Development and Property Services

Roads and Transportation

ACCIDENT PREVENTION - Enforcement

The role of enforcement is to reduce road traffic accidents by ensuring that road users follow the traffic laws. This function is carried out by Strathclyde Police.

Introduction

The Police have a major responsibility for the enforcement of traffic law and for traffic control, and for the collection of road accident data.
This work is carried out by the Traffic Department which is a Force resource. The Force covers an area of some 5,500 square miles and has 8,500 miles of road network, which comprises of some of the busiest motorway and trunk roads in Europe.

The Traffic Department provides specialist support, which is unrestricted by divisional boundaries. The primary departmental role is undertaken by road patrol officers based at 3 Groups and 5 Units located to serve the needs of the Communities within the 14 Territorial Divisions and 12 Unitary Authorities of the Force area.

Within East Ayrshire, there are Traffic Units based in 'R' and 'U' Division Headquarters in Ayr and Kilmarnock respectively.

Ayr Traffic Unit has responsibility stretching from the Dumfries and Galloway boundary in the south, northwards incorporating many Clyde Coast towns such as Girvan, Ayr and Troon. Numerous close knit communities are scattered throughout the predominately agricultural land further east. The area contains several British Open Championship golf venues as well as popular Clyde Coast resorts and Burns country. A significant increase in tourist traffic in the summer months brought on by these attractions provides the greatest challenge to the Unit.

Officers from Ayr work closely with their colleagues based at Kilmarnock Traffic Unit to the north and east. This Unit is based within the 'U' Division headquarters and services the communities of the North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire Authorities. The A77 Glasgow to Stranraer trunk road carries a heavy flow of traffic through the area and has become a particular focus of attention for the Unit.

Arable land forms a significant proportion of 'U' Division. Accordingly a great many agricultural vehicles utilise the network of country roads in order to work the fields. Aware of the potential dangers involved, officers from the Unit have forged constructive links with the farming community to ensure as safe an environment as possible for all road users within this community.

Officers providing specialist skills and services such as Accident Investigation, Motorcycle Unit, Driver Training, Traffic Education Support Team, Traffic Management and Abnormal Loads can be found throughout the Force area. The Accident Investigation Unit, a Force-wide resource, is based at Motherwell. Officers from the Unit attend all fatal and serious road accidents as well as accidents of a contentious nature of high media interest.

The Motorcycle Unit is principally based at Traffic (South) Group. Amongst their various duties, they have responsibility for VIP escorts, and assisting the planning and execution of road traffic related matters at events such as football matches, cycle races, golf championships, concerts, parades, demonstrations and rallies. They also undertake patrol duties with an emphasis on maintaining the free flow of traffic on radial routes, town and city centres and at special events/major incidents with an additional remit to ensure emergency access is maintained in the interest of public safety.

Activities

Enforcement plays a major role in the maintenance of law and order and the reduction of casualties on our roads. Strathclyde police fully endorses this approach detecting those offenders who constitute the greatest risk to other road users. The strategy of traditional enforcement has changed in key areas over recent years with the emphasis moving away from the 'number culture' towards more intelligence led initiatives, thus making better use of finite resources by addressing well defined objectives. It is the responsibility of the supervisors to direct these resources effectively with intelligence led directed patrols.

The Force will remain focused on casualty reduction, making use of all aspects of enforcement and following the principles of deterring and detecting the core offences which cause most concern and risk to the public. These core offences include:

Inappropriate Speed

Strathclyde Police has long recognised the link between inappropriate speed and road accidents. There are many and varied methods of detecting offenders from in-car and hand-held devices to remote enforcement equipment. Speeding 'hotspot' locations and accident intelligence identifies areas for co-ordinated patrols to ensure effective and efficient deployment of resources. The long term aim in this respect is to make inappropriate use of speed as socially unacceptable as drink driving. The dangers of this prevalent offence will be emphasised at every opportunity.

