SPECIAL Constables took part in a two-day clampdown on motoring offences last weekend.
The officers issued 42 fixed penalty tickets for drivers using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt or for speeding.

A further 37 motorists were given words of advice during the operation, which took place in Todmorden and at the other end of the Calder Valley in Brighouse. Officers said it had been a success.

Sergeant Julian Hartley, Specials co-ordinator for Calderdale Police, said: “The work that special constables do over the course of a year is very important.

“They are volunteers who give up their free time and do an excellent job.

“They again showed their true value by carrying out an important operation in areas where motoring offences are regularly identified as key priorities by the local community.”

The operation took place to mark the national Specials Weekend which recognises the constables’ hard work and dedication to policing.

The theme of this year’s operation was road safety.

Stuart Clarke, senior section officer for Calderdale Specials, said: “Taking part in the national operation has been a good opportunity for Calderdale’s Special Constabulary to get involved with an area of policing that is often of concern to the local community.

“It also highlights the variety and diversity of work that Special Constables can do.”

London taxpayers face a £100million bill to repair and maintain roads following extensive damage caused by one of the coldest winters on record.

Experts say that fixing potholes and other snow damage could cost London councils as much as an additional £20million to their annual £80million budget.

At the same time London’s councils face a 25 per cent squeeze on government grants earmarked for repairing roads.

Motoring organisations said thousands of unfixed potholes posed a threat to drivers and cyclists.

Highways teams have been dispatched across the capital to fix the unprecedented number of potholes created by the big freeze and some councils have set up “pothole hotlines”.

Martin Low, president of the Local Government Technical Advisers’ Group, and city commissioner of transportation for Westminster council, said: “A sizeable chunk of councils’ transport budgets this year will need to service the extensive damage to the road network as a result of the severe weather.”

Sutton council is one of the worst hit and put its estimated bill for repairs at £3million.

Harrow council said damage caused by the cold snap would cost the taxpayer up to £2million.

Meanwhile, Richmond council said it has asked residents to report dangerous potholes so that they can be filled in as soon as possible.

The Local Government Association has written to the Department for Transport asking for £100million to be brought forward to pay for the damage caused by the cold.

The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) fraud team have been presented an award for all their hard work. The dedicated team at the DSA have investigated many cases and arrested over 900 suspected criminals.

There are many individuals trying to make money by impersonating a pupil about to go up on test, which makes a complete mockery out of the driving test process.

Identity crime is fast becoming a huge problem in the U.K. and the DSA are working hard to make sure that people are not being passed, which allows them to drive on public roads without being vetted as a safe driver.

The team say they will continue to develop their methods and intelligence and work closely with the Home Office, DVLA and Police and Criminal Justice agencies to stop both the fraudsters and the dangerous drivers.

What are your thought on this article? Send your views to Britannia Driving School by using the comments link below:

January saw the country come to a standstill with snow disrupting transport, schools, hospitals and driving tests.

Driving tests across the U.K. were cancelled by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) during January due to the freezing weather and icy roads.

Figures suggest that 31,000 of the 40,000 scheduled tests were cancelled affecting not only cars, but bikes and LGV’s.

The DSA do not refund or pay compensation to pupils if the test is cancelled due to weather conditions, instead pupils are advised to contact their test centre to confirm whether their test is to go ahead and if not they are automatically given a new test date.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “I know it can be upsetting for pupils who have their tests cancelled especially if they are nervous about taking it in the first place however, safety is paramount and with the roads icy and driving conditions extremely poor it has to be done.”

A ROAD safety charity is calling for a change in the law after the case against a woman accused of being drunk while driving her mobility scooter was dropped.

Teresa Bolton, 69, of Polonia Court, Oldham, was arrested and charged after being found almost three times over the legal drink-drive limit while in control of the scooter.

But the case against her was withdrawn when prosecutors discovered invalid carriages were exempt from the drink-drive laws.

Now The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) says drink-driving laws should be applied to all vehicles that use public roads. Mrs Bolton had already appeared in court twice and had pleaded not guilty.

At one of the hearings, magistrates were told that she was driving her mobility scooter on Chapel Road on September 18 last year after attending the funeral of her friend.

The police were called when a taxi driver claimed she had damaged his vehicle and she was given a breath test.

She was then taken back to the station where a second test found she had 301mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine. The legal limit for driving is 107mg.

Mrs Bolton was later charged with driving a motor vehicle with an alcohol level above the limit, but the case against her was eventually dropped at Oldham Magistrates’ Court last month.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said invalid carriages were exempt under legislation.

After a dreary start, new-car sales finally outstripped those of January 2009 — but only just.

New official figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show the number of new cars registered in January (16,595) are up 5.04pc on those for the corresponding period in 2009 (15,799).

At one stage they were lagging behind dramatically but a surge in registrations over the past week or so has pushed them ahead.

SIMI director general Alan Nolan said last night the increase was welcome given that the first two weeks of bad weather brought trading to a virtual standstill. “The fact that the month has finished 5pc ahead of last year is a very strong sign that consumers are availing of the incredible value that is available at the moment.”

“While the snow and ice delayed registrations until well into the month, feedback from dealers around the country is indicating that the significant increase in footfall and in actual sales, in comparison to this time last year, is continuing.”

Many vehicles being clamped are being done so by private land owners and residential car park owners.

The new law passed by the Home Office now states that anyone that clamps a vehicle must be licensed and follow the regulations now in place.

Signs that display warnings of being clamped will now have to meet certain visibility requirements.

For those that continue to clamp unjustifiably they may be taken to tribunal and asked to pay compensation, such as taxi fares whilst the individuals car was clamped.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “Drivers that feel they have been unduly clamped, will now be able to voice their concern and may be entitled to compensation.”