‘White van man’ is once more the target for Tayside Police today as traffic officers concentrate on speeding drivers and those who fail to wear seatbelts.

Police will be out in force across the region in a national day of action where the particular focus will be on drivers of light goods vehicles, such as those involved in trades and delivery services.

This is the last of three 24-hour campaigns during 2007-08 and, as with previous operations, the aim is to highlight the need for drivers to slow down and to ensure that both drivers and passengers are sticking to road safety legislation and buckling up.

Drivers of this type of vehicle —not exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight—are being urged to remember they are subject to reduced speed limits on a number of roads.

For example, on roads with national speed limits such vans are limited to 60mph on dual carriageways and 50mph on single carriageway roads.

Head of road policing in Tayside Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman said, “There may be a temptation not to use the seatbelt when carrying out deliveries.

“Whilst the law does provide a limited exemption, I would encourage drivers to wear the seatbelt at all times. Collisions can occur at any moment and injury can be caused even at very low speeds.”

There are very few statutory exemptions for wearing a seatbelt, such as holders of medical exemption certificates.

Delivery drivers are warned they are not always exempt— they must be actively involved in deliveries at that particular time and the deliveries must not be more than 50 metres apart

While stressing that enforcement of road speed and seatbelt legislation is carried out on a daily basis within the Tayside Police area, the campaign is aimed at reminding drivers and passengers of the importance of road safety and of the need to comply with the law.

In 2007 well over 18,000 drivers were reported for speeding in Tayside, with almost 3000 people reported for failing to wear a seatbelt.

Driving in built-up areas generally means greater traffic density and larger numbers of pedestrians and cyclists.

In such circumstances a safe speed may be one that is well below the stated speed limit.

Chief Inspector Bowman said, “It is the responsibility of the driver to be fully aware of the speed limit wherever they are and whatever vehicle they are driving.

“Unfortunately a number of motorists seem unaware that vehicles such as light goods vehicles are subject to reduced speed limits.

“Ignorance is no excuse and any offence will come at a cost.

“Please, slow down, put your seatbelt on and don’t risk it.”