Multiple arrests for 'fatal five' offences on Wiltshire's roads

A man was arrested after members of the public reported seeing a mobility scooter being driven along the A419 yesterday.

Officers were called to the northbound carriageway between Blunsdon and Calcutt at approximately 2.50pm yesterday afternoon (12/8).

A man in his 40s and a mobility scooter were located just off the A419 shortly after, and he was found to have no insurance. He was arrested on suspicion of a drug drive offence and no insurance. He’s been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

This is just one of many road related incidents over the past couple of days. As we enter the second week of our road safety campaign which carries the message #NoExcuse, we’re looking back at some of the arrests our teams have made as they patrols Wiltshire’s roads.

• A Bristol man was arrested by a roads policing officer in the early hours of Monday morning (12/8) after he was observed driving erratically on the M4 between junction 15 and 16. Bahman Salahshour, 55, of Dorchester Road, Bristol, was later charged with drink driving and is due to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court on August 28.
• On August 11, officers were called to a report of a collision on the A361 at Highworth. A Vauxhall Corsa had overturned and the driver sustained minor injuries. Following a roadside breath test, a man in his 20s from Highworth was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. Enquiries are ongoing.
• Giorgi Kodua, 31, of Victoria Road, Swindon, was charged with drink driving, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and using a vehicle without insurance after officers witnessed a vehicle being driven erratically in Hoopers Place, Swindon, on August 11. He was due to appear in court yesterday.
• A woman in her 40s was arrested in Longhedge on August 11 after members of the public reported seeing a Renault Scenic being driven erratically. Officers stopped the vehicle, and the woman failed a roadside breath test. She was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and has been released while enquiries continue.
• Yesterday evening, officers stopped a vehicle at Badbury, Swindon, due to a strong smell of cannabis. A man in his 20s from Devon was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and has been released while further enquiries are conducted.

Sgt Will Ayres, from our Roads Policing Unit, said: “Every day, officers from all areas are out and about policing our roads – these are just some of the examples of the arrests made in relation to fatal five offences over the past couple of days. Fatal five offences are those that are most likely to cause someone to be involved in a serious injury or fatal collision.

“We hear so many excuses from drivers when they are stopped for offences such as drink or drug driving, or using a phone whilst behind the wheel – often people will tell us they just didn’t expect to get stopped. It is this careless and selfish attitude that leads to avoidable collisions and it is these collisions which we are doing our best to prevent to ensure our roads are as safe as possible.

“We really do see some ridiculous behaviour on our roads each day – driving a mobility scooter on the busy A419 could have caused a really serious collision.”

• Last week we launched our summer road safety campaign, which focuses on the Fatal Five offences and carries the message that there is ‘no excuse’ to commit any of these offences.