Crackdown on anti-social drivers targets ‘unroadworthy’ vehicles

ROAD policing officers from Omagh conducted a joint operation with the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) at the weekend to highlight the importance of vehicle condition and target anti-social driving across the district.

A PSNI spokesperson said, as a result of the operation, 11 fixed penalty notices were issued to drivers for a range of offences including defective tyres, vehicle in dangerous condition, no R plates displayed, defective exhaust and for driving without insurance.

“Two drivers will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for driving vehicles in dangerous conditions.

“Another driver was identified as driving a vehicle without a licence. He was reported to the PPS,” the spokesperson added.

During the operation, the DVA was able to examine vehicles.

This resulted in nine prohibition notices being served on drivers and two vehicles issued with defect notices.

Chief Inspector Graham Dodds, the PSNI’s head of road policing, said, “It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy.

“This includes fully-working lights and electrics, tyres in good condition with sufficient tread, and the overall condition of the motor vehicle. This was an excellent joint operation with our partners in the DVA, who opened Omagh Test Centre on Friday night for a series of safety checks, while our officers were patrolling across the district to detect drivers causing anti-social behaviour or unsafe vehicles.”

The chief inspector added, “We will continue to conduct vehicle checkpoints and enforce road safety issues throughout the winter period.”