Police stopped drivers to test their eyes but found a lot more to worry about

North Wales Live

5 days ago

Police stopped motorists to test their eyesight and check road safety, but found themselves busy with a range of misdemeanours. The checks under Op Eyesight were conducted in Flint yesterday (Monday) as part of a road safety operation done by officers from the Roads Crime Unit.
It was held at the fire station on Coast Road, which also scrutinised vehicles for roadworthiness, in addition to checking if the eyesight of the driver reached a required standard.
A North Wales Police spokesperson said: "All drivers must be able to read a legal, clean registration plate from 20 metres in daylight conditions.
"Fortunately, of the 79 drivers stopped, all passed their eyesight test with no issues and the majority continued their journey within a couple of minutes."
However, despite positive eyesight results, several TORs (Traffic Offence Report) were handed out to drivers for offences including:
13 x driving without a seatbelt
4 x driving whilst using a mobile phone
2 x no MOT
1 X defective tyre (cord exposed)
4 x driving without insurance
2 x number plate offences
3 x insecure loads
3 x stop searches
2 x PG9 Prohibition Notices issued, which restricts the use of a vehicle on a public road due to safety concerns
A driver was also arrested on suspicion of drug driving after testing positive for cannabis at the roadside. He has since been released pending further investigation as officers await the results of further tests.
The police spokesperson added: "Two electric scooters were also seized. The law currently permits the use of e-scooters only as part of government-approved rental trials – of which there are none in north Wales, or they can be used on private land with the landowner's permission. Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads, pavements and cycle paths.
"Further advice and information with regards to e-scooters is available on our website: Advice on e-scooter usage | North Wales Police."
Sergeant Duncan Logan of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: 'Good eyesight is essential for safe driving, and we make no apologies in trying to reduce serious and fatal collisions in line with road safety initiatives such as this one held yesterday.
'Road safety is everyone's responsibility, and every single day we act against those responsible for illegal driving.
'Further operations will be carried out over the upcoming months as we are committed to making the roads of north Wales as safe as possible. If this operation prevented one person from being injured or worse, killed – then we see it as a success.'