People wonder why so many cars are out on Northamptonshire's roads during this lockdown — here's a few reasons

Police are concerned at a rising number of vehicles on Northamptonshire's roads during lockdown after being called to more than five crashes A DAY during January.

Force figures revealed 163 "emergency or prompt calls" to collisions during the first month of 2021 on roads which were twice as busy as they were the first time restrictions were brought in last March.

Numbers of vehicles being driven despite the Stay At Home order are being fuelled by more people being allowed to travel to work, more key workers sending their kids to school and more shops offering click and collect services.

Northamptonshire Police Superintendent Elliot Foskett said: "Traffic flow fell by 40 per cent at the start of January on our roads which was still short of what we saw during in initial lockdown — and it has started to rise again.

"There are different rules at the moment so it is really important for people not to undertake unnecessary journeys because of the risk of collisions which would put even more pressure on the Police, hospitals, fire and ambulance services; especially in poor weather conditions such as we're seeing at the moment."

National figures from the Department for Transport showed the number of vehicles on Britain's at 63 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Weekday traffic dropped as low as 35 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in early-April.

And that makes enforcing Covid restrictions tougher for the Police as they bid to tackle unnecessary journeys and car sharing — such as one by four youngsters to get a McDonald's at 5am last month.

The number of collisions on the county's roads was not helped by January's snow and ice.

Yet, incredibly, the RAC had its busiest start to a New Year on record with eight per cent more breakdown calls in the first four days of January compared to previous years.

RAC data insight spokesman Rod Dennis said: “The feel of this latest nationwide lockdown is very different to that which was first imposed in 2020 with greater numbers of people working in ‘Covid-secure’ workplaces, more shops offering click-and-collect services, and more children of key workers attending schools.

"In addition, with so many avoiding public transport, there will inevitably be far more people opting for the safer environment of the car.

"Together, these differences help account for the busier roads.

"Nonetheless, it’s vital drivers think carefully before using their vehicles and ensure they’re only venturing out for essential trips as specified by government guidelines.

"Every unnecessary journey increases the chances of a breakdown, or worse a road traffic collision, and risks adding to the pressures being experienced by our emergency and healthcare workers."