Blitz on Dangerous Drivers

10.05.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 12th Aug 2007

Police and road safety officers are joining forces to clamp down on motorists using mobile phones, speeding and refusing to wear seat-belts while driving.

Road safety officers from Milton Keynes Council are taking part in high-profile roadside blitzes with police officers from Thames Valley Police to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, using mobile phones while driving and about not wearing seat-belts.

The combined road safety task force will visit locations around the city known to have a speeding problem, or for breaking mobile phone and seat-belt motoring laws.

In the last three years 573 people in Milton Keynes have been killed or injured as a direct result of speed.

Depending on the circumstances, drivers caught breaking the laws may get:

• A chat with a road safety officer to explain why they have been stopped and the consequences of their driving.

• A place on a "Driver Diversion" course.

• A £30 ticket, or a £60 ticket together with 3 points on their licence.

So far, 48 drivers being spoken to and warned by a road safety officer, 12 have received a £60 fine and 3 points on their license for speeding and, nine have received a £30 fine for not wearing a seat belt.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Williams, cabinet member responsible for transport, said: "Any initiative that helps to reduce speeds, gets people to wear their seat belts and stops drivers using a mobile phone has to be welcomed. This is getting in amongst those drivers and making a difference where it really matters - on the road."

More operations are planned for the rest of the year. These will be targeted at known problem locations, but may be on any day of the week and at any time of day.