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Tractor seized and man arrested in NC500 crackdown

Getty Images A brown sign for the North Coast 500 route. There are direction pointers and illustrations of a car pulling a caravan, and a campervan. The sign also has the words: "NC500" and "alternative route". The sign is next to a rural road with trees and a hill in the distance.Getty Images
Police carried out patrols on the North Coast 500 scenic route at the weekend

A tractor driver was found to have no licence or insurance and failed roadside drink and drug tests during a police crackdown on the North Coast 500 tourist route.

The man, who was stopped by officers on the A9's Dornoch Bridge, was arrested and his tractor seized.

Police said officers carried out targeted patrols at the weekend after concerns about driver behaviour were raised by people who live along the 516-mile (830km) NC500.

More than 60 road users were stopped and 26 offences were detected - including 13 for speeding and five for careless driving.

The NC500 starts and finishes in Inverness and follows a network of roads around the north Highland coast.

The route's website has advice on road safety and Police Scotland regularly carries out patrols on the road network.

The force said the weekend patrol was prompted by complaints from local residents as well as a number of serious crashes along the route.

A spokesman said: "Speeding, careless driving, drink and drug driving, using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt are the five most prevalent factors in serious and fatal road traffic collisions.

"We support and encourage all road users to safely share and use our roads responsibly."