It was not the day to do anything while driving. Thursday December 19, 2024, a blue wave swept across the roads of Deux-Sèvres, with two major road check operations, carried out by both the Niort police and the gendarmerie. “Coordinated and dense operations, organized a few days before the holidays, when we know that traffic is higher”, indicates Benoît Ready, chief of staff of the prefect, who piloted the system.
A dog, a drone and an arrest
In Niort, around thirty police officers were mobilized for this control concentrated mainly at the intersections between Avenue de Limoges and the eastern ring road. “We were at four checkpoints, both to carry out prevention but also repression when necessary”underlines Commissioner Jacqueline Cazorla, departmental director of the national police (DDPN). “In all, 153 vehicles were checked, 18 tickets and 5 fixed fines were issued. Finally, the officers made an arrest for driving under drugs. »
The presence of Diesel, the police dog, led to an arrest for driving under drugs.
© (Photo NR, Julien Griveau)
An arrest that occurred in part thanks to Diesel, the police dog specializing in the detection of narcotics, present with his handler during the check. Also note air support for the police, thanks to the drone of the zonal border police service, coming directly from Bordeaux to support the Niortais. “From above, we will be able to detect abnormal behavior such as dangerous behavior or refusal to comply,” indicates Major Bruno, remote pilot of the drone.
Four fatal accidents in Niort this year
This operation was also organized in response to the accidents that have devastated Niort in recent weeks, “four people killed this year, a very significant figure for an urban area”, recognizes the commissioner. “But we are on the ground every day, and we are going to repeat this type of operation. »
Some 153 checks were carried out in total by the Niort police officers on Thursday December 18.
© (Photo NR, Julien Griveau)
It wasn’t just Niort that was tinged with blue this Thursday. The entire department was covered. “We have set up 28 checkpoints throughout the gendarmerie zone, with 41 soldiers mobilized,” figures Colonel Erwan Kermorvant, commander of the departmental group. “We target all types of behavior: speeding, alcohol, but also phone use. We will continue checks of this type until the end of the year. »
Preventing risky behavior to cause as few victims as possible is the wish of the authorities, who nevertheless note a drop in accidents leading to transport to hospital. “Minus 20% for the moment compared to 2023”, specifies Benoît Ready, who certainly does not want to congratulate himself on it. “Every serious injury and life lost is a tragedy. » Tragedy experienced by many families again this year. “With 26 road deaths so far in 2024, we have already exceeded last year’s figure…”
