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Operation Wightwash Sees Police Clean-Up On Speeding Across Isle Of Wight

An initiative to clamp down on bad drivers has seen a slew of fines handed out across the Isle of Wight.

Operation Wightwash has been in full swing over the course of two days this week, with officers identifying 179 road-related offences.

Six of these resulted in drivers being arrested on suspicion of drug driving, with a further 12 motorists had their vehicles seized for lack of insurance and tax.

Offences included speeding, driving without a seatbelt, using a mobile phone behind the wheel, driving without due care and attention and driving without a licence.

Mainland-based Roads Policing Unit (RPU) officers joining forces with the Island’s RPU and dual skilled armed response/roads policing team (RP/ARV) to target offenders behind the wheel.

Wightwash is a two-day intensified period of enforcement action to tackle poor driving standards and drug/drink drivers who put road users at serious risk of coming of harm.

The operation has been running for more than three years, with the latest instalment seeing the teams come together on Wednesday April 19 and Thursday April 20.

Chief Inspector, Alex Charge, said:

“We want road users to be safe, and to feel safe behind the wheel.

“We continue to encourage members of the public to report driving offences, and concerns around driving standards, to police so we can identify any hotspots and take action to keep road users safer.”

To make a report to police, call 101, or submit information via the report tool on the Hampshire Constabulary website.

Always dial 999 in the event of an emergency.

If you have video footage of a road incident that you would like to submit to police, you can do this using the online Hants Snap tool.

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