Police launch crackdown on speeding drivers

The speed enforcement campaign, coordinated by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL), will see police forces target irresponsible and dangerous drivers committing excess speed offences.

Officers will raise awareness by highlighting the risks of speeding to drivers and encourage them to obey speed limits and drive at speeds safe for the road environment in order to help prevent fatalities and serious injuries on the roads.

Between 1st April 2017 and 31st March this year, 20,871 speeding offences were detected across Cleveland and Durham.

Chief Inspector Graham Milne, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “In roads policing we see speeding drivers put lives at risk on our roads every single day.

“Speeding shows disregard for the law and a lack of consideration for the safety of others which cannot be tolerated.

"As part of our jobs we see the devastation left behind when someone is killed or serious injured by a speeding driver, and it is heartbreaking seeing those families having to try to come to terms with something that could have been so easily avoided.

“We will take this opportunity to carry out both enforcement and educational activity, in order to raise as much awareness as possible and highlight the dangers of speeding.”

In a speeding campaign in April 2017, a total of 557 drivers were found to be breaking the law across Cleveland and Durham in just seven days.

Chief Inspector Milne continued: “Travelling at just 5mph above the speed limit can mean that it will take up to an extra six metres to stop your vehicle. It could literally be the difference between life and death.” 

Updates on the speed campaign can be followed on Twitter at @saferjourney.