads in Chelmsford, Basildon, Southend and Grays to monitor road users’ behaviour.
During the three-day operation, officers caught 672 speeding drivers, 12 motorists using a mobile phone illegally and 17 driving without wearing a seatbelt. In addition, six drivers were found to be driving without insurance, eight were stopped for failing to have a valid MOT and many were caught driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
According to the Department for Transport (DfT), over 24,000 people were seriously injured or killed in road collisions in the year ending March 2016.
Thompsons Solicitors has worked closely with some of the UK’s major trade unions since its foundation in 1921, to ensure members across the UK are fairly represented in personal injury matters. Every year, our specialist road traffic accident lawyers support thousands of union members and their families, in compensation claims following a serious injury or death on the roads.
Click to read the stories of some of our road traffic accident clients.
Lisa Shaw, a road accident lawyer at Thompsons Solicitors, praised the efforts of Essex Police but argues additional action needs to be taken to tackle the issue of drivers flouting the law.
“For more than 700 drivers to be caught breaking the law within a small geographical location and timescale is deeply concerning. There is absolutely no excuse for drivers to ignore the laws put in place to protect vulnerable road users, and these results clearly suggest that there is a very real problem with people not taking road safety seriously enough.
“We hope similar road safety campaigns, among other deterrents such as speed cameras and an increased police presence, will be introduced across the country to help keep people safe, but the continuing cuts to police budgets will only make it harder to crackdown on negligent drivers.
“We implore the Government to act now, so that the millions of British people travelling to and from work each day are as safe as they can be.”
To learn more about the benefits of trade union membership, visit our Trade Unions page.
Injured on the roads? Help and compensation is close at hand.
If you’ve been injured on the roads in the last three years, our expert road traffic accident solicitors can support you. Whether you were injured as the driver or passenger in a vehicle, or as a pedestrian or cyclist, you may be able to claim for damages.
Unlike other firms, Thompsons only ever acts for the injured person – never for insurance companies. This means we will fight harder to secure the maximum level of compensation for your injuries, and not try to please motor insurance paymasters.
Contact us today for a free, no obligation assessment of whether you have a claim for compensation following a road accident.
For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.