Young drivers who may have had too much to drink while watching the World Cup the night before are being targeted in the capital’s latest road safety operation.
From today, more than 500 Met Police officers will be checking cars and testing drivers as part of a two-week joint operation with Transport for London to promote road safety.
Officers will also be giving advice and penalty charge notices to motorists, lorry drivers, cyclists and vulnerable road users engaged in unsafe or unlawful behaviour.
The operation is the latest stage of Operation Safeway which launched last year after six cyclists died in a two week period.
More than 14,000 penalties were issued to motorists and cyclists and Mayor Boris Johnson last month said the operation had played a key part in cutting the number of serious injuries on the capital’s roads.
He also announced plans to hold ‘Son of Safeway’ deployments each month in order to reduce unsafe behaviour.
Superintendent Rob Revill, from the Met’s Safer Transport Command, said: “The aim of Operation Safeway is to reduce the number of people who die or are injured on London’s roads each year. Every road death is a needless tragedy that is devastating for the victim’s friends and family. Every serious injury is life-changing and distressing.
“The targeted operations began last year and have been hugely effective at raising awareness of road safety among motorists and cyclists, providing a balanced operation which reminds everyone of their duty to take care of each other while out on the roads.”
Steve Burton, Director of Enforcement and On-street Operations at TfL, added: “The Mayor and TfL are passionate about improving road safety across London. This enforcement activity at busy junctions will further help build awareness and reduce injuries on the Capital’s roads.
“By promoting road safety through enforcing the rules of the road and giving advice to all road users, we can further reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads, making them safer for all.”
