Tougher action against anti-social and dangerous drivers as traffic programme launched in Leeds

Operation SPARC (Supporting Partnership Action to Reduce Road Casualties) is a six-month scheme funded by Leeds City Council in partnership with West Yorkshire Police.

There will be increased police patrols across the city, with officers from the Roads Policing Unit (RPU) looking for drivers putting themselves and other road users at risk.

Officers will target drivers who are speeding, using mobile phones or are suspected to be under the influence of drugs or drink while driving.

They will also clamp down on people deemed to be driving aggressively or found as driving without insurance.

The council says the programme aims to make Leeds roads safer and will run alongside the existing ongoing road safety work of local Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

It is part of a wider programme of council-funded schemes in Leeds which aim to reduce road dangers and support greener travel for Leeds residents.

Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, said: “We have listened to calls from the public for tougher action on illegal, dangerous and/or inconsiderate driving.

"Road danger is one of the key barriers to more people feeling confident to walk and cycle more around Leeds.

“This additional police enforcement should help to remove some of those barriers and support council ambitions for a stepchange in travel behaviour, away from car use and towards walking, cycling and scooting as a natural, everyday choice, especially for shorter trips.”

Chief Inspector Richard Padwell, who leads on road safety for the Safer Leeds partnership, said: “This is a landmark initiative backed by significant additional funding to help prevent collisions involving deaths and serious injury on our roads.

"It will also give us an increased capability to target the anti-social use of motor vehicles and address road safety issues in our local communities.

“The pilot scheme will use an evidence-based approach to pinpoint the areas where the issues are greatest, and focus regular proactive operations by specialist roads policing officers in those areas. Local neighbourhood teams and our off-road bike team will also be targeting their activities in support.

“The initiative will bring greater co-ordination of our efforts across the police and council and build on a number of existing road safety interventions.

“We will be monitoring the results of this increased activity as the operation continues, with the aim of making our roads and communities safer for everyone.”

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