POLICE recently carried out a road safety operation on Dartmoor aimed at keeping motorists, visitors and animals safe, with officers reporting speeding drivers, parking offences and other incidents.

The operation, which took place earlier in August, saw Devon & Cornwall Police work alongside Dartmoor National Park Authority rangers.

High-visibility patrols were carried out across the moor, while volunteer Special Constables patrolled key areas and helped operate a vehicle stop site at Postbridge.

Temporary Special Superintendent Alex McKnight said officers stopped and spoke to members of the public at a number of busy visitor locations, including Haytor and Widecombe-in-the-Moor.

He said the operation was designed to remind motorists to take ‘Moor’ care when driving through the countryside.

‘Speeding can cause collisions with people and wildlife, including native ponies or horse riders’c he said.

‘We work closely with the Park National Authority to promote road safety and protect this fantastic countryside for generations to come’.

The operation resulted in four vehicles being reported for excessive speed, with the highest recorded speed being 67mph outside Postbridge.

Several motorcyclists were also seen exceeding the speed limit and were spoken to by officers.

At the vehicle stop site, ten vehicles were stopped and drivers were given advice about taking ‘moor care’ when travelling across Dartmoor.

Officers also stopped two drivers who were found to have no MOT, while one person was arrested for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Two Fixed Penalty Warning Notices were issued for inconsiderate parking at New Bridge and Spitchwick.

Police also said the operation had received positive feedback from local people.

Special Supt McKnight said a local business owner had taken the time to speak to officers and explain the difference their presence had made to the roads.

He added that officers had also met with Dartmoor Rangers at Postbridge and were pleased that no disposable barbecues or fires were found during foot patrols at Spitchwick and other locations.

The operation included an unmarked ANPR traffic car on mobile patrol, along with two marked police vehicles and roadside speed detection equipment.

Officers targeted key roads and locations including Two Bridges, Post Bridge and Bennett’s Cross.

Further deployments and patrols are planned over the August Bank Holiday weekend and beyond.

Devon & Cornwall Police are part of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, which aims to prevent serious and fatal collisions on roads across the region.

Drivers and visitors are being urged to take extra care on rural roads, particularly where pedestrians, horse riders and animals may be present.