In a series of road safety operations across Wiltshire, police have made multiple arrests for offences linked to the ‘Fatal Five’—the five driving behaviours most likely to lead to serious injury or death on the roads.
Among the incidents was the arrest of a man in his 40s who was found driving a mobility scooter on the A419.
Officers were alerted by members of the public at around 2.50pm on 12th August after spotting a mobility scooter being driven along the northbound carriageway between Blunsdon and Calcutt. Police swiftly located the man and his scooter just off the A419. The man was found to have no insurance and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and without insurance. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
This peculiar incident was just one of many that occurred over recent days as Wiltshire Police entered the second week of their road safety campaign, which promotes the message #NoExcuse. The campaign aims to target dangerous driving behaviours that endanger the lives of road users.
In other incidents:
- In the early hours of Monday morning, 12th August, a Bristol man was arrested on the M4 between junctions 15 and 16. Bahman Salahshour, 55, of Dorchester Road, Bristol, was observed driving erratically and later charged with drink driving. He is scheduled to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court on 28th August.
- On 11th August, officers responded to a collision on the A361 in Highworth, where a Vauxhall Corsa had overturned. The driver, a man in his 20s from Highworth, sustained minor injuries and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving following a roadside breath test. Enquiries are ongoing.
- Giorgi Kodua, 31, of Victoria Road, Swindon, was charged with multiple offences, including drink driving, driving without a valid licence, and driving without insurance. This followed an incident on 11th August when officers observed his vehicle being driven erratically in Hoopers Place, Swindon. He appeared in court yesterday.
- A woman in her 40s was arrested in Longhedge on 11th August after the public reported her erratic driving in a Renault Scenic. She failed a roadside breath test and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. She has been released while investigations continue.
- Last night, police stopped a vehicle in Badbury, Swindon, after detecting a strong smell of cannabis. A man in his 20s from Devon was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and has since been released pending further enquiries.
Sgt Will Ayres from the Roads Policing Unit commented on the arrests: “Every day, our officers are out there, ensuring our roads are as safe as possible. These arrests are a reminder of the dangers posed by the ‘Fatal Five’ offences. The excuses we hear from drivers when they’re stopped—especially for drink or drug driving—often show a shocking disregard for safety. This careless attitude is exactly what leads to avoidable collisions.”
Sgt Ayres highlighted the severity of the incidents, particularly the one involving the mobility scooter on the A419. “Driving a mobility scooter on such a busy road could have caused a really serious collision,” he added.
Wiltshire Police launched their summer road safety campaign last week, with a focus on preventing the ‘Fatal Five’ offences: drink and drug driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone while driving, and careless driving. The campaign’s core message is clear: there is ‘no excuse’ for breaking the law on our roads.
For more information, visit the Wiltshire Police’s website on their ongoing road safety campaign.
