Operation to ‘sparc’ better driving behaviour in Leeds

Operation SPARC – Supporting Partnership Action to Reduce Road Casualties – was developed between West Yorkshire Police (Leeds District) and Leeds City Council following an increase in anti-social driving complaints from residents. 

Since its launch in June 2020, a total of 6,663 motorists have been stopped by specialist Roads Policing Officers in Leeds, which is the equivalent to more than 1% of the city’s adult population. 

Along with tackling anti-social driving, officers took enforcement action against motorists committing any of the ‘Fatal Five’ offences which are often found to contribute to fatal collisions. 

Over the course of the operation: 

• Speeding – 972 motorists were caught speeding, with a number of penalties issued.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs - 50 people were arrested for driving whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol or drugs, or for failing to provide a sample for analysis.
• Not wearing a seatbelt – 2,122 fines of £100 were issued to motorists and passengers who were not wearing a seatbelt.
• Using a handheld mobile phone – 333 drivers received six points and £200 fine (or ban, depending on existing driving points total)
• Careless driving – 291 drivers were reported for driving without due care and attention or given a Section 59 warning which could lead to their vehicle being seized in future. Nearly 900 tickets were issued to motorists whose vehicles had no current MOT or had dangerous/defective parts, and 582 unsafe or uninsured vehicles were removed from the roads.
• A further 997 motorists received behaviour warnings.

The operation was funded part of the Leeds Vision Zero Partnership Vision Zero ambition to eliminate deaths on the city’s roads by 2040. 

Recent figures show that an average of one person every month is killed and more than one seriously injured every day on Leeds’ roads. Although these figures are lower than the regional and national average, they remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.  

By tackling illegal, dangerous, and anti-social driving, and raising awareness of the ‘fatal five’, the council and partners aim to prevent people being killed or injured in road collisions and change the habits of habitual offenders. It also aims to change the behaviour of otherwise law-abiding drivers who routinely drive over the speed limit or whose concentration is taken away from the road due to distractions. 

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development, said: 

“Operation SPARC has been incredibly important to help us understand what the common road safety issues are in Leeds, make people accountable for their actions, and allow us to put measures in place to mitigate the behaviour in future.

“Wearing a seatbelt has been mandatory in law since 1983, but 40 years later almost one in every three motorists stopped by officers are risking their lives by travelling without wearing one. 

“As part of Vision Zero we encourage all road users to behave in a way that keeps everyone safe. This reflects the Highway Code, which states that those who have the potential to do the greatest harm bear the greatest responsibility to reduce the threat they pose to others. 

“We hope that taking action in this way has made these motorists change their behaviour to keep our city’s roads safer and is encouraging everyone to think about what they can do to travel safely and avoid doing anything which puts them at risk or is a risk to others.” 

In partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the other West Yorkshire local authorities, a pledge has been created for everyone to demonstrate their commitment to achieving zero road deaths in West Yorkshire. Do your part for Vision Zero and pledge here.” 
 
Inspector Lorna Crabtree, of Leeds District Partnerships, said:   

“The anti-social and illegal use of motor vehicles is a concern to communities across West Yorkshire and operations like SPARC are key to tackling this issue and changing the behaviour of motorists who use the roads of Leeds District.   

“We are committed to working with partners on initiatives like this to make our roads safer, and hope that the results achieved through SPARC provide some reassurance that we are making steady progress towards Vision Zero’s goal of eliminating road deaths in West Yorkshire by 2040.”