FOUR drivers have been arrested and 20 cars seized as part of an operation to make roads safer in parts of Kirklees.  

Officers from the force’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU) and staff from Kirklees Police have been active on the roads of North Kirklees in an operation focussed on cutting the ‘Fatal 5’ driver behaviours, identified as causing serious and fatal collisions.  

During the course of the operation in February and March police carried out more car-based patrols and operations in the Dewsbury, Mirfield, and Batley and Spen areas, thanks to extra funding provided by Kirklees councillors.  

The team seized 20 vehicles and arrested three drivers for drink/drug driving offences, four for vehicle theft, and one for dangerous driving.  

A suspect was also arrested while wanted on warrant after being caught while behind the wheel of a car.  

In total the operation, which complemented existing ongoing roads policing work, resulted in 268 traffic offences reports being issued to motorists.  

West Yorkshire Police, and many other forces, consider the Fatal 5 offences to be speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, drink and drug driving, using a mobile phone, and careless driving.  

The force remains committed to Vision Zero, a road safety aim established with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all in West Yorkshire.  

Superintendent Helen Brear of Kirklees District Police, said: “Making our roads safer continues to be a key priority for our officers as we know it is for residents.  

“I want to thank councillors at Kirklees Council for their support in funding these additional patrols which have been co-ordinated by our neighbourhood policing teams and colleagues from the force’s Roads Policing Unit.  

“We have run them over the past few weeks as an additional boost to our ongoing existing road safety work, and they have clearly had an impact during that time.  

“We always encourage anyone who has concerns about a particular roads related issue in their community, such as speeding or poor parking, to contact their local neighbourhood policing team.

"All reports are looked into and allow us to plan future operations.”