Fed member discusses ‘encouraging' high-standard roads policing operation

1 August 2024

A Derbyshire Police Federation member with a long-standing passion for roads policing has revealed more about the successful traffic operation he oversaw earlier this year.

Temporary Chief Inspector Greg Hunt was tasked with designing, creating and running Operation Rapidity, a project which ran throughout the month of March and targeted each of the fatal four offences that lead to serious collisions on the roads – speeding, drink and drug driving, the use of mobile phones, and the failure to wear a seatbelt.

The operation yielded some promising results, with its blueprint having since been used as a template for other forces to base their own campaign on.

Planning for Operation Rapidity, which involved recording and stopping offending drivers at static road check sites and mobile patrols, began all the way back in November 2023, Greg explained.

Vehicles

“We knew for a while that we wanted a big effort throughout the whole month, so we got some external organisations on board to support us with a variety of things,” he said.

“We wanted to set up the check sites as we thought this would be the best way of observing a large volume of vehicles while also visibly engaging with the public.

“The Highway Agency, the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the Health and Safety Executive all assisted us with monitoring motorways for traffic and unsafe vehicles, allowing us to conduct checks in conjunction with them. We could then highlight offences to the most appropriate authority.”

Temporary Chief Inspector Greg Hunt.

Greg added acknowledgement for the contributions of civilian vehicle examiners and singled out civilian collision researcher Kerry Taylor-Gorman for praise, whose work helped direct patrols and measure the impact of the operation.

Over the course of the month, a 53 per cent reduction in the number of KSI (killed or seriously injured) collisions was recorded in Derbyshire, something Greg says had a ‘ripple effect’ going into April.

“It was very encouraging to see numbers like those. The fact that we had a much lower number of KSIs the following month too, even after Rapidity had ended, proves the operation did prompt some drivers to change their behaviour,” he continued.

Receptiveness from the public was also aided by messages on the Constabulary’s social media platforms making them aware of Operation Rapidity and reminding them of the consequences of irresponsible driving.

Despite the many positive outcomes of the project, Greg maintained there is still work still left to do in making roads safer in the long-term, with over 400 vehicles stopped in the operation exhibiting at least one of the fatal four.

Education

“What alarmed me the most was the number of no-seatbelts – we stopped 144 drivers for that. Within that area of improper use of actual vehicle interior, we recorded 12 car seat offences, which was incredibly concerning when you think about people putting their own children in harm’s way,” he said.

“Clearly, we need to keep educating people on the dangers within their own vehicle, let alone outside of it.”

Greg says he is enthusiastic about continuing the mission of Derbyshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Team, who he initially joined in 2005 and then re-joined in 2020 after a stint as a sergeant.

“I have also since been a part of a smaller version of Rapidity called Operation Spotlight, which ran this July and was led by the National Police Chief’s Council,” he explained.

“I enjoy having an influence on such a crucial part of public safety. Although I’ve only been back on the Roads Policing Team for a few years, my interested has never wavered.

“I’ve had a strong desire for the work ever since I first became a constable in 2001.”

Operation Rapidity

He also drew upon a recent police incident that highlighted the benefit of traffic stops as utilised on Operation Rapidity. On Wednesday, 13 July, Greg’s colleague Sergeant Scott Riley stopped a vehicle on London Road in Derby as the driver in question was caught using his mobile phone.

It was then discovered the driver was in possession of controlled drugs and an imitation firearm. A further search of their home address recovered a viable firearm and ammunition, taking this dangerous weaponry away from public threat.

As well as being full of praise and enthusiasm for the efforts of police towards road safety, Greg also stressed the importance of drivers ultimately holding themselves accountable for their choices behind the wheel.

“Everyone has a responsibility once they get into the driver’s seat of a car or other vehicle – it’s on each individual to get themselves safely from A to B.

“We can put together all the operations and awareness campaigns in the world, but it only takes a second to change the course of someone’s life, or even your own,” he ended.