Dangerous/Careless Driving

Dangerous or careless driving covers a wide range of offences from poor skill levels to practices such as tailgating, lane discipline and non-compliance with signals . To address these elements requires not only an educational approach but also a concentrated level of enforcement by means of high visibility and unmarked video car patrols. Where offences of poor driving are evident, road patrol officers will act promptly to advise the individual of the standards expected and, where appropriate, take enforcement action.

Drink/Drugs Driving

It is widely accepted that the public attitude towards drink driving has changed over the years. This is due in part to the strategies adopted by the Police Forces and the relevant agencies to publicise and enforce legislation at national and local level.

While accepting that the main focus of the campaigns has been to combat drink driving, there is a growing concern over the number of drivers who are a threat to road safety by misusing drugs whether controlled or prescribed. A number of studies on the subject have been undertaken and research is continuing into screening devices and awareness training.
The Force remains committed to full participation in legislative changes, training and all relevant enforcement and awareness campaigns.

Disqualified Driving

There are approximately 80,000 disqualified drivers in residence throughout the Strathclyde police area at any one time with an average of 800 new cases being processed through the court system per month. Experience has shown that a significant proportion of these offenders continue to drive their vehicles on a regular basis jeopardising the safety of other road users and affecting confidence in the justice system. The Force continues to focus resources in this area and by intelligence led targeting and operational patrols detect offenders and place them before the courts.

Non-compliance with Traffic Signals/Indiscriminate Parking

The demands placed on our road systems due to an increased volume of traffic results in congestion, fewer parking areas and in some instances a less tolerant motoring public, who have a tendency to take risks, including failure to comply with signals. Technology has and will continue to play a major role in enforcement in the form of red light and speed detection cameras both at fixed and mobile sites. With continued research, analysis and evaluation this effective resource will not only produce a positive effect on driver behaviour and casualty reduction, but offer value for money.

Indiscriminate parking in high population centres or at major events also poses a distinct danger to other road users, in particular children, the elderly or infirm. The obvious road safety implications as well as restrictions to the free flow of traffic have become a significant concern. To combat this unacceptable behaviour the Force has an obligation to enforce legislation by all relevant means in partnership with Unitary Authorities, and where appropriate, contractors. A co-ordinated and focused approach sustains and enhances the objective of maximising the free flow of traffic, minimising congestion and educates the motorist to the importance of full compliance and co-operation.

Misuse of Seatbelt

Wearing of seatbelts legislation was first introduced in 1983. Further amendments, in conjunction with development of car safety features over the years, have resulted in countless lives having been saved by majority compliance. There is, however, a continued need for publicity, education, encouragement and enforcement campaigns at national and local levels. A concerted year round strategy must be maintained to highlight seatbelt offences, which are often wrongly regarded as minor. Force strategy will be in conjunction with relevant agencies to continue the education, encouragement and enforcement campaigns and heighten the awareness of the benefits to be gained from wearing a seatbelt.

Ancillary Tasks

There is a responsibility on this Force to commit itself to the specialist roles of enforcement in relation to Large Goods Vehicles, Passenger Carrying Vehicles, tachographs, hazardous chemicals, taxis and construction and use offences. These areas of work have been enhanced by the development of multi-agency exercises, which have achieved the wider objectives set out nationally and locally.

Dealing with Road Death

Strathclyde Police Traffic Department have in place a proven strategy for officers when dealing with the consequences of a road death. The professionalism of the Department is highlighted in the actions of the first officer at the scene through the qualities of the Accident Investigation Unit (AIU) and the supervisors who monitor the enquiry and the liaison officers dealing with the bereaved families. The AIU plays a vital role in his strategy as they not only assess the evidence but reconstruct the events and provide a scenario, which in many cases has been accepted as fact.

The structured manner in which officers deal with a road death has been promoted as an example of good practice across the Force for use in other circumstances where death has occurred.

Conclusion

For a Road Policing Strategy to be effective requires commitment, planning and tactical delivery of service. By applying the 4 "E's" principles in isolation or collectively a service will be delivered promoting road safety as a concern to everyone in the community. The challenge for the Traffic Department is to manage any change, in cultural, environmental, economical and social issues beyond the year 2000 and provide an effective and efficient Road Policing service, which benefits safer communities and promotes casualty reduction.