Traffic police have been dispatched to 166 of the most incident prone road junctions in London following a spate of cyclist deaths in the capital in recent weeks.

A total of 2500 officers are monitoring junctions during the morning and evening peak and issuing fixed penalty notices to anyone committing a traffic offence.

'Operation Safeway' began on Monday and will remain in force for the next few weeks. By 6.30pm on the first day 150 penalty notices were issued. These were mainly to motorists driving while talking on a mobile phone and to both drivers and cyclists passing through red traffic lights.

Officers are also handing out advisory leaflets to those whose behaviour may be putting themselves or other road users at risk of harm, including pedestrians, motorcyclists and drivers of large vehicles.

Superintendent Rob Revill said: "Our aim is to reduce the appalling number of people who die or are injured on London's roads each year. We are enforcing traffic legislation robustly and at every opportunity and talking to anyone we see acting dangerously on or about the roads."

'Operation Safeway' follows six cyclist deaths in two weeks in London. This morning (Wednesday) a London Cycling Summit was hosted by the Labour Party in Westminster. Next Monday the Transport Select Committee will host an oral evidence session as part of an inquiry into cycling safety.

(Photo: Met Police UK)

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