Drivers urged to take ‘Moor’ care and protect beauty spot wildlife

Police spoke to drivers during an operation earlier this month to keep people and animals safe at Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Working with partners, including the Dartmoor Rangers, officers carried out high visibility patrols and volunteer Special Constables patrolled key areas on Dartmoor and set up a vehicle stop site at Post Bridge.

Dartmoor Speed Checker - Devon and Cornwall Police

Temporary Special Superintendent Alex McKnight explained: “Officers stopped and engaged with the public at key car park and visitor locations such as Post Bridge, Bellever, Princetown, Haytor, Widecombe-in-the-moor, New Bridge / Spitchwick, and Dartmeet.

“The aim of the operation was to remind motorists to take ‘Moor’ care when driving in rural beauty spots such as Dartmoor. Speeding can cause collisions with people and wildlife, including native ponies or horse riders, and we work closely with the Park National Authority to promote road safety and protect this fantastic countryside for generations to come.”  

Results from the operation include:

• Four vehicles reported for excessive speed (the highest was 67 mph outside Post Bridge)
• Several motorcycles seen to be driving over the speed limit and riders were spoken to at Post Bridge
• One fail to stop motorcycle at Post Bridge
• Ten vehicles were stopped at Post Bridge Stop site and words of advice issued around taking ‘Moor Care’.
• Two drivers stopped for having no MOT
• One person arrested for breach of Sexual Harm Prevention Order
• Two Fixed Penalty warning notices issued for inconsiderate parking at New Bridge and Spitchwick

Special Supt McKnight added: “A local business owner made the effort to come out and tell us about the difference our presence had made to the roads and was very grateful. We also met with rangers at Post Bridge and are also pleased to report that no disposable BBQs or fires were found during foot patrols at Spitchwick and other locations during the police operation.

“Officers are planning further deployments and patrols over the August Bank Holiday weekend and beyond.”

The operation included an unmarked ANPR traffic car on mobile patrol, as well as two marked police vehicles and roadside speed detection equipment at different locations on key trunk roads (Two Bridges, Post Bridge and Bennett’s Cross).

Devon and Cornwall Police are part of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership - the aim is to stop serious and fatal incidents on our roads.   

For more information about road safety in rural areas and advice to horse riders, visit the Vision Zero South West Police website Horse Riders | Vulnerable Road Users | Vision Zero South West.

For other advice about visiting the Dartmoor National Park please go to their website Home | Dartmoor.