A newborn on its mother's lap in the passenger seat and a chase at triple the speed limit: Just some of the road nightmares Lancashire Police have dealt this week

By Catherine Musgrove

Published 26th Oct 2022, 12:30 BST

Police have been praised for stopping a “horrific accident waiting to happen”.

Police in Galgate pulled over a Vauxhall people carrier on Monday, October 24 and discovered a newborn baby in its mother’s lap in the passenger seat and three other children not wearing seatbelts.

The family were removed from the vehicle and it was seized. The driver also didn’t have a full UK driving licence.

Users of social media took to Twitter to express their shock.

One said: “No seatbelts on children is a horrific accident waiting to happen. Disgusting behaviour. Even a low speed RTC could have caused catastrophic injuries in tiny bodies. Makes my blood boil!”

Another said: “No excuse for kids to not be properly restrained, I’d ban him from the roads just for that.”

Other incidents Lancashire’s Road Police have been dealing with this week include a pursuit of a car doing 90mph in a 30mp zone, drug-driving, and seizing a car involved in a racially-motivated attack.

For more information on what’s been happening on the region’s roads, click on the images below.

This Mercedes failed to stop and reached speeds in excess of 90mph in a 30mph limit before giving up at Tickled Trout petrol station near Preston.
Officers discovered that the driver was disqualified and they failed a roadside drug test.

1. Triple the speed limit

This Mercedes failed to stop and reached speeds in excess of 90mph in a 30mph limit before giving up at Tickled Trout petrol station near Preston. Officers discovered that the driver was disqualified and they failed a roadside drug test. Photo: Lancs Police

The driver of this Ford Fiesta was stopped in Lune Street, Lancaster, after the car was linked to an assault earlier in the evening.
The driver was arrested for racially aggravated assault and public order offences.

2. wlepnews-26-10-22-road2-nw-upload.jpg

The driver of this Ford Fiesta was stopped in Lune Street, Lancaster, after the car was linked to an assault earlier in the evening. The driver was arrested for racially aggravated assault and public order offences. Photo: Public order

This VW Passat was stopped in Blackpool Road, Preston, due to their manner in which it was being driven.
Checks revealed the driver was not insured on the vehicle.
They were issued with six penalty points and a £300 fine, plus vehicle recovery costs.

3. Penalty points

This VW Passat was stopped in Blackpool Road, Preston, due to their manner in which it was being driven. Checks revealed the driver was not insured on the vehicle. They were issued with six penalty points and a £300 fine, plus vehicle recovery costs. Photo: Lancs Police

This VW Passat was stopped in Galgate, near Lancaster.
Three children were not wearing seatbelts and a newborn baby was on Mum's lap in the front seat.
The driver only held a UK provisional licence and tried to use their international licence, but the UK licence takes precedence.
The car was seized and the driver reported for all offences.

4. Newborn on lap

This VW Passat was stopped in Galgate, near Lancaster. Three children were not wearing seatbelts and a newborn baby was on Mum's lap in the front seat. The driver only held a UK provisional licence and tried to use their international licence, but the UK licence takes precedence. The car was seized and the driver reported for all offences. Photo: Lancs Police