Road crackdown nets 150 offenders

Cars without valid tax or insurance cover were seized

Nearly 150 people have been caught during a 24-hour police crackdown on motoring offences which ended on Saturday morning.

Motorists were stopped for spot checks in Basildon by Essex Police.

In the road safety campaign, 66 people received fixed penalties for not wearing seat belts and seven for driving while using a mobile phone.

Four were fined for speeding, four for having no insurance and 53 others for offences relating to their vehicles.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency seized more than 40 vehicles for not having valid tax or insurance cover.

Cutting road deaths

One car was served with a prohibition notice and taken off the road.

Nine people were arrested for driving while disqualified or having stolen cars.

Two men who failed to stop at a check point were followed by a police support helicopter and arrested for vehicle theft.

Chief Insp Tom Diment of Essex Police said the operation was mounted to enforce traffic laws and to make drivers aware that speed, flouting regulations on seat belts and mobile phones and neglect of vehicles can result in serious casualties and deaths on the road.

The awareness campaign was designed to reduce the numbers of these kind of incident.

"We're pleased with Operation Steelguard but the figures show that in one town in a 24 hour period from Friday to Saturday morning so many people are prepared to flout the law."