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A former police officer who patrolled Lancashire motorways for years believes the main cause of accidents today is ‘errant drivers’ and that speeding is ‘rife’ because of a lack of police.
Paul Brooks, from Bamber Bridge, said today’s motorways are not policed properly because of police force financial pressures. And today’s Highways Agency officers represent ‘policing on the cheap’ with few real powers.
However, Mr Brooks also believes the loss of lighting on the M65, ‘inadequate drainage’ and a mix of two and three-lane sections are concerns too. He spoke after recent news and political debates regarding the M65 in Lancashire, which has seen a number of fatal incidents.
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At the latest full meeting of Pendle Council, various councillors including a fireman who has attended motorway crashes, joined other Lancashire boroughs in calling for an urgent safety review of the M65, including the return of lighting. Some claimed the M65 was poorly designed, with an allegedly abrupt end at Colne and concrete central barriers said to create flooding, and was no longer fit for purpose.
But other Pendle Council meetings in recent years have heard complaints from residents about alleged speeding on the M65 and through adjoining towns.
Speaking this week following the latest Pendle debate, Mr Brooks said: “I was a police officer for over 30 years and on traffic, as it was called then, for 28 years. I patrolled the motorways in Lancashire for 15 years as part of a strong motorway-dedicated group of officers.
“Initially, the M65 was not part of the national network, because it didn’t join any other motorway. When they were building the stretch from Blackburn to the M61, I remember asked one of the architects or planners why they were only building a two- lane section. His reply was ‘well. it doesn’t go anywhere. Today, it is a major national motorway which varies from two to three lanes at several points and that, alone, is a recipe for disaster. But apparently it ‘doesn’t go anywhere’ so what does it matter?
“Years later. Lancashire Constabulary lost many officers through financial restraints and the dedicated motorway police group was disbanded. New thinking was to have ‘road policing ‘officers responsible for major roads and the motorway.
“But how many do you see on the motorway patrolling it in Lancashire? Calming traffic? If you do, you are very lucky. You only see them when there is an accident or collision, in my view.”
Regarding the condition and environment of the M65, he said: “Street lighting is being abandoned and drainage not being adequate does cause problems, But, in my view, the main cause is errant drivers. Speeding is rife and it’s not policed.
“Highways Agency traffic officers do a good job, But motorists completely ignore them because they do not have the powers which the police have. In other words. they’re trying to police on the cheap.
“As a driver, you would not overtake a police vehicle at a greater speed than the speed limit. But drivers just ignore Highways Agency vehicles.
“I get frustrated that policing of the motorways is no longer a priority even though the death toll or serious injury rises. Lancashire used to be part of the North West Motorway Patrol Group. That consisted of Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire police. I don’t know if it is still going but I do know that Lancashire pulled-out because of the expense. But how do you put a value on a life? “
Clive Grunshaw, police and crime commissioner for Lancashire, said: “Lancashire Constabulary has a road policing unit, which is dedicated to patrolling the county’s roads and dealing with offences such as speeding and drink or drug-driving, as well as attending scenes of serious and fatal collisions.
“Additionally, the force regularly carries out numerous proactive operations targeting those on our roads that put the public at risk.
“Dangerous driving comes up time and time again as a huge concern for our communities, and it is a priority to make our roads even safer for the majority of law-abiding motorists.
“I will continue to work together with the Road Safety Partnership and hold the Chief Constable to account to ensure that road policing, from our motorways to our rural areas, is working to keep people safe.”
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