PATROLS around Royal Wootton Bassett and the surrounding area caught more than 70 drivers committing road-related offences last week during a crackdown.

On Wednesday, September 6 officers from Wiltshire Police's Road Policing Unit detected 73 road offences in the Royal Wootton Bassett area which ranged from speeding to mobile phone use.

This was part of Wiltshire Police's Project Zero initative which is a roads policing operation that is held every Wednesday and takes place at different locations across the county. 

Over the summer officers have been targeting drivers who have been speeding, drink or drug driving, using a phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and careless and dangerous driving.

Acting inspector Will Ayres Will Ayres said: “The Road Policing Unit team were working alongside the speed enforcement officers during the day of action, targeting drivers failing to drive safely.

“During August, Wiltshire Police made road safety a key priority, with officers from all teams across the county conducting Project Zero patrols in a bid to educate drivers of the consequences of committing any of the fatal five offences following a high number of serious injury and fatal collisions.

"The month may be over but that doesn't mean we're not going to be out and about, policing dangerous driving.

"We will continue to be visible and doing what we can to check speeds and keep our roads safe."