Motorists are being warned they could be putting lives at risk by using the grounds of Lancashire's fire HQ to avoid traffic queues.
Firefighters and police are targeting people who drive onto the Garstang Road site, which also houses Fulwood fire station, to perform U-turns.
Despite road signs and markings, drivers regularly perform U-turns in front of the entrance or enter the site to complete manoeuvres – potentially blocking engines on emergency calls.
In the past 10 months, firefighters and support staff have logged hundreds of incidents, three crashes and countless near misses as people tried to cut minutes from their journeys.
A fire spokesman said: "It seems to be people on the westbound carriageway of Eastway trying to get to Tom Benson Way or the motorway.
"To avoid the tailback on Eastway, they are cutting across Garstang Road.
"One driver we stopped said he did it five or six times a week. I'm aware the route backs up but we all have to face congestion.
"Sometimes, there is no safe alternative to queuing in traffic."
Four people were caught doing U-turns and two were stopped during an hour-long sting on Thursday morning.
PC Mark Skellorn said: "Our concern is for the safety of the offending drivers, other road users, pedestrians, our own staff and visitors.
"Also the safety of people who need the emergency services of firefighters driving off site, whose response could easily be delayed or even halted by these thoughtless drivers.
"By challenging these drivers we will drive the message home not to re-offend."
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