More than 20 drivers stopped during road safety operation

More than 20 drivers were stopped during a road safety operation in Ongar earlier this week.


Officers from specialist teams stopped vehicles and used Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to identify vehicles whose drivers were committing motoring offences or had been involved in crime on Tuesday, October 26.

A total of 19 people were stopped for not wearing a seat belt and seven people for using a mobile phone whilst driving. One vehicle was also seized.

 Something as simple as not wearing a seatbelt, even in a minor or low speed crash could result in death. 
Chief Insp Alan Ray

Epping Forest district commander Alan Ray said: “We continue to focus on reducing crime, but are equally committed to reducing the number of road crashes involving fatalities or serious injuries.

“We are targeting unacceptable driver behaviour such as manner of driving, use of a mobile phone, failure to wear a seatbelt, speeding and intoxication.

“Something as simple as not wearing a seatbelt, even in a minor or low speed crash could result in a death. 

"Air bags, when deployed, are designed to cushion a driver's face and body which is restrained by a seatbelt, by not wearing a seatbelt, the air bag could break the driver's neck. Seatbelts are the primary safety device in all vehicles.”

"Whilst reducing and detecting crime, we want to try and keep people as safe as possible whilst travelling through our district.”