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Road safety operation raises 'concerns'

20/08/07

An initiative targeting the number of speeding drivers and unroadworthy vehicles passing through a West Yorkshire village has raised concerns over the type of vehicles travelling on the UK's roads, car insurance customers may be interested to know.

The Birkenshaw operation was undertaken by members of the Batley, Birkenshaw and Birstall Neighbourhood Policing Team, as well as the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, reports the Spenborough Guardian.

Over the course of a day, one driver was arrested for being disqualified and yet still behind the wheel, seven vehicles were seized because they did not have car insurance or licences, four were found to have no road tax and 12 motorists were caught speeding.

Councillor Andrew Palfreeman said that the initiative demonstrated that the council and local police were determined to remove illegal drivers and unroadworthy vehicles off the road.

"What concerns me is that the figures reflect the position on just one random day," he stated.

"How many defective vehicles, uninsured drivers and untaxed cars are passing through every local community each day?"

Earlier in the month, the Liberal Democrats criticised the government's stance on driving without adequate car or van insurance, arguing that current fines are too lenient.

The party's transport spokesperson Susan Kramer said that the actions of uninsured drivers ultimately cost "law-abiding" motorists thousands of pounds every year.

The current level of fines for the offence is sending the wrong message to people who fail to take out adequate car insurance, she claimed.

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