THE officer leading a police crackdown on dangerous driving in the Bradford district has thanked members of the public for their support.

Sergeant Cameron Buchan said people were the police’s extra eyes and ears in the fight to make the district’s roads safer.

He added that he was pleased that the public was sending in videos and dash-camera footage of dangerous drivers and encouraged people to keep submitting their examples.

Sgt Buchan was speaking as the latest Operation Steerside figures revealed 149 drivers were caught breaking the law between May 2 and yesterday. Steerside is targeting dangerous drivers on Bradford’s roads and was inspired by the Telegraph & Argus Stop the Danger Drivers campaign.

“We are pleased that members of the public are being inspired to send videos of bad driving to us for assessment,” said Sgt Buchan. “These are looked at to see if they meet the evidential criteria for court before being proceeded.

“These include a time/date stamp on the footage, licence plates or other ways of identifying vehicles involved and the witness being prepared to surrender the video to police for evidence and provide a statement.”

He added: “Naturally, the police cannot be everywhere and this allows our members of the public to be extra eyes (or lenses, as the case will be) for us, having extra effectiveness against bad driving.”

“He added: “They are our eyes and ears when we cannot be there.”

Sgt Buchan said officers would be pursuing a motorist caught on camera driving along a pavement to beat a line of traffic. The footage, taken on Canterbury Avenue, was featured by the T&A last week.

Sgt Buchan said: “It is out of order and a blatant piece of incredibly selfish driving.

“Seconds before the vehicle does it, there is a pedestrian on the pavement. The driver does not even do it slowly. “If anyone came out of their gate onto the pavement, they would not be expecting a car to be coming along there.

“The potential for a collision is very high - just to avoid a queue.

“It is arrogant, it is dismissive of the law and road safety, and it is incredibly selfish.

“I would invite that person to make contact with police before we make contact with them.”