At least 12 motorists suspected of routinely flouting traffic laws have been spoken to since Friday and a new online portal, aimed at allowing the public to report bad driving, is due to be set up shortly.
It follows the culmination of Operation Canvas, which began following lockdown to target Islanders taking advantage of Jersey’s virtually deserted roads to exceed speed limits and conduct dangerous manoeuvres.
As a result of the campaign, a total of 14 people have been arrested, 1,118 vehicles have been checked with 19 vehicles being impounded and 38 drivers will now have to take their vehicle to DVS to ensure they are roadworthy. Meanwhile, 163 drivers have been issued with words of advice and 122 have been caught speeding.
Speaking while holding a road check at Rue des Prés, States police Acting Chief Inspector Craig Jackson said the force were now taking a proactive approach towards the problem.
‘We are now conducting intelligence-led operations and we are launching a new online portal where people can report bad driving,’ he said.
‘We will be looking at targeting these offenders in a three-step process – intelligence-led identification of offenders, official recognition of antisocial and potentially illegal behaviour by way of a letter, and physical notice by visiting the address following repeat behaviour. Following the final step, we will then look to prosecute.
‘Today [last Friday] we conducted six home visits in the morning and the same number in the evening.’
He added: ‘What I have been surprised about is the level of sophistication of some of those involved. There has been a core group of individuals who send leader cars out to check there is no law enforcement around before driving through at speed. We are now trying a different tack and not just looking at those who have been speeding but also looking at the condition of vehicles, working alongside DVS, to try and disrupt this behaviour.’
Acting Chief Insp Jackson added that during the operation, officers had caught a number of motorists travelling at over 80mph in multiple areas.
‘In the last couple of weeks we have had three serious road traffic collisions which have resulted in people sustaining very serious injuries. We are now trying to get the message out there that if you drive in an antisocial or dangerous manner, it will likely incur serious injuries, not just for the drivers themselves but potentially also for the other members of the public using the roads.
‘During the operation, we caught someone travelling in the mid-80s but we have also recorded drivers in a multitude of ranges, including in the mid-60s and mid-50s.
‘But the operation has not just been about speed. It has been about targeting the core nucleus of people who have been using the Island as a race track, driving antisocially – for example, those doing doughnuts in car parks.’
Meanwhile, St Ouen Centenier Paul Battrick said that since the launch of Operation Canvas, honorary forces across the Island had begun working much more closely with their States counterparts.
‘Honorary officers have been carrying out patrols until 4 or 5am and have caught a number of people speeding. Some of the speeds we have caught people at have easily had the potential to kill somebody,’ he said.
‘Also, a lot of the speeding had been taking place in really built-up areas and it only takes someone to step out into the road or a child to fall off their bike for a serious accident to happen – it is really dangerous.’
He added: ‘There have been a lot of defective vehicles impounded by DVS in recent months and I think some drivers just simply do not realise how dangerous some of the modifications and defects are. We saw a lot of cars with lowered suspension, lighting issues, oil leaks, among other problems.’
