By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 16:24, Wednesday, 01 August 2012

Police have dealt with 200 drivers in Copeland in the last month in a crackdown on road traffic offences.

The drivers have been prosecuted for drink driving, using mobile phones while driving, having defective vehicles and failing to wear seatbelts.

Police say that three cars were seized for being uninsured and 51 drivers were prosecuted for speeding. One was clocked at 131mph on the Distington bypass.

Police say that statistics show Copeland has a higher than average number of crashes during the summer months, with a large percentage involving drivers under the age of 25.

During July, officers carried out targeted patrols across the area – their presence acting as a deterrent to speeding and dangerous drivers.

During a one hour operation in Egremont yesterday morning, 16 drivers were prosecuted for not wearing seatbelts, using phones while driving or having defective vehicles.

Sergeant Jim Rooney said: “I am extremely disappointed by the large number of offenders who have been caught during this operation.

“In the next month we will continue to address this issue.”

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 01 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk