Action to curb offences committed on county’s network of roads.

A POLICE operation is under way across Devon today.

Operation Fatigue has been launched to target offences committed by drivers of large lorries and coaches.

The operation will run for two weeks and will see officers in marked vehicles and police motorcycles patrolling roads in an attempt to deter drivers from breaking the law. Offences being targeted include speeding, using mobile phones whilst driving, driving with insecure or overweight loads and drivers exceeding the limit of drivers’ hours.

An unmarked large goods vehicle, manned by traffic officers, will also be used as part of the operation - to help catch any drivers impacting on the safety of other road users.

Sergeant Rob Kelland, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “Our officers will be patrolling the roads, providing a highly visible police presence and taking enforcement measures such as issuing Fixed Penalty Notices to any offending drivers.

“We get a huge amount of international drivers, in particular, who think they can flout legislation and endanger the lives of other drivers on the road. This is unacceptable.

“We want to ensure our roads are kept safe and this operation is sending a message out to LGV drivers, particularly those coming from overseas, that we take these offences seriously and will deal with them accordingly,” he added.

Officers will also be working closely with VOSA during the operation, undertaking static checks at locations across the Force area.

A similar month-long enforcement operation last November resulted in �18,000 of Fixed Penalty Notices being issued.

Operation Fatigue will run until May 18.