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Police stop people using Ide rat run

Credit Devon & Cornwall Police

28 fixed penalties were issued

Last Tuesday (7th August) police officers and special constables spent the morning ticketing drivers who use a popular rat run to get into Exeter. 

The roads near the Twisted Oak Pub - Doctors Walk, Balls Farm Road and Little John’s Cross Hill form a narrow, single track, cut through between the Ide bypass and Cowick Lane Road and should not be used by drivers between 7am and 9.30am Monday to Friday. There are signs at each end of the road saying so. 

Officers issued 28 fixed penalties for contravention of signed road regulations, gave words of advice to eight drivers and also issued a penalty notice for a driver with no valid MOT for their vehicle. Three PCSO’s helped with traffic management and stopping vehicles.

PC Andrew Stacey explained: “The road is restricted to vehicular traffic, during what some might call the morning rush hour, for a reason. It’s single track with school children and parents walking along it to West Exe School, while other people walk or cycle to work.

“Over the last few years several people have been clipped by cars struggling to fit past them, including a cyclist who was knocked off their bike.”

“It is not acceptable to flout clearly signed restrictions in order to cut your journey time on your morning commute or any other car journey.”

“This is the second time we have run this operation, and we will keep doing so until drivers get the message.”

The operation was previously run in July of this year (2018) during which 28 fixed penalties were handed out, nearly 50 people were spoken to and given advice and one person was reported for driving while disqualified.

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