Police road checks result in three Lowestoft arrests

The checks were in support of a Europe-wide campaign to reduce the number of people killed or injured on the roads.

Police in both Suffolk and Norfolk carried out checks across the counties during the day and there was a targeted operation in Lowestoft as part of Project Edward – European Day Without A Road Death - a campaign by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, which aims to get people thinking seriously about road safety.

As a result of the day –

Three men were arrested on suspicion of drug driving after three of six drugs tests administered were positive – two for cannabis and one for cocaine.

30 people were dealt with for not wearing a seatbelt.

16 people were found driving while using a mobile phone

Three people were caught driving with no insurance

Two vehicles were seized

Five drivers were found to have no MoT for their vehicle

Two were caught driving with no licence

Three vehicles were found to have defective tyres

Two drivers were found not to be in proper control of their vehicle, three vehicle defect notifications were issued and 19 people were breath-tested but these were all negative.

Sgt Julian Ditcham, who led the team in Lowestoft, said: 'The results of today show there are still drivers who will put their own lives and the lives of others at risk by driving while under the influence of drugs, while using their phone or by not wearing a seatbelt.

'Police officers, and other emergency service workers, regularly see the consequences of such offences – the fatalities and the serious injuries sustained and the trauma of families after they have lost a loved one.

'Our aim, along with our colleagues across the UK and Europe, is to reduce the number of those killed and seriously injured on our roads and we will continue to carry out these regular checks to deal with drivers who persist in putting lives at risk.'

Motorists are encouraged to sign a road safety pledge on the TISPOL website (www.tispol.org/edward).