Crackdown on anti-social driving

Traffic police drew in resources from a wide area of Sussex to mount Operation Roller in Hastings and Rother Division.

Unmarked police cars were called in from other parts of the force area as a dozen members of the Bexhill-based Road Policing Department manned check-points across the division.

Chillingly, officers manning a check-point at Glyne Gap stopped no fewer than 14 drivers in the first hour for not wearing seatbelts - and that was just on the westbound lane.

PC Phil Duffy said excuses ranged from "I just popped out..." to "I didn't realise I wasn't wearing it...."

All were given 30 fixed penalty notices.

But the aim was to crack down on anti-social driving of all types - from speeding to drink-driving, aggressive driving to the use of hand-held mobile phones while at the wheel.

A vehicle equipped with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) was brought in to assist with the search for stolen or untaxed vehicles.

Morning rush-hour drivers found they needed to be on their best behaviour.

The congested A259 trunk road was the Road Policing Department's main target area. Officers manned Bexhill check-points at Glyne Gap and at Little Common Road while the unmarked cars went on mobile patrol.

Road Policing Unit local commander Inspector Natalie Carron said that in the light of the 17 deaths on roads in the Hastings and Rother Division the object of Operation Roller was to encourage responsible driving and promote safety.

"My staff will be targeting the anti-social motorist - those who drive aggressively, drink and drive, use their mobiles, or drive whilst disqualified.

"We will target those who have a blatant disregard for safety in an effort to educate them to wear their seatbelts and drive within the speed limit.

"Every road user has a responsibility to drive safely. If you decide not to, expect to be caught."

Sergeant Nick Chambers said units would be on the look-out for all types of anti-social use of the roads.

The Little Common Road speed camera was being operated by WPC Sarah Blatchly and PC Dave Catt.

Asked about local driving standards, WPC Blatchly said: "There is a speed issue in Bexhill - especially on King Offa Way where there have been fatal accidents, though hopefully that will soon be addressed when a permanent speed camera is installed."

As they set up their equipment, both she and PC Catt were aware that a proportion of drivers in the rush-hour traffic would undoubtedly be flashing their headlights to warn other drivers of the speed camera they had passed.

PC Catt said: "At the end of the day, we are here to reduce speed. If people drive more slowly and responsibly as a result then we have achieved our objective - even if it is in a round-about way."