Gloucestershire Constabulary supports national road safety campaign for young drivers

Gloucestershire Constabulary is joining police forces across the country in supporting a campaign focused on raising awareness of road safety amongst young drivers.

Operation Spotlight aims to reduce the number of motorists aged between 17 and 24 who are killed or seriously injured on the country's roads.

Over the coming weeks officers from our Roads Policing Unit will be engaging with young motorists and educating them on the "Fatal Four" causes of collisions where people are killed or seriously injured.

These are driving under the influence of drink or drugs, using a mobile phone while behind the wheel, driving at inappropriate speed and not wearing a seat belt.

National statistics show that in 2023, around a fifth of all fatal or serious injury collisions involved a young driver with males between the ages of 17 to 24 being four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged over 25.

Young drivers are at a much higher risk of road collisions than older drivers and the combination of youth and inexperience can prove a fatal combination on the roads.

The Operation Spotlight National Police Chiefs' Council campaign runs from today (22 September) until 5 October.

Inspector Martyn Murawa from Specialist Operations said: "Sadly we’ve seen fatal collisions involving young motorists here in Gloucestershire and I want to remind young drivers that, when you get behind the wheel, it is really important that driving is the only thing you focus on.

"We all have a part to play in making our roads safer, choosing to make good decisions and encouraging our friends and family to do the same."