FOUR motorists caught during a police crackdown on Felixstowe seafront will attend a graphic and hard-hitting course on bad driving habits.

FOUR motorists caught during a police crackdown on Felixstowe seafront will attend a graphic and hard-hitting course on bad driving habits.

The drivers were stopped for various offences during a three-month operation to target boy racers who plague the resort's seafront area in spring and summer.

During Operation Tourism - which focussed on anti-social use of motor vehicles - police stopped 120 cars and issued 77 fines.

Instead of being prosecuted, four drivers were asked to attend a Learn and Live course to educate them on better driving and deter them from committing further offences.

The presentation is done by the fire service and described as a “hard hitting and graphic review of poor driving habits and the possible consequences”.

Inspector Stephen Gallant, of Felixstowe and District Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We are very pleased with the results of the enforcement campaign.

“We hope that this will deter antisocial drivers as the summer period approaches and stop these types of offences from being committed.

“In the summer we have a lot of children and tourists visiting the amusements, local market and beach.

“Our main goal is to make Felixstowe a safer place to visit and live in and we will continue to prosecute those who chose to flout the law.

“Those who continue to commit anti-social motor vehicle offences will be prosecuted under a zero tolerance policy.”

Of the 77 fixed penalty notices issued, 27 were for failing to wear a seat belt, five failing to comply with indication given by a traffic sign, four for using a mobile phone, three for tyre offences, 27 speeding and five for no insurance, resulting in being fined �200 and six points on their licence.

The campaign also resulted in nine warnings of using a vehicle in an anti-social manner, one vehicle seized, four people reported for offences, two vehicles immediately taken off the road, 14 letters sent to insurance companies about vehicle modifications, and one arrest for drink driving.

Has the campaign been effective? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk