The AA is urging the Government to recruit 1,000 new road police officers.

These would, it believes, would act as a deterrent, improving road safety and helping tackle broader crime.

Cuts to the police during the years of austerity since 2010 left traffic policing significantly diminished, with many traffic officers office-based.

Uneconomically efficient

In a recent study, The AA found that more than half (57%) of drivers felt they could get away with careless driving due to a lack of police on the roads.

More than two-fifths of drivers said offences were going unpunished due to a reduced police presence.

These included using a handheld phone behind the wheel (44%), drug driving (42%), not wearing a seatbelt (46%) and using a dangerous vehicle (43%).

Clear and present

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said: “Be it driving offences or wider crime, public opinion suggests that too many people are simply getting away with it. It’s clear that the public want to see more bobbies on the beat, so the government’s ambition to increase the number of police officers is welcome.

“We believe there should be a broader approach to tackling crime and that more cops in cars could produce safer communities as well as safer roads. A clear and visible presence is a deterrent in itself to ensure better standards of driving, as well as sending a warning signal to criminals that the chances of being caught are higher than before.

“Most traffic cops catch other crimes in the act, such as discovering stolen goods, through routine stops. Similarly, a camera can spot the speeding driver, but it can’t stop them if they are under the influence of drink or drugs. Investment in traffic officers does more than improve road safety; it produces safer neighbourhoods, too.”

Road ahead

As part of its manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to recruit thousands of new police officers to tackle neighbourhood crime.

The AA believes 1,000 of these new recruits should form part of the road traffic section of forces across the country.

AA analysis of the latest police workforce statistics found there were currently 4,215 traffic officers in England and Wales, a drop of 1,022 officers from the highest point in March 2016.

However, as with many of the losses in the public services over the last decade, it was often the most experienced members of staff who were lost.

Recruitment of new staff will only solve some of the issues.

However, a more significant police presence on the roads will undoubtedly encourage all drivers to think twice about committing potential offences.