By Isle of Wight Observer
A new roads policing task force, targeting dangerous drivers and collision hotspots, has been launched by Hampshire & IW Constabulary.
The force has established a new roads policing tasking team aimed at catching motorists committing the “Fatal Five” offences – the behaviours responsible for the highest number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads.
The Fatal Five approach expands on the previous Fatal Four, by adding careless or inconsiderate driving to the existing offences of speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, distractions such as using a mobile phone, and not wearing a seatbelt.
The new team will run targeted operations at serious collision hotspots across Hampshire and the Island. Officers can also be deployed to assist other areas of the force where vehicles are being used in criminal activity.
Police Sergeant Stephen Phillips, who will lead the team, said too many lives had been devastated by dangerous and careless driving.
He said the team had been created to “proactively and relentlessly” target the worst driver behaviours in the areas where the most serious collisions occur.
“We could be anywhere in unmarked cars, so don’t take the risk,” he said. “If you are speeding, drink or drug driving, using your phone behind the wheel, or putting lives at risk with careless or inconsiderate driving, we will find you and we will stop you.”
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police & Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, said tackling dangerous driving remains a priority. She added that younger and older drivers are particularly at risk and careless driving is a common factor in incidents resulting in death or serious injury.