Cops in Wigan have nabbed a driver exceeding the motorway speed limit — in a 30mph zone. Officers were out on patrol in Pemberton on Sunday, April 10, when they stopped the motorist.
Police also seized another car being driven ‘at excessive speed’ by two people who did not have a licence or insurance. The officers from the Neighbourhood Team and Special Constabulary carried out the Traffic Speeding Enforcement Operation on Ormskirk Road.
“A number of drivers were ‘advised’ regarding excessive speed and a number also received Fixed Penalty Notices, the worst being a young lad who thought it was okay to drive at 72mph in a 30!,” PS Hall wrote on the Wigan West division’s Facebook page.
READ MORE: Tesco shoppers warned about 'cruel' trolley scam after woman has £1,000 stolen
“Even more alarming were the two drivers who thought it was acceptable to drive a motor vehicle on a road at excessive speed, without even having passed the driving test and subsequently having no motor insurance. Those cars were taken away and seized!”
The scheme was part of Operation Tasman, which has been set up in response to ‘concerns over the number of vehicles speeding on the A49 Westwood Way bypass through’ area, GMP say. More than 100 tickets were issued over the weekend.
Inspector Frank Hall, of Wigan's Neighbourhood Policing Team, added: "Following consultation, speeding and anti-social driving was found to be a top concern for local residents, especially on the A49 bypass which has recently been used for illegal car meets and races. We will not tolerate this type of dangerous and reckless behaviour which ultimately puts people's lives at risk.
"The amount of motorists that were caught speeding well over the limit at the weekend was frankly unacceptable and reiterates the need for this new operation. GMP takes road safety extremely seriously and we have several tactics in place to target speeding and anti-social driving including the use of speed guns, mobile vans, S59 warning notices and use of dispersal powers under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
"We will continue this operation, taking appropriate action against those who commit driving offences as well as continuing to work closely with the local authority on road safety, to help keep the residents of Wigan safe".
