MORE than 2,000 people in Devon and Cornwall have been caught speeding, using mobile phones while driving and not wearing seatbelts – in just one week.

The Vision Zero South West road safety partnership has released the figures following a week of action to mark the national Brake Road Safety week.

Throughout the week (November 14-19) Devon and Cornwall Police have deployed the state-of-the-art Aecom camera system at key locations across both counties.

The technology uses AI to detect mobile phone offences and people not wearing seatbelts.

Speed Detection Officers have also been out in force at speeding hotspots, along with Road Casualty Reduction Officers and volunteer members of the Community Speedwatch scheme.

Here’s an overview of the offences detected during Road Safety Week (since Monday, November 14)

• Speed Detection Officers have detected 867 speeding offences across both counties

• Fixed spot speed cameras in Devon and Cornwall have detected 1,073 offences, while average speed cameras have detected 35 offences

• Community Speedwatch Teams detected 82 speeding offences (35 in Devon, 47 in Cornwall)

• The Aecom camera system detected 101 people not wearing seatbelts and nine drivers using their mobile phones illegally.

Chief Inspector Ben Asprey of the Alliance Roads Policing Team said the figures were alarming.

He said: “Since the end of September, the Aecom camera system has caught 40 people driving while using mobile phones and a shocking 590 people not wearing seatbelts.

“We understand that both offences are contributory factors in serious injury collisions – and you are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash if you are not wearing a seatbelt.

“You may think this is common sense, but still there are people out there failing to comply with the law.

“Our roads policing officers and speed detection teams are out on the road every single week, so please don’t think that this is a one-off.

“Last year, 47 people were killed and 647 were seriously injured on our roads. Every single one of these is a tragedy that we want to avoid.

“Please drive within the speed limits, put your phone out of sight so you won’t be tempted to use it, or set your phones mode to do not distract– and always wear a seatbelt.”

Councillor Stuart Hughes, vice chairman of Vision Zero South West and Devon County Council’s cabinet member for Highway Management, said: “These figures show there is still much to be done in Devon and Cornwall when it comes to educating motorists about road safety.

“Vision Zero South West wants to halve the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads by 2030 – and eventually, reduce that number to zero.”

To see for yourself what measures we’ve been taking, visit the website at: www.visionzerosouthwest.co.uk .