Anti-social drivers targeted in Bedale

35 vehicles were stopped in and around one Yorkshire Dales town this past weekend as North Yorkshire Police joined forces with the Vehicle Operators and Standards Agency (VOSA) for another crackdown on defective vehicles and bad driving.

The operation, which was carried out between 6.30pm and 11.30pm on Friday night around Bedale, was part of a series of initiatives across the district in response to local concerns about anti-social behaviour, un-roadworthy vehicles and poor driving standards.

Officers from the Force's Eastern Area Road Policing Group were joined by the local Safer Neighbourhood Team and targeted suspected defective vehicles, dangerous and erratic driving and drivers suspected of anti-social behaviour.

Each vehicle stopped by officers was then escorted to Bedale Railway Station car park, where VOSA staff carried out a detailed mechanical inspection.

The checks on 35 vehicles resulted in 13 immediate prohibitions for serious defects, preventing the vehicles from being used on public roads; 10 advisory notices for less serious defects which must be rectified; 9 endorsable fixed penalties for serious road traffic offences; 21 non-endorsable fixed penalties for less serious road traffic offences; 2 warnings issued for careless or anti-social driving; 35 breath tests carried out - all negative.

Road Policing Officer TC Tony Call, said: "The operation was a great success and reinforces the message that poor driving standards and anti-social driving, along with defective vehicles, will not be tolerated by North Yorkshire Police.

"Our commitment to Safer Neighbourhoods doesn't stop at street level, but encompasses all aspects of anti-social behaviour. At the very least these drivers are a menace; at worst, they pose a serious risk of severe injury or death to themselves and other people."

There will be further spot-check initiatives until these drivers properly respect the wishes of the vast majority

Stuart Grainger - North Yorkshire Police

Sergeant Stuart Grainger, of the Bedale Safer Neighbourhood Team, added: "I'm very pleased with the results. This is the second successful planned operation in the Bedale and Aiskew area in the last couple of months.

"Since taking up my post in Bedale I've had consistent requests from the community to tackle aggressive and nuisance driving and this is just the beginning of our efforts to tackle this problem.

"People here do not want the streets to be a playground for particular drivers who flout the rules of the road, disrupt the town or put the safety of others at risk. We will continue to target poor driving, as well as other offences such as the use of mobile phones and drink driving.

"There will be further spot-check initiatives until these drivers properly respect the wishes of the vast majority of people of the Bedale community who are fed up with this type of anti-social driving."