DRIVERS in and around Ottery have had to be on their best behaviour this month as police have been targeting driving offences.

DRIVERS in and around Ottery have had to be on their best behaviour this month as police have been targeting driving offences.Officers had been taking part in Operation Quick Strike, an East Devon wide crack down on speeding, driving with mobile phones or without wearing seatbelts.The operation was prompted by concerns about the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads last year.Ottery Sergeant Nick Harper said: "We realised we needed to do something to change motorists' behaviour.""It is too early to give details on the amount of tickets given but fixed penalties were given out and feedback suggests overall it was successful."Ottery officers decided the best way to create long term safer driving was by carrying out specifically targeted operations at hot spots and sites where road safety is a big concern.These included highly visible operations on the old A30 near Daisymount and on Barrack Road, near the King's School.Sgt Harper said: "Above all it was about education and a lot of the time we were stopping people and giving them advice."Sgt Harper said feedback from the public has been good particularly when they targeted the area around the King's School."I had parents dropping off their children coming up to me and saying how good it was we were there to help protect the children's safety."Sgt Harper added just because the operation is over there is no excuse for people to relax and put their foot to the floor again as officers will be out on patrol as normal.