By Nick Griffiths Crime Reporter

Published at 11:24, Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Nearly 80 driving crimes were spotted by police in the first week of a crackdown on rogue motorists.

Mark Wear

Drivers were caught committing offences including not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, drink-driving and using mobile phones in a force blitz in and around Workington and Maryport.

A car was seized for allegedly being driven without insurance while 23 people were stopped because police suspected their vehicles were not in a suitable condition for the road.

The operation, launched last week, is being carried out by officers covering the two towns.

They have moved to try to clamp down on risky driving because statistics show Allerdale traditionally has a higher than average number of crashes during the spring.

Police want to try to stop this potential rise in smashes – and are targeting menace motorists to do so.

Inspector Mark Wear is in charge of the police team covering Workington and Maryport.

He told the News & Star: “The operation will continue throughout March. Statistically this is one of the worst months for collisions on the roads in the Maryport and Workington areas. Roads at the centre of the crackdown include the A596 through Maryport and the A66 into Workington.

Insp Wear added: “I would appeal to everyone to drive safely, drive to the road conditions and abide by speed restrictions.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk