Hundreds of vehicles will be stopped during Operation Viper

Chief Inspector Douglas Hogg said it was especially frustrating that 42 people were caught drink or drug driving.

The operation was conducted in some rural areas, with the most common offence speeding.

Mr Hogg said it was disappointing so many people chose to ignore police warnings about the operation and said more are being planned.

Operation Viper was very successful in identifying errant motorists, he said.

"It is, however, very disappointing that so many people decided to ignore our advice, in spite of the advance warning we gave regarding the extent and nature of the operation.

MOTORING OFFENCES Dangerous driving: 8 Careless driving: 132 Drink/drug driving: 42 Excess speed: 702 Seatbelts: 461 No insurance: 46 Driving while disqualified: 6 Miscellaneous offences: 605 LGV Offences: 103 Vehicle Defects: 248

"And, it is particularly frustrating to note that 42 people were detected for drink/drug driving offences and they will now face the prospect of being banned from driving for at least one year.

"There is simply no excuse for this type of behaviour."

The leading officer said the driving standards he had witnessed during the two-day operation meant a lot of motorists needed to review their whole approach to driving.

"Overall standards need to be much better than they are at present if we are to have any impact on the terrible death toll on our roads," said Mr Hogg, commander of Road Policing's rural region.

"Drivers need to show a lot more respect for their fellow road users, they need to focus on all aspects of their driving and need to be doing everything much better than they are at present," he said.