Drivers who risk their lives

A SIX-week police operation across Warrington and Cheshire has shown hundreds of drivers are risking their lives every time they get in their vehicles.
Almost 1,500 motorists were issued with fixed penalty tickets.
* 663 people were caught not wearing a seat belt.
* 297 were caught speeding.
* 272 were caught using a mobile phone when driving.
In addition, 23 vehicles were seized, 41 people were summonsed to court and 187 motorists were given verbal warnings.
Police that with one in three roads deaths speed-related, drivers are twice as likely to die in a collision if they are not wearing a seat belt.
They are four times more likely to crash if using a mobile phone while driving.
Assistant Chief Constable Phil Thompson (pictured) said: “Working with our partners, we have recently reported our lowest ever casualty figures; however, the results of this operation show that many road users are still putting theirs and others’ lives at huge risk through irresponsible behaviour.
“It only takes seconds to put on a seat belt and check your passengers are belted up too -roughly one life a day would be saved if people wore their seatbelts.
“We understand and share the concerns of our communities about speeding on their roads. The quicker a vehicle hits something, the more damage it will do, and this can be exacerbated by slower reaction times when, for example, motorists are using their phone while driving.
“Too many people are killed or seriously injured on our roads and Cheshire Police are dedicated to making our roads safer and road users feel safe – this includes targeting those drivers that use our roads illegally and anti-socially.”