A campaign has been launched by police to tackle road safety after increasing numbers of fatalities.

Devon and Cornwall police aim to tackle ‘fatal four’ after road deaths rise by 33.

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

POLICE have launched a campaign to tackle the rising number of collisions on the region’s roads.

Across the Devon and Cornwall force area, police said there had been 554 fatal or serious collisions in 2012 – 33 more than the previous year.

Earlier this month, the Gazette reported how nine people were killed and 43 seriously injured on North Devon and Torridge roads between April 1 and October 31 last year.

The statistics prompted a call by North Devon Council Leader Brian Greenslade for something to be done.

Police have launched Operation Vortex to run in the last two weeks of January, with marked and unmarked cars patrolling the region to target the ‘fatal four’, which police say causes most serious accidents.

These are drink driving, distractions such as mobile phone use, speeding and not wearing a seat belt.

Inspector Richard Pryce said offenders would be dealt with ‘robustly’ and drivers had their own part to play on road safety by being responsible, as well as ensuring basic checks of essential vehicle systems such as lights.