OFFICERS working as part of the police crackdown on dangerous drivers in Bradford have vowed to crank up the pressure on motoring menaces over Christmas.

Sergeant Cameron Buchan, who is leading Operation Steerside, warned drivers that there would be more officers on the roads in the coming week.

“We are certainly not letting go because it is Christmas,” said Sgt Buchan. “We are not thinking about our time in front of the fire with a belly full of turkey. People still need protecting.

“If anything, we are putting our foot on the gas.”

Operation Steerside will run alongside the police’s festive crackdowns on drink-driving and uninsured drivers. Steerside officers will also be keeping an eye out on night patrols for potential burglars.

“It is business as usual, but with even more things going on,” said Sgt Buchan. “If anything, there are more initiatives at this time of year. We have had extra patrols, including officers from the drink-driving campaign.”

The increase in police presence has already paid dividends as Steerside registered its highest number of motorists caught in one week.

The latest weekly figures revealed that 200 dangerous drivers were caught on Bradford’s roads last week. Of those, 93 were caught speeding.

Sgt Buchan said a number of the speeders were caught travelling at 70 or 80mph-plus in the 50mph-zone on Bingley Bypass.

The figures also revealed what the rest of the 200 drivers were caught for. They were: using a mobile phone at the wheel, 15; not wearing a seatbelt, 43; driving without insurance, 17; other road-related offences, 32. A total of 22 vehicles were seized.

Meanwhile, Bradford Council’s principal engineer, Simon D’Vali, has praised the work of Steerside.

At a meeting of the Council’s Environment and Waste Scrutiny Committee, he said it was helping to enforce the road safety campaigns that had helped bring down the number of people injured in crashes in recent years.

Mr D’Vali added: “We have been working with the police on Operation Steerside, and it has had a significant impact on reducing collisions and the impact of dangerous driving. It is certainly having a very positive effect on road safety.”