A new traffic enforcement programme will start in Leeds this week in a bid to tackle anti-social and dangerous driving.
Funded by Leeds City Council working in partnership with West Yorkshire Police, the programme, entitled Operation SPARC (Supporting Partnership Action to Reduce Road Casualties), will see officers from the roads policing unit patrolling the city, monitoring driving behaviour to look for drivers putting themselves and other road users at risk.
The SPARC programme, which will run for a minimum of six months, will target drivers who are speeding, using mobile phones or are suspected to be under the influence of drugs or drink while driving. Additionally, people deemed to be driving aggressively or detected as driving without insurance will face enforcement.
According to Leeds City Council, the aim of the programme is to make roads in Leeds safer for all users, with the new initiative running alongside the existing ongoing road safety work that Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) currently do in communities.
The council-funded scheme is part of a wider programme of initiatives being carried out to reduce road dangers and supporting greener, healthier travel for Leeds residents. Active travel schemes Leeds City Council is implementing with partners include: permanent protected bike lane provision installation on key routes, new cycle parking facilities and cycle training.
Other temporary measures to support active travel during the coronavirus include pop-up cycle lanes, footpath widening measures, active travel neighbourhoods and school streets programmes.
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 step-change in travel behaviour, away from car use and towards walking, cycling and scooting as a natural, everyday choice, especially for shorter trips.”
