Op Snap surpasses 10,000 submissions in south west

Devon & Cornwall Police’s Op Snap, which enables members of the public to submit dashcam, helmet-cam and mobile phone video footage of poor driving, has received more than 10,000 submissions since it was introduced – with action taken against more than 7,000 road users.

Dangerous overtaking, jumping red lights and driving on pavements are some of the examples of poor driving highlighted in the latest ‘highlights reel’, released by the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership.

2022 was a ‘record-breaking year’ for Op Snap, with 4,736 video submissions received – up 151% on the previous year. This resulted in action being taken against 3,400 motorists across Devon and Cornwall – a 135% year-on-year increase.

Adrian Leisk, Devon and Cornwall Police’s head of road safety, said: “The vast majority of road users in Devon and Cornwall are good drivers who behave in a responsible and respectful manner.

“Sadly, there remains a small minority who still think the rules of the road don’t apply to them and continue to drive in an unacceptable and sometimes dangerous way.

“Police officers can’t be everywhere – and the good news is that as dashcam and helmet camera ownership increases, we are now receiving video evidence of thousands of incidents – often within hours of them taking place.”

Vision Zero South West is led by a partnership board which includes senior police and fire officers, leading clinicians, councillors and the region’s police and crime commissioner – all of whom share a commitment to cut the number of deaths and serious injuries on the region’s roads to zero.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “The purpose of Vision Zero South West is to cut road traffic deaths to zero.

“All our partners admit this is an extremely ambitious target but one which needs to be at the forefront of all of our minds.”