Motorists have been warned they could have their vehicle seized and removed from UK roads if found to be breaking major safety rules.
The warning follows a new road safety initiative across the West Midlands, which resulted in numerous "prohibition notices" being issued for vehicles failing to meet safety standards.
The operation brought together West Midlands Police's Road Harm Prevention Team with multiple partner agencies, including the DVSA.
Officers seized three vehicles during the enforcement action, with one impounded for lacking insurance and two others removed from the road due to unpaid vehicle taxes.
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WEST MIDLANDS POLICE
|The operation recorded several cases of drivers travelling in unsafe vehicles
The DVSA also issued multiple prohibition notices to drivers whose vehicles failed safety requirements, including those with worn tyres, overweight loads and faulty rear lighting systems.
In total, the operation saw 12 motorists face reports for various traffic violations during the coordinated enforcement effort.
The enforcement action targeted a range of safety violations, with officers reporting drivers for excessively darkened windows, overloaded vehicles, worn tyres, seatbelt non-compliance, mobile phone usage while driving and illegal registration plates.
The DVSA's prohibition notices prevented vehicles from continuing their journeys until their vehicle met certain safety requirements, focusing particularly on dangerously worn tyres, vehicles exceeding weight limits and malfunctioning rear lighting.
DVSA ENFORCEMENT | The DVSA, alongside police, issues several penalties to drivers during its enforcement operation
The joint operation formed part of the national Safer Streets Summer initiative, which concentrates on reducing anti-social behaviour and street crime in town centres throughout Britain.
Neighbourhood officers collaborated with the DVLA, HMRC, Walsall Council, the Environment Agency and DataTag Security.
PC Paul Hewitt, from the Road Harm Prevention Team, shared: "Days like these are important to ensure drivers, passengers and members of the public are safe on the roads."
He explained that multi-agency operations enable authorities to combine their expertise and resources while also sharing responsibilities for promoting road safety and addressing offences within targeted areas.
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Hewitt added: "MARSOs provide us with the opportunity to work alongside our partners. By working together, we share responsibility, specialist knowledge and resources to promote road safety and deal with those committing offences in a specific area."
Beyond enforcement measures, officers also provided guidance to motorists about maintaining legal compliance on the roads.
The operation focused on the "fatal four" offences, which include speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use while driving, and failure to wear a seatbelt.
Members of the public can also assist road safety efforts through Operation Snap, which enables drivers to submit dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage of traffic offences to West Midlands Police.
WEST MIDLANDS POLICE
|The operation saw several vehicles stopped by police for failing to meet UK safety requirements
The scheme accepts evidence of dangerous driving, mobile phone use, seatbelt violations, red light infractions, motorway lane misuse and other instances where drivers lack proper vehicle control.
Specially trained personnel review all submitted footage, with offenders potentially facing prosecution or mandatory driver improvement courses.
The need for more safety measures follows reports that in the West Midlands, 65 people died and 1,021 sustained serious injuries on roads and motorways during 2022.
Police stress that preventing such tragedies motivates their enforcement activities, urging all road users to exercise additional care to help save lives.