County Press editor Alan Marriott this week spoke to the IW Roads Policing Unit about the successes and lessons of last weekend's crackdown on speeding and other bad driving on the Island's roads, including the Military Road and other boy racer hotspots.

It is fair to say Islanders have been fed up during lockdown with the incessant noise of motorbikes and cars being given a thorough workout on quieter roads.

Now, the IW police have acted to tackle what they say is as much a perception as a fact, with a major roads policing operation taking place at the weekend.

Four motorcycles and an unmarked car were drafted in to bolster the IW Roads Policing Unit in a two-day crackdown on driving standards, particularity on the Military Road.

Read more: More than 50 tickets issued during weekend crackdown

Sgt Simon Morgan of the IW Roads Policing Unit was heavily involved along with colleague PC Matt Tasker, and spoke to the County Press about the results.

"Every year when the good weather comes, we get increased reports of motorbikes and young drivers hitting the roads for pleasure.

"While this is true, it is important to say that the IW is no worse than anywhere else for serious road traffic accidents.

"We in the Roads Policing Team, myself included, are passionate about making our roads safe...we all live here and want the Island to be a safe, peaceful environment.

"We hear from parish councils that there is racing along the Military Road but we have been unable to find any evidence of this. Island Roads tracking shows their is increased speeding on the Military Road, but this is not excessive."

The weekend's operation fell into two sections. On Saturday, the officers involved visiting known people with a history of using unlicensed cars while also targeting accident hot spots such as the Yarmouth road at Shalfleet, Apse Heath, Carisbrooke Road and Niton.

A total of 21 tickets were issues for offences mostly of speeding but also two drivers were taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence of cannabis and cocaine respectively.

The focus on Sunday fell on the Military Road, the traditional day for motorbikes and cars to take to the rural roads, and 30 tickets were issued, mainly for speeding but also for altered exhausts and motorbike visors that were tinted too darkly.

Sgt Morgan said: "We spoke to bike groups at Blackgang Chine and they were positive about what we were trying to achieve. Most riders are very responsible but there are some who break speed limits.

"The fact we were able to issue fixed penalty tickets shows the speeding was within certain guidelines and while not acceptable, it does put some perspective to the issue.

Read more: No evidence of increase in speeding during lockdown say police.

"The actions you have seen this weekend will continue as we carry out further work in the future, including our involvement in national weeks of action."

The guidance from the Roads Policing Unit is as follows:

  • If you are not fit enough to drive, or your vehicle is not road legal, do not drive. It is not worth the risk. Be considerate to other road users, and think about the impact the standard of your driving, or the condition of your vehicle, could have on others. Be sensible, drive to the conditions, and you could save a life.
  • Excessive or inappropriate speed has an appalling impact when you're involved in a collision, and research from across Europe suggests speeding is the most significant factor that contributes to road deaths and serious injury.
  • Our focus on those who endanger lives on our roads is relentless, through both enforcement and education.
  • The speed limit is a limit, not a target — there will be times when you have to drive much slower to stay in control. Drivers can become complacent about roads they are familiar with, causing them to be less alert to the road, and drive at a faster speed.