More than 550 drivers across the Thames Valley were stopped last week for offences including failure to wear a seatbelt, using a mobile phone while driving or not having insurance.

Thames Valley Police and the Safer Roads Partnership teamed up to support the Europe-wide TISPOL road safety week.

Thames Valley Police’s five Road Safety Constables, working alongside roads policing officers, carried out seatbelt checks across the area as part of the TISPOL campaign.

Police said checks were carried out in different locations each day, resulting in 461 drivers being stopped for failing to wear a seatbelt. The fine for not wearing a seatbelt is a fixed penalty of £30.

A further 70 drivers were stopped for using a mobile phone while driving, and 21 for having tinted windows that breached regulations. Thirteen people had their vehicles seized for insurance offences, and a number of other offences were detected.

Road Safety Sergeant Chris Appleby said: “Unfortunately we caught far too many people failing to wear seatbelts. As a result of this we discovered other offences, resulting in seized vehicles, and arrests for more serious matters.

“It is a shame that motorists continue to ignore the seatbelt message and place themselves and their family in danger of serious harm or death.”