POLICE stopped elderly drivers and checked their eyesight as part of a campaign to catch motorists who flout the law.

The operation came just weeks after a confused woman in her eighties caused chaos after driving the wrong way down the A13 between Pitsea and Five Bells Interchange.

Yesterday’s police action, codenamed Operation Surround a Town, sawmore than 160 vehicles pulled over for a variety of offences, including driving without insurance, while using a mobile phone, without a seatbelt and having out-of-date MoTs.

Officers also pulled over elderly motorists, checked their licences and asked them to perform a roadside eyesight test by reading a licence plate at 20m.

Anyone caught by the operation was handed a P101 form.

This means that rather than being handed points or a fine they had the option of attending a driver awareness course.

However, officers also had the power to seize unsafe or unroadworthy vehicles.

PC Adam Purser, who led the operation, said: “This scheme is funded by Basildon Council.

“It is not about raising money, it is about educating drivers about the consequences of bad driving.

“The penalty part of attending the driver awareness course is that they have to pay for it themselves.

“Wewant people caught under this operation to become better drivers, which will make the roads safer for all road users.”

Operation Surround a Town had two sites – in Eastmayne, Basildon, near the Watermill pub and Broadmayne, near the crown and magistrates’ courts in Basildon.

Officers were out on patrol between 7.30am and 4.30pm.

About 80 cars were stopped at each site and about 30 P101 forms issued.

- Several cars were involved in crashes after a pensioner drove the wrong way down the A13 on April 13. She and a man in his thirties were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Campaigner hails cops’ crackdown

A CHURCHWOMAN who lost her niece after she was hit by a driver with poor eyesight welcomed the police operation.

The Rev Rev Brenda Gutberlet’s niece, Natalie Wade, was killed while crossing Ashingdon Road, Rochford, in 2006 An inquest found the driver was practically blind and had failed to declare this to the DVLA.

Ms Gutberlet, who represents the Hockley, Rayleigh and Rochford Methodist parish, and lives on Canvey, has been campaigning for more stringent eye tests for drivers.

She said: “I am pleased to hear of this attempt to make drivers of all ages more aware of their need for good standards of vision. The police are obviously limited by resources, but since February 2013 they have had the power to stop anyone whom they believe may be medically unfit to drive and report them to the DVLA.

“I am pleased they are making use of this legislation.’’ Ms Gutberlet added: “It’s a scientific fact that after the age of 50 your eyes start to deteriorate and by 60 most of us need glasses.

“Eye tests are free after the age of 60, so there is no excuse for people not have them tested.”

Anyone concerned a friend or relative may be unfit to drive can report them online at the DVLA website.