Road Safety FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about road safety. Click on the question to reveal the answer.
If your question isn’t answered here, please get in touch by writing to opcc@dc-pcc.gov.uk or by calling 01392 225555
This information was published in June 2023 and will be reviewed in June 2024.
What is the Police and Crime Commissioner doing to strengthen road safety across the peninsula?
While the region is one of the safest when it comes to road safety, any death or serious injury is one too many. For this reason, road safety is one of the Commissioner’s key priorities in her Police and Crime Plan 2021-2025.
The Commissioner is also a founding member of Vision Zero South West, a multi-agency partnership from across Devon and Cornwall committed to eradicating death and serious injury from our roads, with an interim measure of cutting the number of people killed and seriously injured in half by 2030.
A wide-range of actions are being taken under the police and crime plan to improve road safety which are regularly reported to the Police and Crime Panel. The latest road safety profile for Devon and Cornwall from June 2022 provides information on the key initiatives and can be found here:
What is Vision Zero South West?
Vision Zero South West is a road safety partnership which brings together a range of agencies including the emergency services, local authorities (who have responsibility for the highway) and hospitals from across Devon and Cornwall who are working together to make our roads safer. Vision Zero South West has a goal to eradicate death and serious injury from our roads and improve post collision care. The target is to cut the number of KSIs by at least 50% by 2030.
For further information, please see: https://visionzerosouthwest.co.uk/
How many roads policing officers (traffic police) are there?
Devon and Cornwall Police’s roads policing officers are part of a collaboration with Dorset Police – the Alliance Roads Policing Unit. Within Devon and Cornwall, our primary resource consists of dedicated roads police officers, armed response officers and an addition civilian speeding detection camera operator. This response includes a dedicated ‘No Excuse Team’ that target the 'fatal five’ offences (those that are shown to be most commonly associated with a fatal collision – drink/drug driving, speeding, careless driving, using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt).
Roads policing in Devon and Cornwall (figures as of March 2022):
- 70 Dedicated Roads Police Officers; 58 PCs, 12 Sergeants
- 12 No Excuse Officers; 10 PCs; two Sergeants
- 138 ARVs; 120 PCs ; 18 Sergeants (this number fluctuates)
- 12 Speed Detection Officers, two of whom are dedicated to working with Community Speed Watch schemes to provide enforceable speed detection in speed watch locations.
Which areas do roads policing officers target?
Decisions on the deployment of Roads Policing Officers is an operational matter for the Chief Constable not the Commissioner. Roads Policing Officers are deployed to the locations that are identified as providing the highest risk to road safety. Due to the volumes of traffic on the main A roads and M5, this may mean that these roads appear to receive increased enforcement but resources are targeted to areas where risk is highest based on evidence and intelligence, including our rural road network which see the majority of collisions.
If you are concerned about regular road offences occurring in a specific area within Devon and Cornwall, please contact the police via:
Contact us | Devon & Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk)
If someone is in danger or immediate action is required to save lives, stop injury or catch criminals call 999 immediately.
What is Community Speedwatch (CSW)?
Community Speedwatch is a Devon and Cornwall Police initiative which gives members of the public the opportunity to take a stance against speeding vehicles in their community. The scheme, which is managed and run by Devon and Cornwall Police, enables volunteers to support road policing by monitoring traffic speeds in their local area.
Community Speedwatch is primarily an education and awareness approach with warning letters being issued to drivers who are observed speeding. In some cases, speed detection officers will accompany Community Speedwatch teams and will be able to take enforcement action against drivers identified as speeding.
The Commissioner is very supportive of Community Speed Watch and has provided financial and personnel support to the scheme in the past to help enhance the service.
Further information about Community Speed Watch and details about how to get involved in Community Speed Watch or set a scheme up in your area can be found on the Devon and Cornwall Police website or by emailing speedwatch@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Read more: Community Speedwatch | Devon & Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk)
How do I get the speed limit in my area lowered (or raised) or report general concerns about the state/maintenance of roads?
The Commissioner has no role in the setting of speed limits nor any influence over their setting.
Should you have questions about the speed limit for a road or highway, these should be raised with the relevant County Councillor in Devon, Cornwall, Torbay or Isles of Scilly or city councillor in Plymouth. If the road is maintained by National Highways (generally the A38, A30 and M5 – contact should be made with National Highways).
The Commissioner is aware of growing interest in reducing residential speed limits to 20mph. Whilst the Commissioner has no role in speed-limit setting, she is generally supportive of moves to 20mph limit where there is clear public support from the local community.
I have been a victim of dangerous driving / road collision. Where can I access support?
Help and support for victims of road collisions are available from charitable organisations, these include RoadPeace and Brake. Information on the following can be found at:
Get help, if a crash victim | Brake
In addition, Vision Zero South West is currently working with the Police and Crime Commissioner to commission a new dedicated support services across the peninsula for all people bereaved by a road collision and those who have been affected by life changing injuries. Further details can be found in the Commissioner’s Commissioning Intention Plan at: PCC commissioning intentions plan 2022 - 2023
What can be done about vehicles making excessive noise?
Concerns about vehicles (including motorbikes) making excessive noise should be reported to Devon and Cornwall Police via Contact us | Devon & Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk) providing as much information as possible including times of day and vehicle registration numbers where possible. It is also worthwhile reporting this to the local council.
The Government is currently looking to trial a number of vehicle noise cameras in a number of locations across the country. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-trial-to-banish-loud-engines-and-exhausts-on-britains-noisiest-streets
We are awaiting the outcome and information on whether any trials will be taking place in our Police Force area.
How do I report a vehicle for no MoT or tax?
An invalid or expired vehicle tax should be reported to DVLA via https://www.gov.uk/report-untaxed-vehicle
An invalid or expired MoT should be reported to the police via https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/no-mot
How do I query or object to a Notice of Intended Prosecution I have received from Devon and Cornwall Police related to speeding or another driving offence?
The prosecution of offences is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. Any questions or queries related to a Notice of Intended Prosecution should be raised in the first instance with the enforcement unit within Devon and Cornwall Police whose contact details will be included on the letter you have received.
If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of those discussions you may be able to make a complaint to Devon and Cornwall Police. Details of how to make a complaint against Devon and Cornwall Police can be found on the Devon and Cornwall Police website at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact/how-to-make-a-complaint/.