A Welsh police force is to start using drones to crack down on dangerous drivers.

Dyfed-Powys Police will send up craft to identify and gather evidence to achieve prosecutions.

The force said in a statement that “a small minority of riders and motorists continue to drive in a dangerous, reckless or anti-social manner, which impacts on the safety of themselves and other road users”.

The force is using drones to pick up riders and drivers committing the ‘fatal five’ offences which include careless driving, speeding and using a mobile phone. The intelligence can be followed up by officers on the ground.

In 2022, there were 90 serious-injury collisions and 13 fatalities on Powys roads putting a strain on resources and a “lifetime of heartache” to those who lose loved ones or who suffer long-term injury.

Inspector Gareth Earp said: “Our Roads Policing Unit in partnership with Go Safe are gearing up for the coming tourist season with a focus on improving road safety and driving behaviour.

“Every year we welcome thousands of visitors to the beautiful counties that make up the Dyfed-Powys area and as a unit we are committed to ensuring that both visitors and residents are free to travel safe from harm.

“In line with our aims to improve road safety as part of Operation Darwen and Project Edward (Every Day Without a Road Death), officers from our Roads Policing Unit will now regularly be joined by officers from our specialist drone unit and the Go Safe team and will work together to target this small minority of reckless individuals.

“This joint approach has the aim of improving road safety at its heart, with education and elimination of reckless behaviour as a core principle, coupled with the taking of enforcement where necessary.

“Officers will be taking a highly targeted approach to this new combined initiative and activities will be carefully focused on key ‘hot spots’ which have been identified from collision data and other relevant information.

“We acknowledge the fact some members of the public may be concerned at the wider use of police drones and would like to offer reassurances to them that this is about improving road safety for all road users and is simply another tool now available to us to assist us in our mission to reduce collisions, prevent harm and to promote the safe enjoyment of our beautiful force area by residents and visitors alike.”

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