TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE NORTHUMBRIA POLICE AREA

The report described the traffic law enforcement activites of the Northumbrian police, including the allocation of duty time by constables. The attitudes of constables and drivers to traffic legislation and penalties for road traffic offences were also noted. Particular attention was given to the recently introduced vehicle defect rectification scheme (vdrs), the extended fixed penalty scheme (efp), and also to the effect upon enforcement of the introduction of the crown prosecution service (cps). Both vdrs and efp were found to reduce paperwork and time spent in court. However, a significant proportion of constables sampled thought that neither had any deterrent value, and that the relevant offences were now being taken less seriously. Over half felt that one or more traffic penalties were too low, and seventy per cent thought that some cases, particularly of careless driving, were being dropped after the introduction of cps. A high proportion of drivers interviewed after just being issued with a fixed penalty notice (fpn) thought that the penalty for speeding was too high, but did not think that it would be a deterrent. They agreed with prosecution policy concerning speeds above which penalties should be imposed. (TRRL)