Police said checks are not just about catching people doing the wrong thing – they’re about preventing accidents and saving livesChecks as part of the police’s Multi-Agency Road Safety Operations(Image: WMP)

West Midlands Police has issued a warning over ‘common’ road offences after it stopped 600 vehicles during a safety campaign.

The force said its road harm prevention team had made significant strides in improving road safety across the region since the start of 2025.

A total of 506 offences were identified and reported through operations involving stopping vehicles, checking for safety issues and making sure drivers were following the law between January and May.

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Some of the most common issues police saw during the checks included drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel, people not wearing seat belts, cars with windows that were too dark to see through, vehicles carrying too much weight and drivers who were banned or had not paid their tax or insurance..

Here’s what police found:

  • A total of 601 vehicles were stopped and checked by officers and partners
  • 74 vehicles were seized because the drivers either didn’t have a valid driving licence or didn’t have insurance—both of which are required by law
  • 10 vehicles were taken off the road because they hadn’t been taxed properly
  • 19 people were arrested for more serious offences
  • 360 people were reported for breaking road safety laws
  • 111 vehicles were found to be unsafe to drive and were prohibited from being used until they were fixed

Pc Abbi Jones, from the road harm prevention team, said: “Multi-agency road safety operations, provide us with the capability to promote road safety and deal with those committing offences in a specific area while working alongside our partner agencies, who bring their specialist skills and knowledge to the event.

“Our concentrated presence in area, where we work alongside the local neighbourhood officers, also assists in reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.”