Caught in the act - the drivers who put others at risk

By steph cockroft scockroft@c-dm.co.uk

PICTURED here are examples of what can be seen almost every day along the North Devon Link Road.

Vehicles pulling out from the traffic in the hope of passing a handful of cars, motorists growing impatient while stuck behind lorries or caravans, and cars trying to squeeze back into unmanageable spaces after realising they have overshot the overtaking lane.

The A361, which stretches between Barnstaple and Tiverton, has undergone some criticism since it opened in 1992, particularly in relation to its death toll, which last month reached 43.

But local traffic police say drivers need to stop blaming the road for accidents and take responsibility for their own driving.

To hammer home that message, police have been out in force on the link road's bridges, taking photos of motorists who illegally cross the double-white lines.

Since June 2, 77 endorsable fixed penalty tickets have been issued to motorists who cross the white lines.

This means three penalty points and a £60 fine for the driver.

A further 51 drivers have been summonsed to court for the offence.

Sergeant Paul Gammons at Barnstaple Traffic said the photos were intended to educate motorists about why the rules are in place.

He said: "We want people to go away as better drivers. Unless we achieve that, we have not achieved our objective."

Sergeant Gammons said the way to avoid the situations shown here was to prepare.

"You must forward plan so you avoid a situation where you put yourself and other drivers in danger," he said.

"There is a lot of criticism of the road in general but drivers have to take some responsibility for the way they drive."

He also said many did not understand, or have patience with, road legislation.

He said: "The link road is unique in that there is a lot of mixed traffic, including a mix of legal speed limits.

"But people have to be patient with that legislation and must expect to be stuck behind slower traffic. There is plenty of opportunity to overtake, if people are patient.

"Many people also do not understand the Highway Code."

The Highway Code states motorists must not cross or straddle double white lines, unless entering adjoining premises or a side road.

Motorists may cross the line to pass a stationary vehicle or to overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle travelling at 10 mph or less.

Areas of white diagonal stripes or chevrons painted on the road and bordered by a broken white line should not be entered unless it is necessary.

Areas bordered by solid white lines, as seen along the link road, must not be entered except in an emergency.

MPC Richard Hughes, who took many of the photos, said the project was not a money-making scheme, but was in response to concerns raised by local motorists.

MPC Paul Greatbatch, another officer dealing with the issue, said: "The people we have photographed are from all walks of life. It is a broad spectrum — housewives, bus drivers, company directors. We are not just targeting one section of the population."

The officers said the Country Mile project, launched in 2008 by Devon County Council, identified parts of the A361 which needed attention.

Extra warning signs and reinforced road markings have since been put on the Link Road to raise awareness of the repercussions of crossing the white lines.

● See Comment — page 66.